jlo Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Is there anything I should be aware of now that we have got to the stage of the year when pheasants come into the garden? We can have up to about eight at a time. I have just been down to sit with the girls and there was a rustle in the bushes. Mr Pheasant was looking at me very curiously. Normally they skuttle off as soon as I get close to them (although we have had an older one that comes up for feeding the last couple of years). He seemed quite intrigued by the fact that the chiickens were sitting on my knee and hung around for ages. The girls completely ignored him but I just wondered if anyone had any experiences - good or bad - with the wild big birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 We have Philip the Pheasant who regularly visits us. The girls used to ignore him, but now they run at him screaming - he hops it over the fence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Nah, they're harmless but will help themselves to any grub you may kindly leave out !! They're pretty fat round these parts !! And when they bring the family .......... I counted 12 chicks once !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 When I first got my chickens they used to free range with the pheasants. However, if the girls got to close the pheasants would leg it quite quickly. Hello Goodbye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Beautiful! They seem to complement your pretty girls too. The only problems with 'wild' birds is that they can bring in lice - but having wild birds in the garden is so lovely. Just give an eye under their feathers regularly. You should take some other really great pictures and send them to a photo competition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 your girls are gorgeous! The red one is a fabuous colouring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ankerson Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Apologies for jumping in, but I have a real problem with pheasants. We live deep in the country and, at this time of year, there is a lot of pheasant shooting going on. As a result of this, and because I have food available for my chickens, I seem to be overrun with pheasants. There are perhaps 10 or 12 of them in my garden on a regular basis. They devour the chicken's pellets, so that I have to fill up the containers every day and I'm not sure how to get rid of them without keeping my chooks in all day, which I don't want to do, so that the pheasants can't get to the food. Yesterday, one of them was inside the eglu run when I went out to shoo them away. This is a normal thing - they go in to look for more food. Normally I try to circle round the back of the eglu because the pheasants, being stupid birds, try to escape upwards and bang their heads on the run. Unfortunately, even though I approached from behind the run, leaving a clear escape route right ahead of it, the pheasant continued to bang its head against the run and eventually knocked itself out and died. I was absolutely horrified, and I'm really at a loss about what to do. I don't want the pheasants all over my garden, but I don't want to have to confine my chickens. Does anyone have any ideas? Vicki Sam the Maran Viv the Speckled Sussex Charlie the White Sussex Jo the Cotswold Legbar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 The food is the problem and why the pheasants will just keep coming back. I don't know what your situation is but, is it not possible to let your chickens out after they have had a good feed and then shut the run door so the pheasants can't get in? You could then put your chickens back in their run a bit earlier than normal so they can fill themselves up for the night. If they are free ranging then they won't go hungry during the day. Or you could try electric fencing. I now have my chickens inside 50m of electric fencing which keeps the visiting pheasants away from the food and also the visiting foxes who live in the wood behind the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Apologies for jumping in, but I have a real problem with pheasants. We live deep in the country and, at this time of year, there is a lot of pheasant shooting going on. As a result of this, and because I have food available for my chickens, I seem to be overrun with pheasants. There are perhaps 10 or 12 of them in my garden on a regular basis. They devour the chicken's pellets, so that I have to fill up the containers every day and I'm not sure how to get rid of them without keeping my chooks in all day, which I don't want to do, so that the pheasants can't get to the food. Yesterday, one of them was inside the eglu run when I went out to shoo them away. This is a normal thing - they go in to look for more food. Normally I try to circle round the back of the eglu because the pheasants, being stupid birds, try to escape upwards and bang their heads on the run. Unfortunately, even though I approached from behind the run, leaving a clear escape route right ahead of it, the pheasant continued to bang its head against the run and eventually knocked itself out and died. I was absolutely horrified, and I'm really at a loss about what to do. I don't want the pheasants all over my garden, but I don't want to have to confine my chickens. Does anyone have any ideas? Vicki Sam the Maran Viv the Speckled Sussex Charlie the White Sussex Jo the Cotswold Legbar Wow , they really are the stupidest birds on the planet. Sorry to sound callous but (did you eat it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Sorry to sound callous but (did you eat it). If you do want to eat it then you should hang it (by the neck) for 3 to 5 days in a cool place. It would be a shame if died in vain and rather than throw it away it would make a good meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Sorry to sound callous but (did you eat it). If you do want to eat it then you should hang it (by the neck) for 3 to 5 days in a cool place. It would be a shame if died in vain and rather than throw it away it would make a good meal. Or even up to 2 weeks depending on how you like it and the weather. I tend to go for about 10 days as it can still be tough after only 3-5 days. Then hubby skins and joints it (no need to pluck) and I do the country pheasant casserole recipe from Mary Berry's Aga book. Really yummy. The neighbour's jack russell terrier killed a pheasant in our garden last spring...it felt better to put it in the pot than on the compost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
