Pheasants by Mary Dam Haines City, Florida
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Bulwer's pheasant, Lophura bu/wen·. Temminck Tragopan, Tragopan temmincki. Golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus. Burmese grey peacock pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum bicalcaratum 8 Pheasants by Mary Dam Haines City, Florida t he propagating of pheasants has been may form close ties. However, pheasants a happy experience for our family for 15 generally do not form a bond as do many years. At TruLi D Farm we raise phea other birds. sants, ducks, geese, swans and assorted 3. It is interesting to note that polygamy or other birds. It is a family project and is so loose association exists among birds of all varied to accommodate the interests of all orders in which the male shows a highly family members. We began this avicul specialized and ornamental plummage. ~ tural hobby with pheasants, and these in 4. There is a great variation in male court teresting birds continue to be the most ship display. Some of the more colorful We challenging and fascinating of all the birds birds are magnificent with a projecting of Buy Birds to us. We began our collection with the horns from the head and an extension of most common of pheasants and kept add wattles all the way to the ground. Some of We Sh1p Birds ing to the number until we, at one time or the pheasants use foot stomping and COMPLETE BIRD SUPPLIES another, have kept most of the species. As emit a piercing scream which can be heard we matured in our expertise, and more im for miles. (714) 527-3387 portantly in our thinking, we finally settled 5. Most pheasants roost in trees at night, Open 9 to 6 Closed Sun., Mon., Ho lidays in with pheasants whose natural habitat is but they spend much of their time on the 8990 Cerritos Ave. most closely related to that of ours in ground. They walk and run well and use Anaheim, Ca. 92804 Florida. Our other concern is to keep birds their strong feet and bills to scratch and dig in danger of extinction and it gives us great the ground in search of food. Seeds and pleasure to see good results with the en berries are the basic diet of the majority. dangered species. Pheasants are among the easiest of birds COMPLETE LOCAL The word pheasant applies to a group of to keep and rear in a captive environment. game birds which are very different from Dr. Jean Delacour in France has undoubt WAREHOUSE STOCKS others by very important characteristics. ably kept more species in captivity than (From Delacour, Pheasants of the World). any other aviculturist. He is recognized as They are classed in a family where the male the leading authority on pheasants. He has posseses a highly ornamental plumage and set most of the standards that we follow in large size. Pheasants of some species have keeping and rearing pheasants. been known to man for 3 or 4 thousand To keep pheasants in captivity I will sug years. They have been portrayed in Asian gest the following guidelines which you art works. All pheasants are found today will probably agree are pertinent to keep in Asia, Malaysia and Pacific Islands, with ing any bird. one species in Africa. There are 49 species 1. You must love what you are doing. and 124 subspecies. Without the caring and desire one must stop here, and go no further. The trials, GALV. AFTER AVIARY NETTING I would like to begin with some of the 24" thru 72" x 100 Lin. Ft. Rls. characteristics of the wild birds and then hard work, disappointments and frustra •;, x •;, Mesh 22 Ga. continue into captive propagation. tions seem to be a prerequisite to the joys GALV. 84 POULTRY NETTING Pheasants in their natural habitat range of accomplishment. 12" thru 72" x 150 Lin. Ft. Rls. 1" Mesh 20 Ga. - 2" Mesh 20 Ga. from hot tropical species, to lowland 2. You must be a responsible person. The GALV. WELDED FABRIC forests and up to high mountain ranges. birds are totally dependent on you for their 24" thru 72" wide x 100 Lin. Ft. Rls. The females lay their eggs in simple nests survival. They must be cared for properly 1" x '!:" x 16 Ga. - 1" x 1" x 16 Ga. - on the ground sheltered by grasses or and they must be bred true. They should 1"x 1" x14Ga. 2" x 1" x 14.Ga. - 4" x 2" x 14 Ga. - shrubs. A few species will lay in tree nests. be bred under the best conditions to obtain 4" x 2" x 12•;, Ga. Peacock pheasants (which are the strong healthy chicks. You should keep GALV. WELDED & WOVEN smallest) and the Argus (which is the good records, and help others with their HARDWARE CLOTH largest pheasant) lay only 2 eggs to the questions. Unlike some other birds, •;, x •;, Mesh 19 Ga. - '!. x v. Mesh 23 Ga. - clutch but all others average 6-12. pheasants should never be cross bred. Va x 'la Mesh 27 Ga. FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION 1. In general the males and females live in 3. Before you ever purchase your first bird CITY WIRE CLOTH, INC. isolation, and come together for breeding you should have the proper housing 3706 Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90011 which occurs in the spring of the year. facilities. As this will be one of your most (213) 232-5166 2. In some cases a male with 2-3 females expensive items it should be given careful 9 1981 OFFICERS DR. RICHARD E. BAER/President and experience. Some techniques are ap CLIFTON WITT fist Vtce President thought. A large pen 10 x 20 feet is the TOM IRELAND/2nd Vice President most desirable, however some species can plicable to all situations, but when prob HEIBN HANSON/Secretary JANICE PRITCHARD/Finances live comfortably in a smaller pen. When in lems arise it is usually during breeding MRS. IEE PHILLIPS/CotTesponding Secretary doubt, the larger the better. The ground season. When the birds start to lay their JOE McLAUGHLIN/Membership Se,,,ices eggs most breeders will remove eggs daily LEGISLATIVE LIAISONS should have good drainage and so one Clifton Witt. (301) 774-0303 should avoid low spots for pen construc from the pens as they are laid. This pro STATE COORDINATORS tion. Once your pen has been constructed, motes more egg production. The eggs are CHAIRMAN CraigHendee . .(312)724-2)78 special thought should go into the planting placed in incubators or under broody WESTERN REGIONAL COORDINATOR JeffL. Wigginton. .... (206) 8)4-2476 of shrubs and bushes. We find these to be hens. The skills of the aviculturist or per CAUFORNIA REGIONAL COORDINATOR sonal choice will determine which is used. James Coffman. (41l) 692-2234 very necessary for privacy, hiding, and NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL COORDINATOR nesting. Plants should be chosen with If an incubator is used it must be Jim Fouts . (316) 83l-3326 SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL COORDINATOR regard to your climate and should not be disinfected and cleaned so there is no Peggy Cochran .. (404) 977-9842 danger of infection. Some breeders hold MIDWESTERN REGIONAL COORDINATOR of a poisonous variety. We have also Cfllig Hendee. (312) 724-2)78 found that fruit bearing bushes are very their eggs for a few days so that they will NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL COORDINATOR Tim Dahle (301) 760-4626 nice for the birds. If you live in a cold have a large hatch at one time. If this is SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL COORDINATOR done the eggs must be held at 55-60 degrees Dr. Phillip). Ry.an .. (214) 3l3-9462 climate it is necessary for some type of ALASKA shelter to be provided in the back of the F. After 5 days the life expectancy of the Sally and Lin Bauer (907) 276-)668 ARIZONA pen. Most pheasants can withstand cold germ goes into decline and 10 days should Mickey Ollson (602) 939-1003 more readily than wind and dampness. A be maximum. The eggs of those species CAUFORNIA (north) Pauicia Barbera (41l) 924-4231 roost of some sort should be provided with small clutches such as Argus and CAllFORNIA (ccnual) peacock pheasants with 2-egg clutches HankJohnson (209) 233-3322 because pheasants roost at night. The top CAllFORNIA (south) of the pen should not be solid, but should should be incubated immediately. John and Marguerite Agrclla (714) )61-7420 be netting not strung too tight to prevent COLORADO a. Incubator temperature on a forced air Ed Schmidt (303) 79)-2747 damage to the bird should it fly up and hit CONNECTICUT incubator is 99.5 degrees. The forced air the top. Sanitation is very important and Bill Parlee (203) l28-14l8 incubator is best because the air circulates FLORIDA pens should be disinfected at least once a Mn. M. Simmons (30l) 772-2632 around the eggs and keeps the incubator year and the ground treated with GEORGIA temperature constant. Peggy Cochran (404) 977-9842 chlorohydrate of lime. HAWAII b. The eggs should be turned at least 3 (no name) 4. Now that you have the proper pens you IWNOIS times daily. KaiJuhl (312) 729-3858 are ready to purchase the birds. It is impor c. At ten days the eggs should be candled to INDIANA tant to buy good birds from a responsible Conrad Meinert (219) 269-2873 remove the bad ones which can cause con IOWA breeder. This is accomplished by knowing tamination in the incubator and to the Dr. William D. Klipcc (515) 277-6745 either personally or by reputation the per KANSAS other eggs. Jim Fou" (316) 835-2149/835-3326 son you are buying from.