The breeding of Pheasants is a very popular past time overseas and is done for both sport and commercialy. In Nz things are just starting to get going as more and more people become involved in the hobby.

For some one trying to start out it can be very hard to find information on how to actually breed the birds. There are actually 2 ways to do this the first is to keep some bantam chickens such as silkies. These bantams will go broody during the summer months and are very good at being foster mothers. If you stick pheasant eggs under them they will not know the difference and will therefore hatch and look after the chicks as if they were there own. This mades it much easier on the breeder as there is very little to do as the bantam looks after the chicks very well.

The other method is incubation this is where the eggs are heated artificialy by a machine. This allows you not having to relie on the bantams to go clucky. Also you are able to do a great many more eggs at once than you can with the chickens. But it a much more hands on activity as you have to constantly check the machine to make sure it is funtioning properly. Also once the chicks have hatched you have to make a brooder for them as they have to be kept warm. A large ( Depends on the amount of chicks) draught free box is required with a light that will keep the chicks very warm. The chicks die very easily if they get cold.

For more info e-mail me

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Raising Game Birds