Review of pheasant breeds: their characteristics and productive qualities

Pheasants are not common in households. However, in recent years in Russia there has been a significant increase in interest in this area. Birds are used not only for dietary meat and eggs. Many wealthy people keep these magnificently beautiful birds as ornamental birds. Pheasants proudly walk around the garden, like little peacocks. It is impossible to take your eyes off their elegant plumage.

Pheasants are a great garden decoration

Along with this, unfortunately, some entrepreneurs organize pheasant farms with a completely different direction. Their target audience is hunters. For accepted applications, an environment in the style of an “aristocratic hunt” is prepared. An action plan is drawn up. At a certain moment, pre-prepared poultry are released and taken into the air. There are many who want to have fun in this way.

Pheasant hunters

Common pheasant

The common pheasant is exactly the bird that was once hunted in the forests. Later, the bird was tamed to decorate royal courts and supply valuable meat to the table. The homeland of this breed is the Caucasus, they also lived in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Today this breed is actively chosen by farmers for breeding for meat.

Description. In appearance, the bird looks like ordinary chickens. But there are also striking differences - firstly, long tail feathers, tapering towards the ends. Secondly, the presence of red skin near the eyes - a facial “mask”. Male pheasants always look brighter than females. The silver-gray plumage of males has a lot of eye-catching shades - yellow, orange, purple, piercing green. There are turquoise feathers on the neck and head. Females have only three primary colors in their plumage - gray, black and light brown. The legs of males are equipped with spurs. The tail of males reaches a length of 55 cm, the tail of females – 30 cm.

Productivity. The weight of the male is 1.8-2 kg, the weight of the female is up to 1.5 kg. Body length is 80 and 60 cm, respectively. The female carries about 50 eggs during the mating period. Per day – 1-2 pieces. Typically, egg laying lasts from April to mid-June.

Other features. In nature, they settle in areas where there are bushes, tall grass, ponds, fields with corn or wheat. Males are aggressive towards rivals - they engage in fights that can be fatal. Females lay 8-15 eggs. The masonry is done in a hole dug in the ground. The female incubates the eggs herself for 3-4 weeks. The chicks grow up at about 5 months.

Maintenance and care. It is this breed that is most common in hunting farms. In nature, the bird eats berries and insects. When kept artificially, they are unpretentious in food. The main condition of keeping, as for any breed of pheasants, is a large indoor enclosure. Pheasants tolerate frost well, but not drafts. Birds are kept in pairs. The floor is covered with sawdust or straw.

Morning and breeding of pheasants

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Keeping pheasants

If you decide to get these beautiful birds, you should remember their personality traits. Pheasants in their natural habitat are extremely shy and distrustful. They feel best in an enclosure, in a dry place, away from other buildings.

The floor of the enclosure must be covered with sand or gravel. The frame of the enclosure is installed on a floor made of beams fastened with cement. Next, the frame is covered with galvanized mesh. The mesh size is 1.5 x 1.5 cm (it is better not to use a chain link - pheasants cling to it and get injured). A canopy must be made on top of the aviary to protect the birds from direct rays of the sun and precipitation.

It is better if the aviary has two solid walls: one is the entrance to the poultry house, and the second, for example, the wall of a barn. In such conditions the birds will feel more protected.

The poultry house itself must be ventilated and heated. At 1.5 sq. m you can plant a maximum of two pheasants. Pheasants are usually kept in pairs, sometimes in groups. Young birds are separated from adults. If necessary, the enclosure is divided into sections. When the breeding season arrives (at the end of March), the female finds a secluded corner for herself, scratches a shallow hole in the ground and lays 8-12 eggs at regular intervals of 24 to 48 hours. The eggs are smaller and rounder than those of domestic chickens, single-colored, yellowish-yellow. grey-green. After 25-26 days, beautifully painted, fully developed chicks hatch, but in the aviary, so that the birds do not trample the eggs, they should be collected every day, moving them to the incubator, or the female should be placed in a separate aviary.

The egg-laying period for pheasants begins in early April, approximately 3-4 weeks after the start of the mating period. The collection of eggs in nesting enclosures is organized 2 times a day, and the eggs should not be exposed to sunlight. After collection, eggs need to be inspected and damaged ones removed. Soiled - clean, treat with formaldehyde and store at a temperature of 10-14°, no longer than 7 days before hatching (that is, before incubation or hatching begins).

Very often, the female does not begin laying eggs or lays unfertilized eggs, from which not a single chick hatches. The reasons are different: violation of the bird's care regimen, inadequate diet, insufficient activity of the male or even his inability to fertilize the female, and infertility of the female is also possible. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the behavior of the male during the mating period, and replace the insufficiently active one with a more energetic one or reduce the number of females in the family.

Oviposition of female pheasants ends around June 15th. Incubation occurs in the first days at a temperature of 38.5°, later the temperature drops to 37.5° with a humidity of 65%, in additionally created incubators the temperature level is maintained at 37.5° with a humidity of 90%. The process lasts 23-25 ​​days.

The chickens hatch from the eggs within 1-6 hours. After which they are left in the incubator for several more hours until they dry out. Or they need to be moved to a pre-prepared room with artificial heating. Usually this is a wooden box with walls 30-40 cm high. To prevent cooling from the floor, the box is placed on a table. An electric lamp with a lampshade is installed above the box, the edges of which should rest against the edges of the box. The heater maintains the temperature on the floor at 34-35°.

With normal local heating, the chicks are evenly distributed in the box. At low temperatures they begin to squeak pitifully and crowd together, and when overheated they try to leave the local heating zone.

In the future, it is very convenient to keep pheasants of all ages on a bedding of dry calcined sand, which is poured in a layer of at least 5-7 cm. After the bedding has been laid, brooders, various equipment and other necessary materials are placed.

At the age of up to 2 months, they need to be locked in the house at night, and when morning comes, they should be released for a walk in the aviary.

Hunting

The hunting breed was obtained by crossing green and common pheasants. The population is small. After crossing a hybrid, a variety of subspecies appear. Today, the hunting pheasant is found in the United States and Europe.

Description. The coloring is varied - from pure white to black. Males are traditionally more luxurious than females. The plumage is green or lilac. The color is dominated by brown, orange, burgundy and bronze shades. Males have a red “mask”, a black cap and a snow-white collar. The legs are powerful, decorated with spurs.

Productivity. The average weight of a female is 1.5 kg, a male is 2 kg. Body length is 80 cm, but 50 cm of this is the length of the tail. Females are distinguished by high egg production - they can lay up to 60 eggs in three months.

Other features. It is distinguished by fertility and excellent health. Often used for breeding - to breed unique subspecies. The meat is tasty and dietary - with low cholesterol content.

Male hunting pheasants are polygamous - they can live with 3-4 females at the same time. They can conflict with other males, seeking the attention of the “lady” they like.

Maintenance and care. The bird is responsive to the nutritional value of the feed - as soon as it is increased, weight gain immediately increases. They reproduce well and gain weight in artificial conditions. They are bred for slaughter, as well as for resale to hunting farms. The keeping of pheasants is almost the same as that of chickens. But during the mating period, it is better to separate males from each other to avoid conflicts. Ideal conditions are a family of a male and six females. One pheasant needs 75 g of food daily, and 80 g during nesting.

Pheasants eating Colorado potato beetles in potato fields improves the taste of the meat.

What types are suitable for growing at home?

There are a lot of pheasant breeds suitable for home breeding. The most unpretentious are:

• Hunting. It has the highest egg production and is bred for meat.
• Ordinary. It looks like a chicken, is found in the wild, body weight is up to 1 kg.
• Transcaucasian. Weight 3-4 kg, distinguished by decorativeness.

Keeping pheasants at home is becoming increasingly popular

Content Features

Beginning poultry farmers should get a pair - a male and a female, who will give birth to offspring. The second option is to buy eggs for an incubator in order to raise the stock yourself in the future. There are several methods of breeding birds, the most popular are cage and aviary, the second is necessary for certain ornamental breeds. When arranging a room, it is important to create enough free space for the birds and consider protection from drafts and high humidity.

Note! Most breeds survive frost and snow well, but heat and dampness are destructive for them.

When arranging a walk, it is necessary to organize a fence, including at the top, since birds can fly. The presence of two males together in the same pen is unacceptable - they are very aggressive towards each other, fights and wounds are inevitable.

Content Features:

• For each bird there should be from 2 to 5 square meters. m. area.
• When growing for meat, the cellular method is suitable. If the goal is subsequent release for hunting, the birds are bred in aviaries where they will acquire flight skills.
• Feeders and drinkers should be secured, otherwise birds will drop them.

During mating games, “houses” are made of reeds for birds, this will help create pairs.

Catering

Despite the fact that pheasants are quite unusual birds for Russia, feeding them is not difficult. They prefer plant food, root vegetables, and in the summer they are able to hunt insects on their own when walking. It is allowed to give birds compound feed, especially if the bird belongs to the meat production category. When grown on small farms, the basis of their diet is mash of corn, oats, millet, and greens.

Note! Each bird needs 75 g of feed every day, during the mating season the norm increases by 10 g.

Feeding is the most important condition for the normal development of birds and rapid weight gain

Green

The green or Japanese pheasant has been the national bird of Japan since 1947. Their habitat was previously limited to the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. The green pheasant has several subspecies of common and hunting breeds in its pedigree, therefore, when bred, it produces many color options.

Description. The back and chest of the male are covered in emerald feathers. The neck is covered with purple feathers. The tail is purple-green. Females do not have bright plumage - they are colored in brown-brown shades. There are black inclusions.

Productivity. The average weight of a male is 1.9-1.2 kg. Body length is 75-89 cm, of which 25-45 cm is the length of the tail. Females reach a length of 50-53 cm, tail length - 21-27 cm. There are 7-9 eggs in a clutch.

Other features. Males do not show much aggression. Green pheasants live for about 15 years. They love hilly terrain, tall grass, thickets, and shrubs. They live in monogamous and polygamous families.

Maintenance and care. The bird is hardy and resistant to cold. Can be kept like regular chickens. Can be kept on farms and zoos without any problems. The main condition is the presence of a large covered enclosure with grass and shrubs. The diet of birds living in natural conditions includes cereals, young shoots, berries, fruits, worms, mice, snakes and lizards. In artificial conditions they require adequate nutrition. Their diet includes grain feed, mixed feed, finely chopped vegetables, cottage cheese, herbs, and insects.

The green pheasant has several subspecies, which, while similar, have slight differences in the color of the mantle, belly, collars, heads, paws and beaks. Species and their habitats are in Table 1.

Table 1

Features of installing an aviary

Pheasants have thick plumage, so they do not get cold in winter. There is no need to additionally insulate the house, but the main thing is to choose a dry place for it without drafts so that the birds do not catch a cold. The walls should be covered with boards in frosty and windy weather. It is also important to add artificial light to the house.

You definitely need an area where pheasants can roam. They are very shy and hide at the slightest danger, so it is better to plant bushes or grass. You can complement the ensemble with branches on which the pheasants will sit. You can also install a wooden house or a hut made of fir branches on the territory.

During the nesting season, it is better to divide the space so that the males do not show aggression towards each other. You can fence the room with a plastic fence or mesh. Don’t forget to clean and treat the house, drinking bowls, and cage with disinfectants to prevent the appearance of germs and parasites.

Diamond

This is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The second name of the diamond pheasant is Lady Amhrest, received in honor of the wife of the Governor General, who sent the bird to London from India. From there, the diamond pheasant spread throughout Europe.

Description. The pheasant was called Diamond for a reason; its plumage shimmers like a precious stone. On the head there are wide white feathers, similar to an old wig. The chest is olive or emerald, turning into a white belly. The crop has a combination of white and black feathers. On the back there is blue-black plumage. The bird's tail is especially luxurious. Females look traditionally modest - brownish-motley plumage, bluish skin around the eyes.

Productivity. The average weight of a male is 0.9-1.3 kg. Female – 0.8 kg. There are 7-10 or more eggs in a clutch. The female is capable of laying up to 30 eggs per season.

Other features. Birds have high adaptive abilities. They can get along with other types of birds - chickens, pigeons, etc. They have a calm, peaceful disposition, are not shy, and easily make contact with people. Diamond pheasant meat is dietary, very tender and pleasant to the taste. Eggs are high in protein.

Maintenance and care. The bird, despite its exotic appearance, tolerates cold well and is not demanding on living conditions. It is easy to breed in private backyards. They are housed in spacious enclosures in families, but one male – two females. The enclosure should be divided into zones for pairs. To help birds gain weight faster, they are given fish oil. The rest of the diet is similar to chicken. Eats greens, grains, worms, vegetables and fruits. Bred for hunting and decorative purposes.

Caring for baby pheasants

When the chicks are born, they need to be fed through a special feeder; there is no need to let adult birds into the common enclosure. The amount of food and water should be checked regularly and, if necessary, replenished 4 times a day.

If it is a hot summer, you will also have to control the temperature in the room to ensure comfortable conditions for the chicks. Chicks can be allowed into an open cage a month after their birth. The pheasants should not be crowded in the cage: there should be 30 chicks per 1 square meter.

In the first days after birth, chicks need a temperature of about +28 degrees, then the temperature gradually decreases to +20 degrees. The diet of phasonites should consist of hard-boiled eggs and finely chopped greens. In the second month of life it is necessary to give adult food. Once the chicks are 5 months old, they are considered adult birds.

Gold

This breed is distinguished by its special majesty and beauty of plumage. Bred for meat and for decorative purposes. The bird lives in Eastern Europe. It can be found in nature reserves; in other areas it is a rare visitor. But the homeland of the Golden Pheasant is not Europe, but Southwestern China and Eastern Tibet.

Description. The main difference of the breed is its golden crest, along the edges of which there is a black outline. The belly is dark burgundy. Females do not have a crest. The feather color of males combines yellow, orange, black, ocher and blue shades. The neck is decorated with an orange “collar” with a dark border. The tail is long and luxurious. Females are smaller in size and more modest in plumage.

Productivity. Average weight – 1.3 kg. There are 7-10 or more eggs in a clutch. During a season, a female can lay up to 45 eggs, young ones – up to 20 eggs. The peculiarity of the golden pheasant is that if you take the eggs right away, the egg production increases.

Other features. Meat with excellent taste. Disadvantage: weak immunity.

Maintenance and care. Breeding is not particularly difficult. Since the bird is prone to diseases, it is recommended to give it antibiotics along with feed. Although golden pheasants have low immunity, they tolerate frost well - they can withstand temperatures down to minus 35 degrees without harm to their health. This bird can be kept in unheated areas. Find more information about the golden pheasant and its cultivation here.

The golden pheasant has several interesting subspecies. They occur naturally, and breeders also have them:

• Red pheasant. This is a wild variety of Golden Pheasant, introduced to breeders after the work of breeders.
• Bordeaux. It has a color similar to the Golden Pheasant, but instead of red feathers it has burgundy feathers. This species was the first to be bred from the domesticated red pheasant.
• Golden Gigi. He got his name in honor of the Italian Gigi, who was involved in his breeding. A distinctive feature of the species is that the entire body is covered with yellow-green plumage.
• Cinnamon. This species was bred in the USA. Instead of blue and green plumage, it has gray feathers on its back.

Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)

Golden pheasant red

Golden pheasant Bordeaux

Golden Gigi

Golden Cinnamon (Cinnamon)

Raising birds

Growing this subspecies is possible in closed cages in garden plots. Aviaries must meet standard sizes - 2 square meters per bird. Birds love to be in spacious cages. They should have perches, although the birds spend most of their time on the ground. Romanian pheasants do not require special care.

During the normal period of existence, which begins in February and ends in August, all bird representatives can be kept in a spacious cage. There are about two square meters per bird. It is necessary to build a canopy that will protect them from rain and snow. It is better to line the floor with straw, sawdust and sand. The litter needs to be changed several times a month. You can pour ash into the sand, since birds love to bathe in this mixture, so it can be poured into a basin and placed in a corner. It is better to equip the bedding with a net so that rodents do not get to the pheasants.

The ceiling needs to be high so that a person can go in there and find eggs. Moreover, pheasants can fly, so the flow should be at least two meters, especially if the birds are bred for hunting. The nets should be made of nylon, since metal birds can get hurt. Food and water bowls should be used in the same way as with chickens.

Royal

This is the largest pheasant, which is bred mainly for decorative purposes. The bird's homeland is the mountainous areas in northern and central China. In Europe, this breed is bred in hunting grounds; in Russia it can be seen in zoozones. The king pheasant is often called the pied pheasant or the Chinese pheasant.

Description. The plumage is yellow-brown and resembles scales. Each feather is surrounded by a dark border. There is a black border around the neck. There are light feathers on the crown. The female is more modestly colored - she has golden-yellow plumage, on which dark blotches are visible. The tail is white, luxurious, framed in brown, up to 2 m long. The chest and back of the head of males are orange or almond. The beak and paws are gray. The head is white, the “mask” is black.

Productivity. Average weight – 1.3 kg. There are 7-14 eggs in a clutch.

Other features. Prefers to move on the ground - wings are rarely used. They live up to 14 years. They are extremely timid. This bird is not only beautiful, it has tasty and tender meat.

Maintenance and care. They can withstand cold weather. They rarely get sick. But they don't like dampness. It is important that the enclosures are dry. It is necessary to build perches for them. Coniferous trees are used to make them. Pheasants need perches for observation - this is their favorite pastime. Sitting on perches, they often treat the skin of their paws, which is very delicate.

The population density of the enclosure is 1 individual per 1 sq. m. 75 g of mixed feed made from corn, wheat, yeast and fish and meat and bone meal are given per day. In the spring, pheasants are additionally fed with sunflower oil, berries and calcium - the birds will grow faster and their meat will be more tender.

Reproduction

Mating games start in the spring. Until this moment, the birds stay in a flock to make it easier to feed themselves and protect themselves from predators. As the weather warms up, the males leave to prepare a nesting site.

Females move in groups of 3–4 individuals. They come to the call of males, after which they choose a mate. Each male zealously defends the boundaries of the territory, so during the mating season, skirmishes often occur, which end in serious injuries.

After the female has chosen a partner, the male builds a nest and mating begins. As a rule, pheasants lay eggs in May or early June. The clutch consists of 8–20 small brown eggs, which are incubated by the female (22–28 days).

Important! In the wild, pheasants find a partner for life, but in captivity this is correctly “abolished”, and one male mates with all the females. After mating, the male does not care about the offspring, he only protects his territory and nest. When the chicks appear, a roof is built over the nest, which protects the young from precipitation and birds of prey.

Caring for young animals

Since pheasants are wild birds, they have a well-developed maternal instinct. In captivity, the female still protects the chicks from danger and provides them with warmth and food. 12 hours after hatching, the chicks begin to eat. Starting food is seeds and small insects. At first, the female helps the chicks find food and also teaches them how to eat food correctly.

We advise you to familiarize yourself with the best breeds of pheasants, and also consider all the intricacies of keeping golden, white and eared pheasants at home.

In captivity, specialized compound feeds that can be found on the market are suitable as starter feed (regular formulations for chickens are suitable). An alternative is a liquid mash based on millet with the addition of cottage cheese and boiled carrots. You can use crushed corn, and also give a small amount of chicken yolk.

Eared

Eared pheasants are one of the most massive birds among their fellows. There are three subspecies of Eared Pheasants - white, blue and brown. They are found naturally in mountainous areas in East Asia. There is no difference in plumage between males and females.

They have an elongated body with short powerful legs. There are spurs on the paws. The main difference is the long white feathers near the ears. These feathers are “ears” and are raised slightly upward. The head is black and shiny. There are red circles near the eyes. They have a very long tail - it makes up half the entire length of the bird.

Blue eared

The bird can be found in the mountainous and forested areas of western and central China. It was brought from China to France in 1929.

Description. The bird is colored smoky blue. The “mask” is red and has white ear feathers. Because of them, the bird is also called the Blue Eared Pheasant - the feathers resemble sharp ears or mustaches. The paws are long and pink. Males have spurs. The tail is luxurious, blue or black. Males reach 100 cm in length, of which the tail makes up more than half

Productivity. Long-eared blue pheasants are quite weighty compared to their counterparts. The average weight of a male is 1.7-2.1 kg, a female is 1.5-1.75 kg. There are 6-12 eggs in a clutch. The eggs are large, gray or gray-brown in color.

Other features. They are easy to tame, sociable and friendly. Males can become aggressive during the breeding season. They prefer monogamy.

Maintenance and care. Frost resistant and very hardy. They love to play in the snow and do not suffer at all from the cold. In nature they feed on plant food; in captivity, blue pheasants are fed a mixture of feed and grain. Some breeders feed pheasants dog food. They need spacious enclosures with grass and shrubs. There must be logs for birds to sit on. The bird does not like humidity, so drainage must be provided.

White eared

This is a very rare species of pheasant. In nature, it can only be found in the mountains of Tibet. This rare bird is usually kept in zoos and for ornamental purposes.

Description. The color of the plumage is snow-white. The head is red, on the top there is a black “cap”. In the wings and tail there are, along with white, gray feathers, coal-black at the ends. The legs are bright red and decorated with spurs.

Productivity. The average weight of a bird is 1.35-1.5 kg. Egg laying per season - 30 pieces.

Other features. Females lay eggs, but rarely sit on them - they need to be placed under other hens.

Maintenance and care. Adapts well to captivity.

Brown long-eared

Description. They are distinguished by brown plumage on the body and wings. There is a black and blue border on the neck and tip of the tail. The back is creamy. The head is decorated with a black “cap”. The eyes are yellow, the beak is yellow-brown.

Productivity. Males weigh 2.7 kg, females - 2.5 kg.

Other features. When a bird is looking for food, it can turn over large stones with its beak to find plant roots. It is important to take this into account when creating enclosures - you need to plant them with non-poisonous plants. The bird is non-confrontational and easily gets used to humans.

Maintenance and care. Feeds on plant foods. It makes up 70% of the diet. It is recommended to include peanuts in the feed.

Decorative

Several genera of these birds fall into the category of decorative birds, one of which, strictly speaking, is not even a pheasant. In addition to Okhotnichy, representatives of other pheasant genera are also found in the enclosures of Russian pheasant breeders:

• Collared;
• Eared;
• Bandtails;
• Lofurs.

All these birds from the pheasant family, photos and descriptions of which are presented below, can theoretically be bred for meat. In practice, the cost of these pheasants and the timing of their growth, as well as difficulties in breeding, make these species completely “inedible”. Few people would raise their hand to put a very expensive bird into the soup.

Collar

This genus received its name for the plumage on the neck, reminiscent of a luxurious medieval collar. The genus includes only two species, and both are found in the enclosures of amateur pheasant breeders.

Gold

The Golden or Golden Pheasant is a native of western China. It belongs to the Vorotnichkov family and does not cross with Hunting breeds of pheasants. They tried to acclimatize it in Europe, but the birds mostly died in winter from the cold. Small semi-wild populations exist in Great Britain and Central Europe. But it is very difficult to see these cautious birds in natural conditions. Therefore, most people have to admire the Golden Pheasant in a photo or in a zoo.

In China, this species is bred in captivity for its beautiful feathers, and wild representatives of the species are also hunted. Although the total size of the Chinese population is unknown, this species is not in danger of extinction. Today, the wild population of these birds lives in the southern part of the Transbaikal region of the Russian Federation and in Eastern Mongolia. In Great Britain the population numbers no more than 1,000 pairs.

The females, like all representatives of this family, are very modest.

Photo of a pair of birds of the Golden Pheasant species.

The meat of the Golden Pheasant is also edible, but compared to the Game Pheasant, it is a very small bird. Raising Goldens for meat in Europe makes no sense. Many fanciers keep them as ornamental birds.

Thanks to the work of amateurs, color variations of the Golden Pheasant have also been developed. Specifically, Golden Yellow.

Diamond

Another representative of the Vorotnichkov family, the Diamond Pheasant, also comes from China. At home, he lives in bamboo forests, preferring mountain slopes. It was exported to the UK, where it prefers to settle in coniferous forests with trees no more than 30 years old.

The bird is very secretive and prefers to hide under the lower branches of fir trees. The modestly colored female Diamond Pheasant is difficult to see among the vegetation even in the photo. Even though the photographer placed her in the center of the frame.

Compared to the brightly colored males, pheasants present a striking contrast.

The diamond pheasant also does not interbreed with other species of these birds. It is bred as an ornamental bird. This species is not of interest for productive breeding. There are very few of them in Russia, but there are lovers who keep them to decorate their poultry yard.

Eared

This genus has 4 species. In the photo, from the appearance of pheasants with “ears,” it may seem that these are just different breeds or even different colors of the same breed of birds. In fact, these are 4 different species, the habitats of which in nature do not even intersect. Eared pheasants can be:

• Blue;
• Brown;
• White;
• Tibetan.

These birds bear little resemblance to the usual hunting birds. Most of all they resemble guinea fowl. The common name of the genus “Eared” pheasants was given to the characteristic tufts of feathers on their heads that stick out back.

On a note! In the photo of the Asian species, you can also notice “ears”.

But the difference between the Eared and the Common is that in the Eared tufts of feathers not only stick out back, but continue the characteristic white stripe running from the base of the beak to the back of the head.

The main feature of eared pheasants is the almost complete absence of sexual dimorphism in these birds. In these birds, it is impossible to distinguish a female pheasant from a male either in a photo or “live” until the mating season begins.

Breeding eared pheasants for meat is not economically profitable, since they reach sexual maturity only at 2 years, and the number of eggs is not large.

Blue

This is the most numerous species of the Eared genus. This species can be found on sale in Russia. Since the tails of representatives of this genus are short, the length of the bird is indicated less than that of other long-tailed species. So the length of the Blue Eared is only 96 cm. The plumage on the head is black. There is red bare skin around the yellow eyes. Under the bare areas of skin there is a stripe of white feathers, turning into “ears”. The tail is loose and short. The species feeds mainly on berries and plant foods.

Brown

This is the rarest species of all Eared Pheasants. It is in the Red Book, so it is unlikely to be found on the open market. Accordingly, the data is for informational purposes only. Body size up to 100 cm. Almost the entire body is brown. A white stripe extending into the “ears” covers the head, passing under the beak and exposed skin. The plumage on the lower back is white. The upper cover feathers of the tail are also white. Feeds on plant matter.

White

The species lives in the highlands on the border with eternal snow. Hence the color, which is so unmasking at first glance. In fact, in an area where black stones stick out from the snow, the color of the bird is ideal for camouflage. The inhabitants of the Himalayas call it “Shagga”, that is, “Snow Bird”.

The white long-eared has two subspecies, externally differing in the color of the plumage on the wings. The Sichuan subspecies has dark gray or purple wings, while the Yunnan subspecies has black wings.

Interesting! In birds of this species, sexual dimorphism is well expressed.

It is impossible to distinguish young animals by sex, but in adults the male is almost twice as heavy as the female. A rooster weighs on average 2.5 kg, the average weight of a female is 1.8 kg.

This species has a good ability to fly, which must be taken into account when keeping them at home.

Tibetan

The smallest representative of the genus of Eared Pheasants. Its body length is 75-85 cm. The name directly indicates its habitat. In addition to Tibet, it is found in northern India and northern Bhutan. Prefers river valleys and grassy slopes of ravines in deciduous and coniferous forests. Usually found between 3 thousand and 5 thousand meters above sea level. Due to habitat destruction, it is today an endangered species.

Variegated

The genus of motley pheasants includes 5 species:

• Reeves/Royal/Motley Chinese;
• Elliot;
• Copper;
• Mikado;
• Mrs. Huma.

All of them are inhabitants of the Eastern part of Eurasia. Copper is endemic to Japan, and Mikado is endemic to Taiwan.

Pied Chinese

The more famous and common name for this elegant bird is the Royal Pheasant. Belongs to the third genus of pheasants - Variegated pheasants. It lives in the foothills of Central and Northeastern China. This is one of the largest representatives of pheasants. It is equal in size to the Common Pheasant. The weight of males reaches 1.5 kg. Females are slightly less than a kilogram and weigh 950 g.

The motley plumage of females, being more elegant than that of other species, makes them completely invisible against the background of burnt grass. Even in the photo, the female King Pheasant is difficult to spot at a quick glance.

Copper

In the photo, the female Romanian Pheasant may appear very similar to the male Copper. This is perhaps the most “modest” species of all pheasants. But if the female Romanian has dark bronze feathers all over her body, then the male Copper has a color with a lot of red on his head and neck, and on his belly the feather is two-colored: red areas alternate with gray ones. A clear difference in a mature rooster is the red, bare areas of skin around the eyes.

Elliot

This bird is unlikely to be confused with another species. The conspicuous white neck and mottled back immediately indicate that it is an Elliott pheasant. A closer look will only confirm the first impression. This species lives in Eastern China.

The bird is small compared to the others. The total length is 80 cm, of which more than half is the tail. The male weighs up to 1.3 kg, the female pheasant weighs up to 0.9 kg.

The body length of a pheasant is 50 cm. But if the rooster’s tail is 42-47 cm long, then the female’s is 17-19.5 cm long.

Elliott pheasant is bred in captivity. Since the birds are very secretive, all data on their mating behavior is obtained from observations of individuals kept in captivity.

Mikado

Endemic o. Taiwan and its unofficial symbol. The bird is small. Together with the tail, it can be from 47 to 70 cm. It is endangered and is listed in the World Red Book.

Mrs. Hume (Yuma)

In color this species resembles both the Manchurian subspecies of the Common pheasant and the Elliott pheasant. The bird is quite large. Length 90 cm. Named in honor of the wife of the British naturalist Allan Hume.

Lives in Southeast Asia. The species is very rare and is in the Red Book.

Lofurs

The name "pheasant" for these species is erroneous, although in the photo it is difficult to distinguish these from real pheasants. Lofurs belong to the same family as the genus of True and Collared pheasants. The second name of the genus Lofur is Chicken Pheasants. Their food preferences are the same. Behaviors and marriage rituals are similar. Therefore, lofur can easily be confused with True Pheasants. But these birds cannot interbreed.

Silver

In fact, the Silver Pheasant is a Lofura from the genus Lofura. But this genus also belongs to the pheasant family. Externally, the Silver Pheasant differs from real pheasants in having longer legs and a bushy, sickle-shaped tail. The Silver Pheasant's metatarsals, as seen in the photo, are bright red. Another difference between Lofura and real hunting pheasants is also visible in the photo: a tuft of feathers on the head directed backwards.

On the feathers of the back, neck and tail there are alternating small stripes of white and black. Sometimes, as in the photo above, the “silver” of a pheasant can give way to greenish plumage.

Young pheasants do not have “silver”. Their back plumage is grey-black.

Unlike the bright black and white male, the female silver pheasant in the photo can only be guessed by her silhouette and bright red legs.

The Silver Pheasant itself is not a large bird. But the length of the tail is usually added to the size of birds and the data from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail is indicated. Therefore, with relatively equal body sizes, the length of the male is almost twice as large. The male lofura reaches a length of 90-127 cm, the female only 55-68. The weight of males varies from 1.3 to 2 kg, females weigh about 1 kg.

Black lofura

The second name is Nepalese pheasant. Judging by the photo and description, this variety of chicken pheasant can be confused with a young Silver pheasant. But the color of the feathers on the back and neck of the Black Lofura is not white, like the Silver one, but is more reminiscent of the feathers of a blue guinea fowl.

Lives in the mountains of Asia. The bird is relatively small, weighing 0.6-1.1 kg. The length of the male is up to 74 cm, females – up to 60 cm.

Himalayan

The Himalayan or Nepalese pheasant lives in the mountains of Southwestern China, Indochina, and the Himalayas. Another name for the Himalayan pheasant is black lofura. There are several subspecies, of which the purple-black, white-crested and white-backed varieties are most often kept in captivity. White pheasants appeared in Europe in the 18th century.

Description. The color of the plumage is black, with a purple-metallic tint. At the bottom of the back there is a wide white border along the edges of the plumage. The head is decorated with a long black crest. The paws are dark gray in color and have spurs. The beak is light green. The plumage of the female is olive-brown with a light brown border.

Productivity. The weight of a male is 1.3-2 kg, a female is about 1 kg. The number of eggs per season is from 15 pieces. Laying size is 6-8 light cream or reddish-yellow eggs.

Other features. Many females incubate and hatch chicks on their own. It is not recommended to live with other bird species, as this breed is aggressive, especially during the breeding season. It is characterized by timidity.

Maintenance and care. In captivity, they are fed a grain mixture of millet, wheat, corn and other seeds. Provide chopped vegetables and fruits. This bird requires a lot of shelters - they are made from logs, slate, stones, and bushes. The bird is hardy and can withstand extreme temperatures. Tropical subspecies need to build poultry houses for the winter.

Asian view

Another name for this species is Caucasian pheasant. It was domesticated in the Asian part of the mainland, although today it is widely distributed in the wild. The bird received its name from the city of Phasis, located in Colchis (eastern coast of the Black Sea). From this settlement, according to legend, the Argonauts brought these birds to the European part of the mainland. But, given the number of subspecies of the Common Pheasant, it has spread on its own. But this species was introduced to other continents by humans.

In total, this species has 32 subspecies. It is not clear whether they can be called breeds, since they developed without human intervention, but when bred in a household, these subspecies are usually simply called breeds.

The most common breeds of Common pheasant found in Russia are Caucasian, Manchurian and Romanian.

On a note! The term “hunting pheasant” refers to the Asian species with all its various subspecies.

For this reason, the description of a hunting pheasant will vary depending on the subspecies. But often only an ornithologist can understand all the subtleties of plumage color. As an example, a photo of two varieties of the Common Pheasant: Phasianus colchicus principalis (Murgab), living in the Aral-Caspian Lowland area; below Southern Caucasus Pheasant (South Caucasian).

On a note! The North Caucasian pheasant is a bird that already needs protection.

Females of hunting pheasants of any subspecies are gray, inconspicuous birds. It is very difficult to distinguish a pheasant of one subspecies from a female of another.

But in other cases, the color of different subspecies is very different from the typical North Caucasian one.

On a note! The type subspecies is the one that gives its name to the entire group of subspecies.

The most suitable breed for home breeding is the Common Pheasant. They have a calmer disposition, as they have been bred in captivity for a long time. In addition, this is the largest and most early ripening, and, therefore, the most economically profitable species. Sexual maturity in “Asians” occurs already at the age of one year, while other species mature only by 2 years. Not all subspecies of Hunting Pheasant look alike. To an inexperienced person it may even seem like they are different species. Unscrupulous sellers take advantage of this point, passing off various subspecies of Hunting pheasants as separate breeds of pheasants, and even photos with descriptions are of little help in this case, since the subspecies easily interbreed with each other.

On the personal farmsteads of pheasant breeders, two subspecies are most common: Caucasian and Romanian. The Romanian pheasant is so different in appearance from other subspecies that beginners usually do not believe in the subspecies, considering it a breed. But pheasants, like peacocks, although bred in captivity, are not domesticated. Moreover, the “Hunting” and Romanian subspecies are often bred in order to release them in the fall to “free range” and give hunters the opportunity to “hunt”.

On a note! In winter, they often try to collect “under-shot” individuals in order to use them in the next hunting season, but wild birds have their own opinion on this matter.

The most common conventional “breeds” of pheasants on farms can be viewed with photographs and names. The only inconvenience in keeping these birds is that they cannot be allowed to roam freely, like chickens. Most likely they won't come back.

"Domesticated"

The two most common and often mixed subspecies are Caucasian and Romanian. Although, if you compare a photograph of a Caucasian “breed” pheasant with a Romanian one, then, at first glance, there is nothing in common between them.

Caucasian subspecies

The photo of pheasants is a heterosexual pair of birds. The male is a bright bird with variegated plumage in red-brown tones. The head is covered with black feathers with a strong purple tint. A thin white “collar” separates the black plumage from the red-brown. On the head of a sexually mature male there are areas of red bare skin. During the mating season, the “cheeks” begin to hang even below the head.

In addition, a sexually mature male has tufts of feathers growing on top of his head, resembling horns sticking out back. These “horns” are not suitable for the role of “ears” similar to those of the genus of Eared Pheasants. They do not differ in color from the main plumage of the head and the direction of feather growth is somewhat different.

The color of females is the color of dried grass. This is ideal camouflage in the summer-burning Asian steppes, since only the female incubates the eggs.

Body length with tail up to 85 cm. Weight up to 2 kg. Females are smaller than males.

Romanian

The description of a purebred Romanian pheasant is quite simple: the male has a solid black color with a strong emerald tint. Females are significantly darker than the Caucasian subspecies. The plumage of Romanian pheasants is dark bronze.

On a note! The photo shows a young, not yet sexually mature Romanian male.

The origin of the Romanian subspecies is not known with certainty. It is believed that this is a hybrid of the Caucasian subspecies and the Japanese emerald pheasant. Ornithologists have no consensus regarding the Japanese bird. Some consider it a subspecies of the Asian one, others believe that it is a superspecies common with the Asian one. The latter opinion is based on the fact that hybrids of the Copper Pheasant and the Japanese Emerald Pheasant are sometimes found. The photo below shows that the Japanese also has little in common with the purebred Romanian. Perhaps Romanian is a spontaneous mutation of the Caucasian subspecies.

Romanian ones easily cross with the more common Caucasian ones, introducing additional confusion into the systematization of “breeds” by pheasant breeders. When hybridizing between these two subspecies, the resulting birds are intermediate in color between Romanian and Caucasian, as in the photo below.

The purity of a Romanian can be determined even in a chicken. Caucasian chickens are motley, Romanian chickens are black with white breasts. If you compare the pheasant chicken of the Romanian “breed” in the photo with the Caucasian one, the difference is obvious.

This difference persists until juvenile molting. White spots in “Romanian” chickens can be of any size, but in adult birds the color is uniform.

The size and productivity of the "Romanians" are the same as those of the Caucasians. Therefore, from the point of view of productive breeding, there is no difference between them. The same situation applies to other “breeds” of the Asian species.

Manchurian

As can be seen in the photo, the Manchurian subspecies of the Common pheasant is lighter and has almost no “redness” in the plumage. The back has gray plumage and the belly has orange feathers. The body is motley beige. You still have to look for the female Manchurian even in the photo.

Its plumage blends completely with the withered grass. The color of the Manchurian pheasant is quite light.

In the video, purebred Romanian and Hunting pheasants:

White

This is the only option that, with some stretch, can be called a breed. But in reality it is a mutation. In nature, white individuals usually die, but a person can afford to fix a similar color. If there is no pair for a white pheasant, you can use a regular colored Hunting specimen.

These are the main “breeds” that are usually bred in private backyards for meat and eggs. If desired, you can have others. Man is an omnivorous creature and any bird will suit him as food. Therefore, theoretically, not only subspecies of the Common pheasant, but also more exotic and colorful species can be bred for meat.

Silver

A common breed. Her homeland is China. Due to its high egg production and high weight, the Silver Pheasant is profitable to breed for meat.

Description. The body is covered with light gray or white plumage with dark stripes. There is a green tint. There is a red “mask” on the face. The head is decorated with a blue-black crest. On the back there is a white hood. The lower plumage is black, on the back and wings there are feathers with a black border. The bird appears to be “silvered.” The upper tail feathers are snow-white. Paws are coral pink. The length of the male is 125 cm, of which the tail is 70 cm. The female is significantly smaller - 75 cm, the tail is 30 cm.

Productivity. The weight of a male is up to 5 kg, a female is about 2-2.5 kg. The egg laying size per season is 50 eggs. There are 7-15 eggs in a clutch.

Other features. Gains weight quickly. The Silver Pheasant has a strong immune system, so it rarely gets sick. Males are known for their pugnacity during breeding.

Maintenance and care. The breed is perfectly adapted to the conditions of Russia. It tolerates frosts down to -30°C well, as it has thick plumage. Doesn't like drafts. They readily eat chicken and goose food. The bird is unpretentious and easy to keep in nurseries.

Keeping at home

The first condition for keeping pheasants is sufficient space. For birds, an aviary or poultry house is suitable, in which there will be at least 2 m2 of area for each individual. A standard pheasant family consists of one male and a maximum of 10 females. Based on the number of individuals, the area required for the birds is calculated.

Since pheasants are not afraid of frost and cold, they can be kept in open enclosures all year round - in an area fenced with a fine mesh. At the same time, the bird loves dryness and does not tolerate precipitation well, so shelters made of waterproof materials (slate, film, etc.) should be provided in the open enclosure.

For the winter, the enclosure is lined with straw.

Pheasants are also kept in closed poultry houses, but the birds still need a fenced area for walking.

Taiwanese

A very rare bird. The second name is Svaino pheasant. Listed in the Red Book. Named after the ornithologist Swine, who discovered it in the highlands of Taiwan in 1862. This species is not found anywhere else.

Description. A small bird with purple-blue feathers on its chest and neck. There is a black edging on the lower back. The tail feathers are white. From the neck to the lower back there is a white spot. There are orange spots at the base of the wings. The face is without feathers, coral red in color. Paws are bright pink. Males have spurs. The length of males is 80 cm, the tail is 48 cm. The length of females is 50 cm, the tail is 25 cm.

Productivity. Average weight – 0.9-1.3 kg. There are 6-15 eggs in a clutch. They lay up to 20 eggs per season.

Other features. The bird is timid and cautious. In nature, she hides in bushes all day and spends the night in trees. The active period is dusk and dawn. They live for about 15 years.

Maintenance and care. It feeds like all galliformes - seeds, fruits, insects, greens.

Species listed in the Red Book

Many fans of the beautiful bird are interested in whether the pheasant is in the Red Book or not. Some species are so rare that they are protected. In particular, this is the silver pheasant, found in southern China.

Silver pheasant is a very beautiful bird, but quite rare, so it is under protection

The following species listed in the International Red Book are also endangered:

• The blue eared pheasant is a bird native to Asia that prefers to create monogamous pairs. Average life expectancy is 15-17 years.
• Temminck's tragopan (Chinese pheasant). This is a solitary bird that inhabits mountain forests at a considerable altitude above sea level.
• The prelate is a native of Indochina, a resident of tropical forests and bamboo thickets.
• The Fireback is a resident of the islands of Sumatra and Borneo with deep red plumage on its back.
• Manchurian. Human economic activity is the main reason for the sharp decline in the number of these birds.
• Himalayan. Prefers to live in oak mountain forests. It was the subject of hunting, which negatively affected the population.

Argus

The homeland of the Greater Argus is the Malay Islands. You can find this rare bird in special nurseries and from amateur poultry farmers who sell breeding birds.

Description. The color of the plumage resembles that of a peacock. The bird is large, but not as bright as most pheasants. It has grey-green mottled plumage, a red neck and a blue head. But during mating, the male spreads his tail, on which there are oval golden “eyes”. For this, the bird received its name - Argus, given to it in honor of the deity with many eyes. Paws are red. No spurs. It can reach 2 m in length, of which the tail is 1.5 m.

Productivity. Average weight – 1.4-1.6 kg. There are 6-10 eggs in a clutch. They lay up to 20 eggs per season.

Other features. Females lay enough eggs, but are not always ready to hatch them. Argus meat has a unique taste.

Maintenance and care. They adapt well to life in an enclosure. They are friendly and get used to their owner. The young are fed minced meat, carrots, worms, etc.

Breeding young animals

Pheasants must also be bred according to the following rules:

1. After the chicks appear in the incubator, they are left to dry for 120–180 minutes.
2. Young animals can be raised under brood hens.
3. If floor maintenance is planned, the density should be 20–25 heads per square meter. A group can consist of a maximum of 500 heads.
4. For three weeks after hatching, the temperature is maintained at +32...+34°C under a heater. Indoors, the first seven days are +28°C, the second are +25°C, the third are +23°C, the fourth are +22°C. Then it is kept at +20°C.
5. The feeding front in the first 30 days is 15 mm/individual, from a month to three - 40 mm, up to six months - 50 mm.
6. The watering front in the first 30 days is 7 mm, then 10 mm per individual.

Pheasants are birds of unusual beauty.

Important! At six months of age, pheasants can be slaughtered or allowed to breed.
They can be bred for both decorative and economic purposes - to produce meat and eggs. Caring for them is no more difficult than caring for chickens.

Horned

Horned pheasants, or Tragopans, are divided into five subspecies, and they all have common characteristics - females and males are not similar.

Description. Males are quite large. They have a bright color and cone-shaped processes near the eyes. The color is dominated by red and brown shades. The throat is covered in growths called “earrings.” Females are dull, brown, without “horns” and “earrings”. The legs are short, and males have spurs.

Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.1 kg, females - 1.3-1.5 kg. The female lays 3-6 eggs for incubation.

Other features. Males are aggressive and fight with each other.

Maintenance and care. Adapts well to captivity. In his diet he prefers berries, fruits, greens and wheat.

Types of tragopans:

• Black-headed or Western Tragopan. The male has a black “cap” on his head and a crest with a red end. The cheeks are featherless and bright red. The male weighs 1.8-2 kg, the female – 1.4 kg.
• Brown-bellied. It is also called Cabot's tragopan. There is also a black “cap”, and the crest is orange. The weight of a male is 1.2-1.4 kg, of a female – up to 0.9 kg.
• Greybellied. The second name is Blyth's tragopan. The largest representative of Tragopans. The weight of a male is 2.1 kg, of a female – up to 1.5 kg. The head of males is decorated with an orange crest with a black stripe.
• Ocellated. The second name is Temminck's tragopan. One of the most beautiful types of pheasants. The head of males is decorated with a black and orange crest and blue “horns”. On the throat there are blue-turquoise outgrowths similar to lapels. The face without feathers is blue. The weight of a male is 1.2-1.4 kg, of a female – up to 1.0 kg.
• Tragopanus the satyr. The second name is Indian. The weight of a male is 1.5-2 kg, of a female – up to 1.2 kg. On the head there is a black crest with dark red spots.

Black-headed Tragopan

Brown-bellied tragopan (Tragopan caboti)

Grey-bellied Tragopan (Tragopan blythii)

Ocellated Tragopan

Description and external differences

Pheasants have pronounced sexual dimorphism. This means that it is quite easy to distinguish a female from a male even by appearance.

Females:

• have a dull color;
• the plumage is light brown or grayish-sand in color, there are brown spots;
• average weight is 1.6–1.8 kg.

You will probably be interested in reading about how to catch a pheasant with your own hands.

Males:

• much larger and more beautiful than females - the bird seems massive due to its thick plumage, which increases its volume several times;
• the plumage is replete with shades of yellow and orange;
• the tail is colorful, the length can reach 60 cm;
• tail feathers are brown with a yellow tint, shimmering purple at the edges;
• there are bright red circles around the eyes;
• small spurs are visible on the legs;
• average weight - 1.8–2 kg.

• the head is small, oval, there is a sharp transition between the beak and forehead;
• eyes - round, yellow iris;
• neck - medium length, straight;
• chest - round, wide;
• wings are of medium length, pressed to the body, the tips do not touch the ground;
• back - wide, straight;
• the legs are long and not muscular.

The maximum body length without tail is 85 cm.

Did you know? Artificial breeding of pheasants began in Europe at the end of the 16th century. Then these birds were not only used for hunting, but also kept for decorative purposes.

Peacock

This is not a specific species, but a whole group of subspecies, united by a common feature - they all look like a peacock with their feather pattern and bushy tail. Peacock pheasants are also called mirror or mountain pheasants. This type of pheasant is poorly distributed in our country; it is mainly grown by Indian farmers. The purpose of cultivation is decorative.

Description. There is a “peacock” pattern on the back, wings and tail. The tail has 16 feathers responsible for flight control. The plumage is silver, there are feathers with a pearl tint.

Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.0 kg, females - 1.3-1.4 kg. The female lays up to 45 eggs per season, the young - up to 20 eggs. Eggs are tasty and healthy. In oviposition there are up to 15 eggs.

Other features. They are friendly and quickly get used to people.

Maintenance and care. They are prone to diseases, so it is recommended to add antibiotics to the food. Withstands frosts down to minus 35 degrees. Adapts well in captivity.

How to properly collect pheasant eggs

There is no need to disturb the female sitting in the nest.
The purpose of breeding pheasants is not only to obtain dietary meat, but also eggs. However, these products must be removed from the nests on time, observing the following rules:

• collect eggs in the morning or afternoon, while the birds are eating;
• Before collecting, wash your hands thoroughly to prevent germs from entering;
• store products at temperatures from 5 to 12 degrees, in dark places with air humidity no higher than 70%;
• If the eggs are very dirty, you should not rub them with a rag; it is better to rinse them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

It is necessary to follow these rules in order for the products to be well preserved. If the collection is not made for sale or consumption, then you should know that in addition to keeping pheasant eggs in an incubator, turkeys or ornamental chickens can hatch.

Wedge-tailed

The homeland of this small bird is China. The second name is Koklas. Lives in mountain forests and bushes. Habitat: northern China, Nepal and Afghanistan. A very small and evasive bird - difficult to catch.

Description. The male's head is decorated with a crest divided in two. The belly and chest are brown, the wings are white or gray, decorated with a striped pattern. The length of the male is 58-63 cm, of which the tail is 23-24 cm. The female is the same size. Unlike other pheasants, there are no bare spots on the face. The beak is black, the paws have spurs.

Productivity. Males weigh about 1.1 kg. The female lays up to 25 eggs per season.

Other features. Females can incubate eggs and care for chicks.

Maintenance and care. In nature, they feed mainly on plant foods. You can’t overfeed them with compound feed - they can die from obesity. The diet should be dominated by greens - lettuce, nettle, yarrow, wheat sprouts, etc. Grains or mixed feed for chickens are added to the feed. They prefer dry and cool climates. They do not acclimatize well in Europe - they are sensitive to dampness. They are kept in enclosures in pairs.

Feeding rules

The bird family is vulnerable to stress, so you need to make sure that they are not touched by animals or strangers. These birds have a good memory, they remember their owner by voice, appearance, behavior, so it would be better if one person brings food. Like chickens, pheasants love plant foods: vegetables, herbs, wheat, corn.

In winter, vitamins and microelements need to be added to the feed. In the wild, pheasants feed on the Colorado potato beetle, worms, and mollusks. This food allows them to quickly gain weight, so birds need to be fed insects regularly. In autumn and winter, pens need to be equipped with additional light.

When breeding chicks at home, in the first 2 months they need to be fed greens and boiled eggs. The food is chopped and mixed in advance. It is necessary to feed with fresh whey. After two months, the chicks are transferred to adult food. At 6 months old birds can be sent to a common area. Healthy chicks should be strong, well-fed, with shiny plumage.

Romanian

This breed is a subspecies of the common pheasant. Obtained by crossing wild Japanese pheasant and European common pheasant. This bird is often called the Green or Emerald Pheasant, since its wings have a characteristic green tint. There are individuals whose feathers are yellow or blue. This is a large bird that is bred for meat.

Description. The plumage is gray-brown. Part of the males' head is covered with green-blue plumage. Throughout the body there is an emerald tint of plumage. There is a crest on the head. Females are modestly colored - they have brown plumage, without a green tint.

Productivity. Weight – up to 2.5 kg. In poultry farms, these birds are raised for only 1.5 months, sent for slaughter when they reach a weight of 1 kg. The female lays from 20 to 60 eggs per season.

Other features. The egg production of a female is determined by her age. Romanian pheasant meat is valued for its dietary properties and excellent taste.

Maintenance and care. Maintenance and feeding are the same as for the common pheasant.

Origin and domestication of birds

According to ancient legends, pheasants were brought to Greece by the Argonauts from the ancient city of Phasis, an eastern settlement on the edge of Pontus. Today, the common pheasant is widespread and is found from Turkey to China and Vietnam.

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Pheasants have been bred for hunting purposes in Europe since the beginning of the 16th century. Pheasants spread to domestic use in the 19th century.

Yellow

This variety of golden pheasant is bred artificially.

Description. The plumage is bright yellow. The head is decorated with a long lemon-colored crest. There is a yellow-orange hood. Females are more modestly colored; they are also yellow, but of a lighter shade. The length of the male is 1 m.

Productivity. The weight of a male is 0.9 kg, a female is 0.6 kg. There are 5-12 eggs in a clutch.

Other features. Females lay eggs in holes that they dig in the ground. They live about 10 years.

Maintenance and care. They are fed a mixture of wheat, millet, ground corn and other seeds. Give finely chopped vegetables and fruits. During the non-breeding period, they are kept in a common enclosure. During the mating season, birds are separated into families to avoid violent fights. There is 1 male and 6-10 females in the family. Food can be given once every 2-3 days, so as not to unnecessarily disturb timid birds. The enclosure should have a “winter garden” - bushes and dry trees.

Pheasant: breeding and maintenance

Pheasant breeding

Pheasants are bred by catching them in the wild or purchasing eggs, young, and adult birds from farmer breeders. Large breeding farms very rarely breed and sell pheasants. One of such farms, for example, is Plempttice LLC in Bashkiria. Silver and golden pheasants are bred there.

Purchasing an egg

A pheasant hatching egg costs about 100 rubles. The purchased egg can be placed under laying hens, ducks or turkeys. However, in this case, significant losses cannot be ruled out, since the pheasant egg has a very fragile shell. The best option is to use an incubator. Before laying eggs, it is necessary to discard unfertilized ones. This can be done using an ovoscope.

When transporting pheasant eggs, remember that shaking and temperature changes are contraindicated.

If you plan to raise chicks from the eggs of your pheasants, keep in mind that female pheasants are very poor brood hens. As with purchased eggs, you will need an incubator or laying birds of other species. When collecting eggs for incubation, remember that the eggs should not sit in the nest for long. It is advisable to select the largest eggs that are light gray in color.

Remember that female pheasants are bad brood hens.

Before placing them in the incubator, leave the eggs in the room for a couple of hours to normalize the temperature. The incubator is set to a temperature of +37.8 degrees. After 14 days, it is recommended to open it for 15 minutes to activate gas exchange. The humidity should be maintained at 60% for three weeks, then it is increased to 80%. The incubation of the egg will last, depending on the subspecies. For game pheasant eggs this will be 24 days, for others - up to 32 days.

Purchasing young stock

Day-old young pheasants are sold at an average price of up to 200 rubles per head. But it is better not to purchase very small chicks. The best age for purchasing young animals is 4-5 weeks. Pay attention to the activity of the chicks and the absence of growths on their beaks.

Do not buy pheasant chicks under 4 weeks old.

Adult bird

The average price of an adult pheasant ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles. Before purchasing, select well-fed (but not fat) birds with dry tail feathers. You should not take pheasants older than 2.5 years, as they will no longer have good productivity. To obtain healthy offspring on your farm, it is better to purchase pheasants from different breeders. Inbreeding of birds will lead to losses in the productivity of the offspring. The optimal age for mating for females is 8–18 months, and for males – 1–2.5 years.

The most productive period for pheasants is 37-52 weeks of life.

Pheasant diet

Pheasant chicks

The chicks do not need food for the first four hours after hatching. Then you need to start feeding them little by little. The feed should include: protein products (grated cottage cheese) – 40%; boiled chopped egg (2-3 days only the white, and then the yolk) – 35%; raw very finely grated carrots – 10%; finely chopped nettle or salad – 14%. Starting from the second week, the chicks should be fed grain feed. At first it may be millet or clover seed, then larger but ground grains (wheat). If you doubt that you can properly formulate a diet, the chicks can be fed chicken feed.

In the first week, pheasants are fed every two hours. Then they switch to feeding six times a day. From 10 days of age, chicks are fed 5 times a day. From 1.5 months of age, feeding frequency is 4 times a day. Don't forget to refresh your drinking water regularly. The feeders should also contain crushed charcoal and small pebbles. Fine sand should be poured into separate containers for the baby pheasants to bathe.

Adult bird

Access to water and food for pheasants should be free. At home, pheasants are fed wet mash. They can include feed, food waste, grain (millet, wheat, barley, sorghum, ground peas, corn), succulent feed (greens, vegetables), animal feed. You can add sunflower seeds, fruits, berries, worms. You can feed pheasants only with compound feed.

In summer, pheasants living in enclosures feed on growing greenery, leaves, insects, and larvae. Therefore, during this period, the amount of feed will have to be determined experimentally.

At different periods, the composition of feed should be different:

• During the mating season, it is necessary to increase the calorie intake
• In winter, the diet can be supplemented with apples and rowan berries
• In summer, crushed chalk, lime, and shell rock are added (this has a positive effect on the thickness of the shell and the brightness of the plumage)

The average feed requirement for one adult pheasant is 80 g.

An example of the daily diet of an adult pheasant, grams per day

When whole grains are included in the diet of pheasants, the birds should be provided with fine gravel. It will help birds grind grains in their stomachs.

Fight against cannibalism

In the wild, pheasants live in families. The male, as a rule, always sticks to the family. At home, especially when birds are kept in aviaries, the behavior of males changes and they can fertilize several females. This leads to nervousness and increased aggressiveness of males. They very often begin to peck other individuals, which over time results in cannibalism. In some cases, females can also become aggressors. You can combat this phenomenon with the help of special glasses for pheasants and chickens. They do not completely cover the birds’ eyes, but in a certain way they narrow their horizons. Anti-pecking glasses can be easily purchased in online stores. It is better to give preference to soft removable glasses. For information on the range of glasses and how to wear them correctly, watch the video.

Lofurs

Lofura pheasants are a whole genus in the pheasant family. All birds of this genus have a common feature - male lofurs have a reddish back. The homeland of these birds is southern and central Asia. Many species live in isolation - on islands. Types of lofurs - Siamese, Bulwer, Sumatran, black and others.

Description. The color of the lower back varies from orange-red shades to dark copper, such as Edwards' lofura. All male lofurs have spurs. On the face there are unusually large cavernous bodies, colored red or blue. Thus, in the Bulwer's lofur, the cavernous bodies are so enlarged that during mating they reach the ground.

Females of all lofurs have more modest plumage - brownish shades. The color of males is dominated by dark blue and black colors; many lofurs have tufts on their heads. The tail is usually white or yellow.

Productivity. Weight – 1.1-1.6 kg. There are 4-6 eggs in a clutch. The Sumatran lafur has 2 eggs in a clutch.

Other features. Lofurs are usually polygamous. Only the Sumatran lofura is a monogamous species. Females are capable of incubating chicks.

Maintenance and care. All except the Sumatran lofur nest on the ground. The eggs are hatched by the parents and the offspring themselves are raised.

Description and appearance

The feathers of the king pheasant resemble fish scales because they have edges of black and brown. The head is black, with a snow-white “hat” on top, and a wide two-color collar around the neck. The wings are lighter, the feathers also have edges, and the belly and chest area are colored black-brown.

The legs are gray with a lead tint, the beak is a light gray shade, and the tail has alternating black and silver-gray stripes. The length of an adult male is about 210 cm, and the tail is 100–160 cm.

Read the description and features of keeping golden, white and eared pheasants.

The female looks completely different: the head is dark brown, the area near the ears and the streaks near the eyes are closer to black. The feathers of the upper part of the wings are chestnut-brown with black spots, and the tips are gray.

The lower part of the feathers has a slightly green tint. The motley tail has perpendicular black and brown stripes; at the ends, the tail feathers change color to blackish-white. The length of an adult female specimen reaches 75 cm, and its tail is 35–45 cm.

Pedigree characteristics of pheasants

All breeds of pheasants intended for home breeding are divided into 2 groups:

1. Common or Caucasian pheasants.
2. Green or Japanese pheasants.

There are many more varieties in the first category - they are usually bred for valuable meat. There are only 5 species in the second category; they are bred for decorative purposes - they are frequent inhabitants of home zoos.

Features of all pheasant breeds:

• They are smaller than chickens. In size, pheasants are comparable to small breeds of egg-laying chickens.
• Pheasant meat is considered dietary; it is valued for its unique taste and low fat content. This is a real delicacy.
• Pheasant eggs are low in cholesterol. Pheasant eggs are usually used for breeding - they are too expensive to eat.
• If there are insects in the beds, pheasants can clear them out of the garden in a couple of days. Moreover, this bird even eats insects that other birds do not like - for example, Colorado potato beetles.
• Pheasant feathers are used to make jewelry.

The Greeks were the first to tame and domesticate pheasants. Pheasants got their name in honor of the Phasis River - it was near it that there was a settlement in which they began to keep and breed this bird.

Most pheasants reproduce successfully in captivity and usually lead a polygamous lifestyle. But some people prefer monogamy. When settling birds, one must take into account their character and behavior. If there are two aggressive females and one male in the same enclosure, then the stronger female can kill the weaker competitor.

Anyone who decides to breed pheasants has a wide choice - nature and breeders have taken care of the diversity of species. Most existing breeds are bred for meat and feathers, while others are bred for decorative purposes. But before breeding pheasants for meat, you should evaluate the costs - given the low weight of the carcasses, it is quite difficult to make a profit from this enterprise.

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Diseases of the breed

Pheasants can suffer from infectious diseases; they often appear in farms where the rules of care and hygiene are not followed or the birds are kept in crowded conditions. Infections can greatly thin out the livestock; in order to protect the farm from diseases, birds are vaccinated and given an antibiotic solution to drink. Individuals with signs of disease are immediately removed and treatment begins.

Among non-infectious diseases, metabolic diseases and hypovitaminosis, eating disorders are more common. Their causes are incorrect, unbalanced feeding, absence or lack of physical activity. When feeding wet mash with a liquid consistency, birds experience blockage of the crop. It is necessary to monitor the composition of the feed and the presence of water in the drinking bowls.

Romanian pheasants are a breed that is bred for meat, eggs and simply for decoration (due to their beautiful green plumage). Raising them is no more difficult than raising chickens. They live in an ordinary poultry house, but the walking pen must be covered, since the birds have not lost the desire to fly.

Pile

Another name for this species is Taiwan pheasant. It lives mainly in the countries of Southeast Asia. In addition to aesthetic purposes, this breed is kept for eggs and meat. This is an extremely shy bird, one of the few representatives of the order that hides and spends the night in trees. Males lead the life of hermits. It is almost impossible to meet them in pairs. Females stay in small flocks. Only during the mating season do male Taiwanese pheasants begin to seek company (of course, they need ladies, for whom they organize real “tournaments”).

The delightful color of the bird leaves no one indifferent. The male has lilac plumage on the neck, chest and front of the tail. On the back there is a large white spot with a red edge. Svaino’s head is a coral shade. The female's feathers are brown or dirty-red in color, which allows her to camouflage perfectly in the thickets.

The male Taiwanese pheasant grows up to 80 centimeters in length. The female is approximately twice as small. Representatives of this breed thrive in confined spaces, which is very convenient for breeding them in captivity.

General information

Pheasants are representatives of galliformes. These wonderful birds have bright external characteristics, which is why they often become guests of home enclosures or zoos, like the peacocks and parrots we all know. However, many species cannot adapt to life in a cage, so their habitat must remain in the wild.

How many breeds of pheasants are there? There is no exact answer to this question. Two main species have been identified: the common (Caucasian) pheasant and the green (Japanese) pheasant. They include more than thirty subspecies of various colors and shapes.

The domestication of this chicken-like bird is not only for aesthetic pleasure. An important feature and value of pheasant is its nutritious meat, which is classified as a dietary delicacy. The same can be said about eggs, which contain many different vitamins and microelements, and are also free of large amounts of cholesterol.

Almost all types of pheasants are small in size; their weight may not exceed one and a half kilograms. Males are distinguished by their large build and bright plumage, while females prefer to be in the shade. Their feathers have a grayish and sandy tint.

Mainly in the wild, pheasants live in forests, reed thickets, fields, and bush areas. They have gained territorial distribution in Western Asia (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) and Central Asia (Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), as well as in China, India and Japan. They were brought to North America and a number of European countries for cultivation.

These birds feed on berries and insects, including ants, snails, and spiders. They do not disdain mice and lizards. In captivity they can eat grain and young grass.

Let's look at the main types of pheasants.

Calorie content and chemical composition

Pheasant meat is considered a dietary product. Its energy value is relatively small and amounts to 253.9 kcal per 100 g. The composition of nutrients is as follows: 18 g of protein, 20 g of fat and 0.5 g of carbohydrates.

At the same time, as noted above, pheasant meat is a real storehouse of vitamins, as well as micro- and macroelements.

Pheasant meat is valued, first of all, as an irreplaceable source of B vitamins. It is impossible to overestimate their role in the life of the body. It is the vitamins of this group that support energy metabolism, normalize the functioning of the digestive system, and help maintain blood sugar levels at an acceptable level. At the same time, according to nutritionists, B vitamins “work” much more effectively if they enter the body not separately, but all together at once. This is why pheasant meat is so valued by nutritionists - it contains almost all the vitamins of this group.

Thus, vitamin B1 (0.1 mg) is an effective antioxidant, improves cognitive processes and memory, and normalizes appetite. Vitamin B2 (0.2 mg) promotes the absorption of iron, thus helping to normalize the blood formula, regulates the activity of the thyroid gland, and helps maintain healthy skin and hair. Vitamin B3 (6.5 mg) helps reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol, takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin, and promotes the absorption of protein that enters the body with food. Choline, also known as vitamin B4 (70 mg), is indispensable for the normal functioning of the liver - in particular, it helps the tissues of this organ recover after taking antibiotics or alcohol, as well as after illnesses. In addition to its hepatoprotective properties, choline also lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol and normalizes fat metabolism. Vitamin B5 (0.5 mg) stimulates the adrenal glands and also helps the body absorb other vitamins from food. In addition, it increases the body's resistance. Vitamin B6 (0.4 mg) is necessary for the body to properly absorb proteins and fats. Vitamin B7, also known as vitamin H (3 mcg), helps maintain skin and hair condition and maintains healthy intestinal microflora. Vitamin B9 (8 mcg) helps stabilize the emotional background, supports the cardiovascular system, and also takes part in the synthesis of enzymes and amino acids. Finally, vitamin B12 (2 mcg) is essential for the formation of red blood cells and prevents the development of anemia.

The chemical composition of pheasant meat also contains vitamin A (40 mcg), a powerful antioxidant that helps “accelerate” the activity of the immune system.

The product is also valued for its high content of macro- and microelements. First of all, it is worth mentioning the high content of potassium (250 mg), sulfur (230 mg), phosphorus (200 mg), copper (180 mg) and sodium (100 mg) in pheasant meat. Potassium is necessary to normalize heart rate, improves oxygen supply to brain cells, and helps reduce swelling by normalizing water balance in the body. Sulfur takes part in the synthesis of collagen, necessary to maintain skin and hair in normal condition, has antihistamine properties, and normalizes the process of blood clotting. Phosphorus is responsible for the condition of bone and tooth tissue, as well as cognitive abilities. A lack of copper can cause indigestion, depression and persistent fatigue, as well as anemia. Sodium takes part in the production of gastric juice and has a vasodilating effect.

The product also contains fairly high levels of chlorine (60 mg), magnesium (20 mg) and calcium (15 mg). Chlorine is responsible for regulating digestion and preventing fatty liver degeneration. Magnesium is responsible for muscle activity, and also, in a “duet” with calcium, for the condition of bone and dental tissue.

Other minerals present in the chemical composition of pheasant meat include tin (75 mcg), fluorine (63 mcg), molybdenum (12 mcg) and nickel (10 mcg). Lack of tin provokes hair loss and hearing impairment. Fluorine helps increase the body's resistance, strengthens the tissue of nails, bones and teeth, and helps remove toxic substances, including heavy metals, from the body. Molybdenum prevents the development of anemia by increasing hemoglobin levels and also promotes the removal of uric acid from the body. Nickel normalizes the activity of the pituitary gland and kidneys, reduces blood pressure.

Japanese

The question of the homeland of this bird, whose name speaks volumes, disappears by itself. The Japanese pheasant was introduced and adapted to the climatic conditions of the United States, where it is raised for its meat and eggs.

The color palette of the plumage of this beautiful breed of pheasant on its chest and neck is dominated by all shades of green. The head is decorated with dark red feathers, and the wings are blue and brown.

On average, a male Japanese pheasant can reach a weight of one kilogram, and a female - seven hundred grams. The body length of a representative of this species varies from 50 centimeters to one meter.

White

The name of this breed indicates that the main color of the birds is white. “Snowy” feathers cover the chest and back, and the individual has a black “cap” on its head. Black color is also present in the color of the edge of the tail and wings. This bird is called the eared pheasant, although no ears are visible on its head.

The white pheasant is a fairly rare breed. It is not so easy to find this bird outside the enclosure. Their homeland is the outskirts of Tibet. However, life in the cage for this pheasant is also calm. The bird adapts well to the climatic conditions of different territories. It should be said that representatives of the breed may have feathers all over their body, including the tail, that are completely white. A characteristic feature of the birds is the red edging around the eyes.