new to pheasants

[JRT27 0]

Hay guys, I need abit of advise I am trying to bring on some pheasants this year for abit of a change, I've reared 100s of ducks in the past, I have of them in pretty big release pen with a sheltered area, but 2day I have lost 10 birds and I can't work out why? We have had a few bad thunder storms 2day could this have coused it or would it be somthing else? Thanks

[roebuck220 80]

How old are they? you would need to give more info about how you found them ...all together...scattered around, pull the skin off them right up to the head looking for marks. Are the rest lively enough as it could be disease, hexy etc

[shovel leaner 7,650]

How were the birds reared ? Did they get hardened off on a field ie in a net covered flight.Or as i suspect in a shed or barn setup.If they have not been given the chance to get used to a bit of rain on their backs and to get their preening glands working ,they could well succumb to a lot of rain.

[JRT27 0]

They came 2 me from a mate of mine I am led to beleave they came from a farm that rears about 10k of them? So I suspect they were barn reared? I couldn't find any marks on them eg bite or peck marks, some of the bodys were out side in the run and some were in the half I have covered in, I don't no what age they are just came to me as poults and the farm was shipping out all there orders, the rest of them seem fine like normal, and they all seemed fine over the past few days, sorry about the lack of knolage about the birds,

[burnie69 376]

Colour of dropping and texture i.e any running brown stuff or fluffy cream stuff around the pens.Also the birds you picked up have they lost any weight ?

[shovel leaner 7,650]

Because of the low number of birds and the fact that you say its a large release pen,and you havent had birds in there year in year out,disease seems unlikely,how were the birds acting ? Were they loafing around with their necks in and feathers puffed out?You have checked the bodys for marks of predation,so rule that out.If you can get some BAYCOX into them,wont do any harm.

[JRT27 0]

Not 100% sure but the droppings seem ok? Birds didn't seem that bad, missing some feathers but that's it I think?I still have the dead birds so will check for sure tomarrow, but they seemed ok I didn't notice anything strange,

[burnie69 376]

How long you had em jrt27 they could of had a touch of something when you got em and the stress of moving brought it on,Missing feather did they come like this or has it happened with you if the pens as big as you said you shouldn't have a problem with arse pecking on only having .

[JRT27 0]

I've had them just over a week, and yer afew of them had feather loss when they came in, the pen is about 17feet by about 35feet, it was an old polly tunnel I have converted, about 3quarters of it is covered in netting and the rest is is closed in for a shelter,

[raymond1 262]

I've had them just over a week, and yer afew of them had feather loss when they came in, the pen is about 17feet by about 35feet, it was an old polly tunnel I have converted, about 3quarters of it is covered in netting and the rest is is closed in for a shelter,

 

17x35 and poults start digging a hole or let them out after they have been medicated

[JRT27 0]

Hay guys so I've just been out 2 check the birds, no more dead 1s had a good look around for any signs droppings and everything seems fine but there are 4 there that are just sitting around with there fethers puffed and there necks sunk in? Not a good sign? The rest are running round and scatty like I would expect!

[shovel leaner 7,650]

When you said you had a good size release pen i didnt realize it was a 17x35ft ,coverted polly tunnel!This set up seems unsuitable to say the least.Birds need some cover like bramble or laurel or bushes and trees to roost in.This coupled with birds that are poorly feathered,is a recipe for disaster.Let me tell you a little secret,some unscrupulouse game farmers ,have scruffy birds that are leftover after they have caughtup their birds for customers,they are usually small poorly feathered runty things,these can be brought on with a bit of TLC or sold to someone like yourself CHEAP!!!! I wish you all the best for your birds ,but bi think you should have done some better research before wasting your money!

[JRT27 0]

They went cheap! But I could see how they may be left overs, I have got fur tree branchs stacked up in places but maybe that's not enough? Could it help if I took them into a barn for abit to see if they pick up? Maybe dose them up as well? If so what's the best stuff 2 get?

[JRT27 0]

Sorry I ment they wasn't cheap

[shovel leaner 7,650]

Once they have gone into a barn and been medicated,what then ? where are you going to put them?There is a right way and a wrong way of doing things,those birds need to go in a proper release pen,to stand a chance,if you confine them any more they will start to feather peck and eat each other.My advice is to find someone with a small diy shoot who will take em off your hands to top up one of their pens.If you really want to bring on some pheasants ,get a book on it or get some good advice,from someone who knows what they are on about,build a decent release pen of an apropriate size for the amount of birds you intend to keep.Best of luck SL