Pheasant species.

[biffo 0]

hi lads, a quick question about pheasant species. i hope you can help

 

do the more exotic species (lady amhurst, golden, silver etc) have any value as gamebirds or are they purely ornamental?

 

thanks

-biffo-

[Big.T 2]

hi lads, a quick question about pheasant species. i hope you can help

 

do the more exotic species (lady amhurst, golden, silver etc) have any value as gamebirds or are they purely ornamental?

 

thanks

-biffo-

 

Hi biffo, i think you will find they are purely ornamental, it would be very expensive to release any amoun of them. I do know of a couple of shoot that release half a dozen Golden pheasants with tere normal stock and then put a bounty o them on shoot days, i.e. if you shoot one it will cost you £50.

There is also the issue of being more likely to be taken by predators as they are more visable.

 

Tony

[biffo 0]

cheers tony

[neil cooney 10,416]

There's a few clubs here in Ireland releasing Reeves pheasants. To be honest I refused to believe it was real when I seen a photo of one with a six foot long tail. But it was real indeed.

I'm told there quiet sporting but I know one club that's stopped releasing them as they're quiet aggressive towards the Ringnecks.

[sidebyside 0]

Be careful with "Posh" pheasants some are very aggressive and will keep the more gregarious pheasant species away from hoppers or feed rides, one such aggressor is the Reeves pheasant.

[biffo 0]

reeves pheasants are magnificent even if they do sound more trouble than theyre worth. do you know if golden pheasants are agressive towards other species?

[Jim Grant 4]

In the past most of the sporting estates would release some of the exotic species around the Big House. Reeves was a favourite in Fife. Made a dent in the pocket money if you shot one, the hens were cheaper than the cocks, but you had to a pretty dippit sort to shoot a cock. Most of the exotic species are pretty territorial although I never remembered the Reeves being aggressive.

 

[Tiff 36]

they are lovely for sure! I'd love to see them out and about

[whip x grey 276]

ive heard a story once that a golden pheasant used to have a go at the keeper when trying to top up the feeder,,,,lol

 

dont know if its true

 

 

i had one,,,stayed about the garden,,,but it did like a good wander from time to time,,,,,,and it was fearless,,,stunning pheasant thou

[sidebyside 0]

None of the "Posh" pheasants eat well, thats why they are not really put down for shooting.

Many years of keepering by those keepers that were about when game shooting was really the sport of the landed gentry or the weathy show that only some of the subspecies were worth the effort, a few keepers put down birds with a high bounty on their heads and often the keeper gets to keep the bounty. Be aware that the bosses soon clock onto this and start to take the money to give to the Game Conservatory Trust or their favority charity. I know this from experience.

Good fun for a bit, but hard work for the rewards. try a few white pheasant or two if you feel you need something different, but be ready for a few sleepness nights when you don't see them for a few days or they stray over the boundary or worse the gloating from the neighbouring shoot when they shoot "Your White One "

I know I have been there.!!!!

Edited October 12, 2008 by sidebyside

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Ive done goldens, they do ok, will hold with the others and they fly ok aswell. And they arnt an aggressive bird towards the 'regular' pheasants.

 

I know a keeper that put a couple of dozen reeves down, but most strayed off the estate.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Just as a footnote to this .

It is now illegal to release non indigenous gamebirds and this includes guineafowl .A few estates i know of locally have had checks recently by the enviroment agency no less .Birds deemed to be non indigenous were on this years cull card !Fines are coming in too.

 

The indigenous species that may be released are -English ringneck,Michegan blue,Melanistic and cross breeds of both pheasant types.

Partridges include the English and French red leg but not the Chukar .

[MikeTheDog 153]

As has been said the reeves is a beautiful bird, also makes an interesting noise when flushed. Another reason for releasing exotic coloured birds is so the keeper can check on bird movement about the shoot.

[doga 50]

reaves are agressive they will kill each other but are the prittiest of things so to are the cross to the normal pheasant lovely white green pied heads long tails beautiful.