Do Pheasants Make Good Pets?
Ornamental pheasants are some of the most beautiful birds in the world. They come in a huge variety of colours and feather variations, and can be a fantastic addition to farm, garden or homestead. If you keep aviary birds, they can be a great addition to utilise the ground-space or you can set up a run or coop just for pheasants themselves.
I should point out from the very start that pheasants are not like chickens. Though their dietary needs are somewhat similar, their characteristics are completely different. You can eat the eggs, but they only lay seasonally. Most breeds will not become tame, sit on your foot, follow you around the garden or pose for photos. Unless you clip their wings (and even then, it’s not a guarantee) they’ll fly away and so you need a roofed coop, run or aviary to keep them in. However, all that being said, I still think they’re wonderful birds and an exotic addition to any farm, collection or garden.
Male Lady Amhurst in moult
Male Silver Pheasant
PHEASANT BEHAVIOUR
Pheasants are naturally shy individuals that are not prone to seeking out human interaction. You only have to see the speed at which they dart off into the undergrowth or fly away over a hedge when you’re out walking to realise that. However, like all animals; if you treat them well, are kind and calm around them and have a little patience, many pheasants will become quite tame. When I say tame I mean, eat from your hand tame rather than walk around your farm and sit on your shoulder tame.
Personally, one of the joys of having animals is watching their natural behaviours and displays. From the way they look for food and take a dust bath, to the interactions between each other. Whilst your pheasants won’t necessarily become your best friend, it’s still really fun to sit quietly with a cup of tea or coffee and watch them going about their daily lives. It’s the perfect zone out and zen time.
PHEASANT HOUSING
My personal preference for keeping pheasants is a large (6” x 12” at a minimum) aviary with natural floor. For pest control, you can put wire down and then allow the grass to grow through. Alternatively, use a metal skirt around the outside of the enclosure to stop predators digging in.
Pheasant do not do well in wet conditions so they need a hutch, shed or draft-free box to get out of inclement weather. I don’t heat any of my runs but like chickens, they need someone dry and out of the wind to rest - they’re feathers and body heat will do the rest.
A Male Grey Peacock Pheasant
As part of the pleasure of having pheasants as pets is also the landscaping. Though some pheasants are notorious for digging up their runs, most will enjoy shrubs and bushes to get under, long grass to pick through and nest in, and rocks and branches to perch and display on. There’s nothing better than landscaping an aviary and then having a few lovely birds inside.
PHEASANT VARIETY
The type of pheasant you get will likely affect how friendly your pet pheasants will get. Different animal breeds - chicken, dogs, cats - all have innate characteristics notable to them. Greyhounds sleep a lot. Silkies go broody. Bengals are super high energy. Pheasants are the same, with some breeds showing certain characteristics.
Good starter pheasants can be:
Golden pheasant
Goldens - I honestly love golden pheasants. They’re one of the cheapest varieties available but just look like an explosion of flames and jewels. They also become very friendly relatively quickly; chirruping for food, coming up to the dishes and even eating from your hand.
Silvers - I’ve also found male silver pheasants to become friendly, often even displaying at your when you go to refill their bowls or walk by. The hens, however, can be rather flighty.
Exotics:
Temnicks Tragopan - If you want to try something a little more exotic, then Temnicks tragopans are glorious. Pairs can be quite expensive but I’ve found both males and females become really quite friendly. The male’s display is exquisite with them choosing a place to dance, inflating a huge blue bib and bouncing on the spot.
Grey Peacock pheasants - Like silvers, I’ve found male grey peacock pheasants to be really friendly.
Non-Friendly:
Young male reeves in first moult.
Lady Amhurst - These birds are readily available but I’ve found them to be illusive and scatty, running away and flying into the netting every time you go into the run.
Reeves - Reeves are also available quite often and cheap. However, hens are scatty and males can become extremely aggressive. They grow super long spurs and will actively try to fly at your and scratch you. They are beautiful to look at but never turn your back on a reeves!
PHEASANT DIET
Feeding your pheasants is really easy, and for the most part they’ll happily eat game pellets. I also feed mixed corn as a treat and growers pellets. Though I once used to offer layers pellets (as I buy large quantities for my chickens) I found this to be too fatty and rich, particularly for the males.
Most pheasants are also insectivores and will happily eat bugs; either ones you find in your garden, or mealworms, grubs etc bought at the pet store. Supplementary greens and fruit are also welcomed; though a word of warning - cut grapes in half or you may need to do a Heimlich manoeuvre on a pheasant!
DO PHEASANTS MAKE GOOD PETS?
Overall, I really like keeping pheasants as pets. If you want to keep an animal that will be loving and tame, pheasants aren’t for you. However, if you want beautiful birds to add a little glitz and glamour, then these wonderful birds are perfect.