STARTING WITH ORNAMENTAL PHEASANTS
Ornamental pheasants are a stunning addition, whether you’ve just an aviary in your garden or are looking at building something more extensive on your farm. At Brimwood Farm we keep Reeves, Golden and Grey Peacock pheasants (with plans to increase our varieties). They can also be purely for fun or used as a business income stream - hatching eggs, for example, sell extremely well!
If you’re being lured in by the beauty these birds can offer, there are a few important points to consider. These shouldn’t put you off keeping these magnificent creatures, but are key to bear in mind when preparing to welcome them to your home.
Reeves pheasant trio in planted aviary
Juvenile Golden Pheasant starting to moult into adult plumage
HATCH YOUR OWN PHEASANTS WITH A MAGICFLY INCUBATOR
KEEP CHICKS WARM WITH AN ELECTRIC BROODER PLATE
THEY’RE NOT CHICKENS
First and foremost it must be recognised that ornamental pheasants cannot, and should not, be treated like chickens or other poultry. Whilst you might free range or let your chickens out of the coop, do this with pheasants and your beloved pets will be a colourful blur in the distance. They do not lay year-round eggs. You cannot pick them and stroke them as you would many a chicken. Though there is some level of domestication in certain breeds of pheasant, they are still relatively wild creatures and need to be treated as such.
ORNAMENTAL AVIARIES ARE BEST
Many pheasant breeders keep their birds in long runs or covered pens. Whilst I understand this is totally traditional for those raising game birds to be let out before a shoot, if you’re keeping pheasants for ornamental purposes, I highly recommend you build or buy an aviary (something like this). You can then watch and enjoy your birds in their full glory rather than having to lift pen tarpaulins just to get a look.
Male grey peacock pheasant exploring
THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS
You may know the perils of a feisty rooster … they can do a lot of damage, especially to children. The same can be said of certain pheasant species - particularly reeves pheasants. Due to the low level of domestication, they can still be flighty and wild, injuring themselves and you in the process. In addition, males can become very territorial during the breeding season, and it’s not uncommon to hear of pheasant keepers with great scratches or even losing an eye due to the vicious spurs on some pheasant males. So, as with all animals, treat them with respect and care, and ensure your own safety when in aviaries with them.
NOT ALL SPECIES ARE THE SAME
Unlike chickens, for example, where there are different breed types of the same animal, pheasants are a variety of different species. This means that each type has specific needs and dietary requirements that may differ from others. Some prefer an insectivorous diet, whilst others eat nuts, fruit and berries. Some need heated winter accommodation to survive, whilst others are utterly hardy even in snow. One size definitely doesn’t fit all, so it’s important to do your research before buying your preferred bird.
A Reeves Pheasant in the snow
I absolutely love keeping ornamental pheasants. They are unique and different and some, our Goldens for example, will even eat food from your hand after a few weeks taming them. I definitely plan to add more species to our range and I encourage you to do the same!