Raising pheasant?

[rosscrazyelk]

So more and more when I hit my favorite places the birds get fewer and fewer. I was thinking.. Is it Illegal for me to release my own birds? Along with all this if you raise birds when you let them go will they survive?  There are so many variables that come with this . How big of an area do you need to raise them? what is a good number at a time to raise? would it even be successful?
Just some things I was kicking around do you know anything about this subject i would like to know
Thanks

[gasman]

Get in touch with Olddog and or Birdguy on teh forum. They raise birds and would be a good source of info for you. Birdguy is in Port Orchard and Olddog is in East Tacoma.

[Skyvalhunter]

Ask Bone he is our resident Bird raiser

[wildweeds]

I've raised 1000's of birds,pheasants,chukars and bobwhite quail.Pheasants are the biggest pain to raise,I did it starting out and then switched to bobs and chuks.


     Tips....................

              Round brooder,Red lights, 100 degree temp directly under the light,electrolytes(not to be confused with antibiotics) in the water,Lukewarm or room temperature water when they are day old thru 2 week chicks,Peepers on pheasants for cannabalism at around 8 weeks,Salt added to water,teaspoon per gallon to control picking(the blood contains salt and that's what they crave,old chicken farmer trick,it works),32 sq feet per bird on pheasants.When you get a mean one.......................wring it's neck or isolate it to a seperate pen,I reccomend the pot.Make sure you run a clean outfit,if they are dieseased and resistant to it you'll spread it to the potential wild birds in the area of release through feces.Get NPIP approved stock either eggs or chicks.Dip new chicks beaks in water before you release them in the brooder.I tried all the feeds and purina gamebird is the ultimate until they are grown then anything will work including.......apples,pumpkins and squashes,cherrys,corn,greens,broccoli and the list goes on.Chances of birds making it..................pretty slim but I had it happen until weather and predators combo was just right for a wipe out.Wood pellets for bedding in the brooder,less flammable than straw or shavings,set waterer on a brick or board to elevate it slightly from the bedding,keeps water cleaner,Play a radio for chukars and quail keeps them from piling and smothering from a freak out.


      That's all for now but I'll remember more

[huntingfool7]

Why dip a new chicks beak in water?

[Birdguy]

This is a huge topic, tons more info then any person probably wants to type (me anyhow). There are some good tips posted already about the brooding and raising process (thank you Wildweeds). Yes you can raise and release your own birds (health testing required). Yes, they must be NPIP certified. They must be banded by you prior to release(bands can be purchased from the state). Some may survive if the conditions are right. Number depend on what you have for a grow out area, and how you plan on controlling the birds (peepers or LOTS of cover), when you plan to release them 8 weeks or 14 weeks or The measure of success would be on you. I would think if you plan on raising them and releasing them that 100% would be ideal but anything over 80% would be successful. The ones left out will most likely get eaten by predators (hawks, owls and yotes). PM me with any additional questions you have or if you would like to see how I do it.

[singleshot12]

Raising pheasants is fun but alot of work and can be expensive. If you plan on releasing them in the hopes of them surviving - good luck!
They have everything in the world going against them such as an abundance of predators, lack of cover, lack of food etc. especially here on the west side. Better chance for them on the east side with the right habitat.
I think you need a permit to raise them still.

[Birdguy]

Raising pheasants is fun but alot of work and can be expensive. If you plan on releasing them in the hopes of them surviving - good luck!
They have everything in the world going against them such as an abundance of predators, lack of cover, lack of food etc. especially here on the west side. Better chance for them on the east side with the right habitat.
I think you need a permit to raise them still.

Singleshot is absolutely correct. It is a ton of work and will be expensive. I have about $5000 in pens alone, another $4000 in brooding/hatching equipment, that does not include food, watering systems, the breeders or eggs, specialty items for different situations and most importantly your TIME. There is a requirement to be a licensed gamefarm if you plan to sell gamebirds in the state of Washington, it is not required to raise them. To release them you must have the proper proof of testing paperwork.

[boneaddict]

Between the Raccoons whiping out over half my stock, then the weather knocking out a quarter of my pens, let me tell you how expensive it is.   Other things that nail you financially are....FEED, electricity, if you ive on the eastside, then probably heated water dishes, permits for certain critters.  Building materials, watering systems.  Remember it also ties you down.   Its hard to just leave your birds.  I have automatic watering systems that work outside of the winter months.   And feed in front of them all the time during the fall.   Remember bird control, rodent control as they eat more than your pheasants.  Granted, mine are all exotics, but its still a ton of work.   I still do it though.  

[boneaddict]

One reason pheasants are a pain is that they are not very nice to each other.   Its more difficult than most imagine to have a bird in fine feather unless you keep them seperated.  Again, I raise exotics so its a different cup of tea than regular ringnecks, but I can tell you unless you take special measures, they will beat up on each other fiercely.  This can be managed by space, segregation or by mechanical means, which I never liked.