Farms, theme week. Monday: Pheasant

in #farms6 years ago (edited)

Farms, theme week. Monday: Pheasant


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Hello, dear steemians. Following the thematic week proposed by the community @farms on breeding birds today it is the turn of the pheasant. A very beautiful bird, which stands out for its beautiful and colorful plumage. This game bird is appreciated for its meat. Projects for captive breeding have been proposed for some time. Here I bring you some useful tips for your captive breeding.

According to some historical data, the pheasant was taken from Southeast Asia to Europe around the 10th century BC by the Argonauts of the Caucasus, these birds were abundant at that time and due to that ancient geographical location, the Latin term Phasianus has been adopted internationally by zoological science to designate gender.

The pheasant is the size of a chicken, both sexes have a pointed tail.

The male has a bluish green head, with a grayish green crown and a red fleshy area around the eyes; white collar interrupted in front; light yellow back, speckled in black; blue-green rump; wings pale blue, lower parts purple and mostly with black spots; sides straw yellow with black spots; black abdomen; dark tail and in the purple-colored villas barred in black; legs with spurs; weight: 1100 - 1400 grams.


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The female is characterized by having a dark straw colored plumage in general darker feathers especially on the back and chest; double chin and breast light-colored; pointy tail barred with dark spots; weight 850 1100 grams. Territoriality very accentuated, common polygamy, spectacular dances in order to excite the female; granivores.


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The pheasant is a wild game bird and therefore once you decide to breed in captivity you need a series of measures to see:
  1. Selection of players. At 9-12 months of age the pheasant reaches its sexual maturity and as a consequence is fit to perform the functions of reproduction, however, our experience has shown that the second and third years of age are the best years of posture. The males will be chosen among the most aggressive, the most haughty, those with the best picture, in short what we could call a good stallion. The females chosen among those of better shape, without physical defects and observing that they do not have lesions or stings in the cloaca.
  2. Mating. The mating is based on the polygamous habits of the species and is done in order to ensure fertile egg posture. The groups formed by 5-6 females and 1 male are recommended. The mating season begins in late January or early February and ends at the end of July. A good number of females and males are available for spare during the season, because some females suffer injuries and some males do not respond as good stallions.
  3. Posture A few days after mating the pheasants, the position begins, being irregular at the beginning and regularizing from the fifteenth day of the beginning of the mating. The average position per season is around 60-70 eggs, per female.
  4. Egg collection. In order to avoid that the egg remains exposed to sunlight, rain or even to prevent them from being stung and eaten by some birds, it is recommended to collect them at least 3 or 4 times during the day.
  5. Selection of the egg for incubation. The selection of the egg for incubation is based on the coloration, weight, size and shape of the egg.
  6. Incubation The egg should be incubated in periods of no more than 10 days and preferably every week.
  7. Care during development. At the exact 23 days the chicks are born with wet plumage and constant monitoring is needed. After two and a half months the pheasants do not need more care. After three and a half months, the secondary sexual characteristics are perfectly differentiated and males and females can be separated and released in appropriate areas, where they will reach their full development and maturity of the primary characters and therefore they will be able to reproduce normally naturally.
  8. Rest season. Once the laying season is over, the resting season begins, necessary for males and females to replace the lost energies in the reproductive process and to regenerate the plumage and normalize the disorders suffered due to the oviposition. This season begins on August 1 and ends at the end of January.
  9. Food. The diet of the pheasants in natural conditions is formed by grasses, insects and herbs. Undoubtedly the best food for game birds and in particular for pheasants in captivity will be one that, properly balanced, contains the basic elements that are naturally provided. The green food (alfalfa, grass, grasses, etc.) within the pens for development and adults is necessary and recommended, as this complements their diet the pheasants in captivity. In addition, they capture and eat numerous insects found in the green.
  10. Diseases. The greatest care should be provided to the newborn chicks. During the first four weeks they are exposed to diseases of the respiratory tract (catarrh) and the digestive system (diarrhea). Digestive diseases are avoided with a good diet, clean water and daily cleaning in the premises and implement. Cannibalism can occur from the first days and if it is not fought, the results can be disastrous. The pheasant begins by stinging the toes of the legs, the head, the cloaca, etc., and as soon as the wound produces blood, the rest of the pheasants continue to sting deeper and deeper until the death of the specimen.

Thanks for reading me.