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Pheasant is a rather popular bird belonging to the pheasant family. The pheasant variety was considered the best game for a long period. They were caught for rich European estates and were served only on special occasions. Pheasant dishes have always been considered a special delicacy. To date, pheasants can be bred even at home.
The process of domestication
The second name of the pheasant is Caucasian pheasant. This species of birds is classified as a squad of chicken. It is surprising that this representative, in fact, is a relative of an ordinary domestic chicken, but it also becomes a desirable target for all hunters.
If you believe the ancient myth from Greece, the pheasant in Europe appeared thanks to seafarers, who brought this bird from Colchis when they went on a journey to get the golden fleece. I must say that this is partly so. It was the Greeks who, in the times of Aristotle’s life, brought the pheasant to Europe. After that, this species appeared in the Roman Empire, and then spread to the territory of Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary. In the 19th century, pheasants began to occur in North America, as well as in Australia.
It is worth noting that pheasants were often bred at home, however, this did not make the species completely domesticated, as this did not have any particular economic benefits. Most often, pheasants were bred by owners of rich estates, who later used the birds to organize hunting. Only in the 20th century did pheasants become considered semi-domestic or domestic birds.
Appearance
The main distinguishing feature of pheasants is a rather long tail that has a wedge shape. The tail consists of 18 feathers, which gradually taper towards the end. Representatives of the male half of pheasants have a brown tail, sometimes even of a copper color with a red hue; a purple stripe can be discerned at the edges of the tail. In females, the tail is less bright, usually dull brown. Carps from the north are distinguished by their color. In the area of the head and neck, they can be noted feathers of green and golden color, orange feathers on the back, the border of which turns black.
Common features with guinea fowl
Many say that pheasant meat looks like guinea fowl meat. This is not surprising, since guinea fowls or "royal" birds also belong to the order of the chicken-like. Guinea fowl differ in that they are smaller in size than pheasants. The maximum weight of the latter is 1600 grams.
It is also possible to distinguish a guinea fowl from a pheasant by the color of its plumage. The "royal birds" feathers are gray-white, also present and spotted color. Pheasants are brighter birds, the color of which is very diverse.
The distribution of pheasants in the wild
In natural conditions, pheasants can be found in almost all parts of Eurasia, birds are common from the Black Sea to Japan itself. It is worth noting that these individuals perfectly live both in the mountains and in the territory of the lowlands. In connection with such a wide distribution, one might even think that any conditions for life are suitable for these representatives. However, in fact, pheasants pick up strictly for those areas in which there is dense vegetation, it is better if it is barbed and intertwined. Also an important factor for these birds is the location of a nearby water source. Even in mountain ranges or in the steppe, pheasants are traditionally located on the shores of rivers and streams, where there are also thickets of reeds and various shrubs.
In addition, pheasants can often be found close to agricultural land. In these areas, the birds mainly feed, but the nests are never satisfied, as dogs, cats and rats can destroy them here. Pheasant nests are arranged just in the thickets of reeds or thorny bushes, where it will be quite difficult to reach them.
In natural habitats, they eat almost everything. They can feed on insects, small lizards and worms. The process of searching for food and feeding for pheasants is the main activity, because birds devote all their time to this, except for the period that they spend on sleeping or cleaning feathers.
Adult pheasants also enjoy eating young plant leaves, berries, seeds, and fruits. It is important to note that these birds peck only what is located either on the ground or on rather tall plants. Pheasants do not know how to feed directly on the trees, but if the birds are in danger, they can hide on high branches.
How to care for pheasants at home?
In general, pheasants are traditionally considered to be wild birds, however, today they are quite common as pets. These birds look very aesthetically pleasing due to their beautiful and bright plumage. However, the main value in this case is, of course, pheasant meat. Many gourmets recognized this meat as the most valuable product. In addition, eggs are also used as food, and these birds give the same number of eggs as regular domestic chickens.
In general, it is easy to keep pheasants at home, this process resembles the content of chickens. Of course, there are some peculiarities in the maintenance and breeding of these birds, however, they are completely burdensome. In addition, to contain pheasants is not only beneficial, but also interesting, and therefore even some peculiarities of breeding birds become uncomplicated.
Today, pheasant meat is eagerly bought by many restaurant complexes, since this product belongs to delicacies. Moreover, additional money can be obtained from the sale of eggs and even feathers. Another direction of such a business is the breeding of decorative birds, which are acquired mainly for the maintenance of the house.
Birds of this variety are also very valuable for hunting. Such organizations buy live pheasants to organize hunting.
For the maintenance of pheasants does not require the organization of cells or any premises. The fact is that pheasants live quietly year-round in the open air in a climate of the middle belt. Pheasants are not afraid of frost at all and, thanks to their beautiful and warm plumage, can calmly spend the winter outside.
In order to start breeding pheasants, it is necessary to buy their eggs, or to get adult individuals of different sexes, but one species. After that, the breeder should carefully examine the variety and characteristics of breeding.
What to feed the birds at home?
It is very important before buying birds and organizing space for them, studying the peculiarities of keeping pheasants, and also understanding how they can be fed.
These representatives differ in that they live for a long time. Under natural conditions, the average life of these birds is about 5-7 years. In the case when circumstances add up more favorably, these individuals can live up to 15 years. At home, pheasants can live up to 18 years, but only if they are provided with comfortable living conditions.
Under farm conditions or simply at home breeding of pheasants, from the very birth, they first start feeding them with boiled eggs, which are previously finely chopped. You can add greens to the eggs, which are also necessarily finely cut, as well as powdery worms.Feed pheasants the first time you need every two hours. If, after feeding, some food remains, it should be immediately thrown out. At night, pheasants are also fed, it will be enough twice a night. Feeding should be carried out in the presence of light, for about half an hour. During this period, you can also add to the feed feed.
As soon as the chicks are one week old, you can enrich their diet with boiled millet, in which you should also add chopped greens. In the future, the menu should also introduce feed, millet, crushed corn. From the green should choose clover and dandelion.
Adult pheasants are perfect as feed chicken feed, millet, sunflower seeds, as well as corn. It is recommended that adults also give snails. It is worth noting that the birds of this breed will gladly eat even the Colorado beetles. Should additionally give them cake. In winter, the diet of birds should be supplemented with sugar, fish oil, as well as ascorbic acid. These products are necessary for pheasants to enhance the body's immune defense.
Behavior and reproduction of pheasants
An interesting feature of pheasants is that they can very quickly move along the ground on their paws, but the flight, even a short one, is too difficult for them, which it is not ready to perform, therefore, it is extremely rare to see flying pheasants. Pheasant males always protect their territory and nests very carefully. Sometimes birds are even able to sacrifice their lives, but do not allow the enemy to the nest. The settlements of these birds most often can be found not far from water bodies in thickets of various plants.
In the very heat of the day, pheasants hide under the plants, in the same bush where they nest. For hunting and feeding birds leave the evening, as well as morning. Pheasants also sleep next to the nests in the shade of plants.
Before the onset of spring, pheasants live in flocks, which consist of individuals of the same sex. Males flocks are usually more numerous than females. As soon as the first signs of spring appear, the male separates from the flock and chooses a female. After that, he begins to sing songs in a hoarse voice, in order to attract the attention of the opposite side, and also inform other males that the female is already busy so that no one else will claim it.
Next is the process of organizing the nest.It is traditionally located in the grass in the thickets of plants so that from the side the nesting place is not visible. The female in pheasants hatching eggs on their own, and in general, she takes care of herself all the time that the incubation takes. The male takes no part in this process at all. From the moment the eggs are laid and until the first chicks appear, it has traditionally been about a month. In one breeding pair may appear from one to twenty chicks. Under natural conditions, pheasants lead a monogamous life.
Video: breeding pheasants and their breeds
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