flight pens

[beckyschicks]

Pending my licensing: I would like to raise and release ringnecks. Now I was just wondering what experiences people have had as far as sucess? I'm planning on having a flight pen that is a min of 50x50, for about 30 birds. There will be lots of natural cover and the surounding areas are woods, farm fields, and natural wetlands. My plan is to release about 20ish in the first year keeping a male or two and the rest hens, for the following year to breed. I've done some digging, but can't seem to find much about people's experiences with releasing. Also I have read in the sticky that they can get water in the winter from the snow, should I provide another water source for them or would this be enough. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[SamG347]

This question has been covered in another thread but I will answer a few questions for you.

1. 50 by 50 will be plenty big for 30 ringnecks.
2. It sounds like you have great habitat for ringnecks but when it boils down to it will the survive and breed...nobody can answer that 100%. If you put out enough birds which would be around 100 a year I would say you would start to notice an increase in the population around...but that would be because you are stocking the population that exhists already after your first release. I would let the birds go around 6-7 weeks old so they are old enough to fly and fully feathered...but still not too dependent on you. Feed them grain on the ground and allow them to hunt in the flight pen for insects and eat native grasses. They will be able to get enough water when released from your swamp and or puddles that accumulate in the fields. But in the flight pen I would provide them with a waterer.
3. They can and will use snow as a water source and will also burrow down in it in extreme cold to be insulated.
4. Keep 1 male and 6-7 hens for breeding if you decide to do so. And make sure to watch for picking during breeding season.
5. DO NOT USE CHINESE RINGNECKS for your release...try to find Kansas...Mongolian...or Manchurian stock. Mongolians/Kansas can also be called Bluebacks.

Anymore questions feel free to PM me. I have raised a few hundred pheasants and I'm no beginner when it comes to gamebirds.

 

[beckyschicks]

Thank you. That helps. Unfortunatly I really don't have alot of experience with pheasants so everything helps. The first year will be a hands on learning experience as the internet can only teach you so much. This is why I will only be doing 30 birds in the first year. The numbers will grow as my experience does. Question though- Do you usually see them say close to "home" or not? How far should I release them from the flight pen? Thanks again.

 

[SamG347]

I see them around now and then. Your local hawk...fox...coon..and yote population will really determine how many you see. If you can I would just open the flight pen up and let them go out when they want. Sit and watch it won't take them long to realize they are "free" and if they are anything like my pheasants will take off after only taking 3 or 4 steps out of the pen.

 

[SamG347]

Good place to get chicks an I believe they sell eggs as well...

http://www.pheasantchicksfarm.com/

 

[beckyschicks]

Thank you again. I'm going to check that site out. I'm sure you can and this has probably been asked, but since I have you here. Can I successfully sex them at 6-8 wks?

 

[SamG347]

I'm pretty good at sexing pheasants as day olds....and yes around 8 weeks of age youl should be able to tell male from female..even younger depending. When the time comes and you can get some good pictures of the chicks faces I will be able to help you out.

 

[beckyschicks]

Thank you so much again! I'll be in touch come April. That site is great an I like how they feel about quality. Thanks again!

 

[ranit]

By six-eight weeks the males are starting to get some color on their chests so easy to sex. We've released some the past couple of years. We did as Sam suggested and just opened the door. We would see them for awhile but then as time went on no more but then I live in southern Illinois and our conservation dept. can't even get them established in our area. They told my husband that the number one predator for pheasants is hawks and we just have too many in our area.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Yep, hawks will kill all of them. They are very persistant.