Stray female ring neck pheasant

[Feegojo]

Hello. I just joined bc I Googled what to do when a pheasant shows up in my yard and has remained for two weeks now. I came across a thread here dated 2015 from someone else that similar happened and it was helpful
I live in NW Pennsylvania and pheasants were released approx three miles from where I live for hunting. Shortly after, a female ring neck showed up in my yard eating under my bird feeders. I thought she would eat and move on, but she has remained in my yard. I put hay with my wood pile where she likes to stay and under a weeping tree where she seems to like also. She doesn't seem to like the hay, however.
My concerns are: what should I be feeding her, do they do okay on their own or are they a flock bird, what can I do to keep her comfortable and safe during the snow and cold? My yard is quite sheltered and safe, but I don't know her needs.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

 

[BarredRockMom]

1). Welcome, welcome, welcome!!! We're glad that you joined us!
2). Now you own a pheasant!
3) I have no idea what they eat, how to keep them, etc. Perhaps see if you can Google commercial pheasant operations & see what they do...then copy the best things for her?
4) Search BYC & see if there's a pheasant thread. I am going to do that, too, but I am working today...

 

[BarredRockMom]

I'm tagging a couple of members whose names came up when I searched this site for "Pheasant care". Hopefully, they will be able to give you some help:

@Sjisty
@TwoBFlying
@Amelo1
@Crele
@Sam - poultry enthusiast

Because "working" isn't always for the birds,
BUT IT SHOULD BE!!!!

 

[Feegojo]

Thank you! I did choose the pheasant thread to post this under. Did it not post there? I am new to this. It was pheasants and Partridge thread.

 

[bobbi-j]

Our wild pheasants find food in the fields after they've been harvested. You can see them out all winter scratching down and finding grain. I don't know about the survivial skills of a raised and released pheasant. I would say as long as she has shelter and is able to forage for food, she should be OK.

 

[The Phantom]

I would feed her some game bird pellet. And make like a little cave for he with pine branches and grass or straw

 

[BarredRockMom]

Thank you! I did choose the pheasant thread to post this under. Did it not post there? I am new to this.

*Doh*. Yes, you DID post it in the right place... apparently I can't read today, lol.

 

[Feegojo]

Thank you! I have pine trees, so I will gather some pine. I purchased a hay bale and put some hay in a sheltered, covered section of my wood pile, but she doesn't seem to like the hay. She sits out in the snow all nestled down and "puffed up". I can get within four feet of her before she begins to move away from me, but she never runs. She went into my garage at one point, but quickly left when I entered.

 

[Feegojo]

*Doh*. Yes, you DID post it in the right place... apparently I can't read today, lol.

No problem at all .. lol.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I have golden pheasants, I give them game bird feed. You could give it to ringnecks too. She may also like mealworms to eat.

She'd need some sort of shelter if it's cold there. She may also feel more protected there.