In the poultry yard, different breeds of pheasants look exotic - their plumage is too beautiful and elegant forms. In addition to the decorative function, pheasants can serve as a source of valuable dietary meat and eggs. The main breeds and their subspecies are described in detail below.
Common pheasant
The common pheasant is exactly the bird that was once hunted in the forests. Later, the bird was tamed to decorate the royal courts and put on the table valuable meat. The homeland of this breed is the Caucasus, and they also lived in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Today, this breed is actively selected by farmers for breeding for meat.
Description. In appearance, the bird is similar to ordinary chickens. But there are also bright differences - firstly, the long feathers of the tail, tapering to the ends. Secondly - the presence of red skin near the eyes - the facial "mask". Pheasant males always look brighter than females. The silver-gray plumage of males has a lot of shades that attract the eye - yellow, orange, purple, piercing green. Turquoise feathers are on the neck and head. Females in the plumage have only three primary colors - gray, black and light brown. The legs of the males are equipped with spurs. The tail of males reaches a length of 55 cm, the tail of females is 30 cm.
Productivity. The weight of the male is 1.8-2 kg, the weight of the female is up to 1.5 kg. Body length - 80 and 60 cm, respectively. The female carries about 50 eggs during the mating period. In a day - 1-2 pieces. Typically, egg laying lasts from April to mid-June.
Other features. In nature, they settle in areas where there is a bush, tall grass, ponds, fields with corn or wheat. Males are aggressive in relation to rivals - arrange fights that can result in death. Females lay 8-15 eggs. Masonry is done in a hole dug in the ground. The female hatches eggs for 3-4 weeks. Chicks grow up to about 5 months.
Maintenance and care. It is this breed that is more common in hunting farms than others. In nature, the bird eats berries and insects. With artificial content in food are unpretentious. The main condition for keeping, as for any breed of pheasants, is a large indoor enclosure. Pheasants tolerate frosts well, but not drafts. Contain birds in pairs. The floor is covered with litter of sawdust or straw.
Hunting
The hunting breed was obtained by crossing green and common pheasants. The population is small. After crossing the hybrid, a variety of subspecies appear. Today, a hunting pheasant is found in the USA and Europe.
Description. Coloring is diverse - from pure white to black. Males are traditionally more luxurious than females. Plumage casts green or purple. The color is dominated by brown, orange, burgundy and bronze shades. Males have a red “mask”, a black cap and a snow-white collar. The legs are powerful, decorated with spurs.
Productivity. The average weight of the female is 1.5 kg, the male is 2 kg. Body length - 80 cm, but of which 50 cm is the length of the tail. Females are characterized by high egg production - up to 60 eggs can be laid in three months.
Other features. Differs in fertility and excellent health. Often used for breeding - to breed unique subspecies. The meat is tasty and dietary - with low cholesterol.
Males of the hunting pheasant are polygamous - they can live simultaneously with 3-4 females. They may conflict with other males, seeking the attention of the “lady” they liked.
Maintenance and care. The bird is responsive to the nutritional value of the feed - it is worth increasing it, and immediately gaining weight. They reproduce well and gain weight under artificial conditions. Bred for slaughter, as well as for resale in hunting farms. The content of pheasants is almost the same as that of chickens. But during mating, it is better to separate the males from each other in order to avoid conflicts. Ideal conditions are a family of a male and six females. One pheasant needs 75 g of feed daily, and during nesting - 80 g.
Pheasant eating Colorado potato beetles improves the taste of meat.
Green
Since 1947, the green or Japanese pheasant has the status of the national bird of Japan. Their habitat was previously limited to the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku. The green pheasant has several subspecies of the common and hunting breeds in its pedigree, therefore, when breeding, it gives many color options.
Description. The back and chest of the male are in emerald feathers. The neck is covered with purple feathers. The tail is purplish green. Females do not have bright plumage - they are painted in brown-brown shades. There are black blotches.
Productivity. The average weight of the male is 1.9-1.2 kg. Body length - 75-89 cm, of which 25-45 cm is the length of the tail. Females reach a length of 50-53 cm, tail length - 21-27 cm. In clutch - 7-9 eggs.
Other features. Males do not show much aggression. Green pheasant live for about 15 years. They love hilly terrain, tall grass, thickets, shrubs. They live in monogamous and polygamous families.
Maintenance and care. The bird is hardy and resistant to cold. Can be kept like regular chickens. It can be easily kept on farms and in zoos. The main condition is the presence of a large enclosed enclosure in which there is grass and shrubs. In the diet of birds living in natural conditions - cereals, young shoots, berries, fruits, worms, mice, snakes and lizards. In artificial conditions require proper nutrition. Their diet includes cereal feed, animal feed, finely chopped vegetables, cottage cheese, herbs, insects.
The green pheasant has several subspecies, which, being similar, have slight differences in the color of the mantle, abdomen, collars, heads, paws and beaks. Species and their habitats are in table 1.
Table 1
Subspecies of green pheasant | Habitat |
Northern |
|
South |
|
Pacific |
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Diamond
This is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The second name of the diamond pheasant is Lady Amhrest, received in honor of the wife of the Governor General, who sent the bird to London from India. From there, diamond pheasant spread throughout Europe.
Description. It was not without reason that the pheasant was called Diamond; its plumage shimmers like a gem. On the head are wide white feathers, similar to an old wig. Chest - olive or emerald, passes into a white stomach. On the goiter is a combination of white and black feathers. On the back - blue-black plumage. The bird’s tail is especially luxurious. Females look traditionally modest - brownish-colorful plumage, around the eyes - bluish skin.
Productivity. The average male weight is 0.9-1.3 kg. Female - 0.8 kg. In clutch - 7-10 and more eggs. The female is able to lay up to 30 eggs per season.
Other features. Birds are highly adaptive. They can get along with other types of birds - chickens, pigeons, etc. They are distinguished by a calm, peaceful disposition, are not shy, and easily make contact with a person. Diamond pheasant meat is dietary, very tender and pleasant to taste. Eggs are high in protein.
Maintenance and care. The bird, despite its exotic appearance, tolerates cold well and is not demanding on the conditions of detention. It is easy to breed in private courtyards. Settled in spacious enclosures by families, but one male - two females. The enclosure should be divided into zones - for couples. In order for birds to gain weight faster, they are given fish oil. The rest of the diet is similar to chicken. Eats greens, grain, worms, vegetables and fruits. Bred for hunting, decorative purposes.
Gold
This breed is particularly majestic and beautiful plumage. Bred for meat and for decorative purposes. The bird lives in Eastern Europe. She can be found in reserves, in other areas she is a rare guest. But the homeland of the Golden Pheasant is not Europe, but Southwest China and East Tibet.
Description. The main difference of the breed is a golden crest, on the edges of which there is a black stroke. The abdomen is maroon. Females have no crest. The feather color of males combines yellow, orange, black, ocher and blue. The neck is decorated with an orange "collar" with a dark border. The tail is long, luxurious. Females are smaller in size and more modest in plumage.
Productivity. The average weight is 1.3 kg. During the season, the female can lay up to 45 eggs, young ones - up to 20 pieces. The peculiarity of the golden pheasant - if you immediately take the eggs, then the egg production increases.
Other features. Meat with excellent taste. The disadvantage is weak immunity.
Maintenance and care. Breeding is not particularly difficult. Since the bird is prone to diseases, it is recommended to give antibiotics along with feed. Although golden pheasants have low immunity, they tolerate frosts very well - they can withstand temperatures of minus 35 degrees without damage to their health. This bird can be kept in unheated rooms. For more information about the golden pheasant and its cultivation, look here.
The Golden Pheasant has several interesting subspecies. They are found in natural conditions, breeders also have them:
- Red pheasant. This is a wild species of Golden Pheasant, introduced to breeders after the work of breeders.
- Bordeaux. It has a color similar to the Golden Pheasant, but instead of red feathers it has burgundy. This species was first bred from a domesticated red pheasant.
- Golden Giji. Got his name in honor of the Italian Giji, who was engaged in its breeding. A distinctive feature of the species - the whole body is covered with yellow-green plumage.
- Cinnamon. This species was bred in the USA. Instead of blue and green plumage, he has gray feathers on his back.
Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Golden pheasant red
Golden Pheasant Bordeaux
Golden Giji
Golden Cinnamon (Cinnamon)
Royal
This is the largest pheasant, which is bred mainly for decorative purposes. The birthplace of the bird is the highlands in the north and in the center of China. In Europe, this breed is bred in hunting grounds, in Russia it can be seen in zoos. The royal pheasant is often called as variegated or Chinese.
Description. The plumage is yellow-brown, resembles scales. Each feather is surrounded by a dark border. Around the neck - a black border. On the crown - light feathers. The female is more modestly colored - she has a golden yellow plumage, on which dark specks are visible. The tail is white, luxurious, framed by brown, up to 2 m long. The chest and nape of males are orange or almond. Beak and paws are gray. The head is white, the “mask" is black.
Productivity. The average weight is 1.3 kg. In clutch - 7-14 eggs.
Other features. Prefers to move on the ground - wings are rarely used. They live up to 14 years. Differ in extreme shyness. This bird is not only beautiful, it has tasty and tender meat.
Maintenance and care. Resistant to cold. Rarely get sick. But they do not like dampness. It is important that the enclosures are dry. For them, it is necessary to build perches. Coniferous trees are used for their manufacture. Pheasants need perches for observation - this is their favorite pastime. Sitting on perches, they often heal the skin of the paws, which they have very delicate.
The population density of the aviary is 1 individual per 1 sq. Km. m. A day give 75 g of feed from corn, wheat, yeast and fish and meat and bone meal. In spring, pheasants are additionally fed with sunflower oil, berries and calcium - the bird will grow faster, and their meat will be more tender.
Eared
Long-eared pheasants are one of the most massive birds among their counterparts. There are three subspecies of Eared Pheasants - white, blue and brown. Found in nature in the highlands in East Asia. There is no difference in the plumage of the male and the female.
They have an elongated body with short powerful legs. On the paws - spurs. The main difference is the long white feathers near the ears. These feathers are “ears,” slightly raised up. The head is black, shiny. Near the eyes are red circles. They have a very long tail - it is half the entire length of the bird.
Blue eared
Bird can be found in the mountainous and wooded areas of western and central China. From China was imported to France in 1929.
Description. The bird is smoky blue. The “mask” is red, there are white ear feathers. Because of them, the bird is also called the Blue-eared Pheasant - the feathers resemble sharp ears or a mustache. Paws are long, pink. Males have spurs. The tail is luxurious, blue or black. In length, males reach 100 cm, of which the tail is more than half
Productivity. Eared blue pheasants are quite weighty compared to their counterparts. The average weight of the male is 1.7-2.1 kg, and the female is 1.5-1.75 kg. In clutch - 6-12 eggs. The eggs are large, gray or taupe.
Other features. Easy to tame, contact and friendly. Males during breeding can become aggressive. Prefer monogamy.
Maintenance and care. Resistant to frost and very hardy. They love to mess around in the snow and do not suffer from the cold at all. In nature, they feed on plant food, in captivity, blue pheasants are fed with a mixture of animal feed and grain. Some breeders give pheasants dog food. They need spacious enclosures in which there is grass and shrubs. There should be logs - for sitting birds. The bird does not like humidity, therefore it is necessary to provide drainage.
White eared
This is a very rare species of pheasant. In nature, it can only be found in the mountains of Tibet. This rare bird is usually kept in zoos and for decorative purposes.
Description. The color of plumage is snow-white. The head is red, on the top is a black “cap”. In the wings and tail there are, along with white ones, gray feathers, coal-black at the ends. The legs are bright red, decorated with spurs.
Productivity. The average weight of the bird is 1.35-1.5 kg. Oviposition per season - 30 pieces.
Other features. The eggs of the female are laid, but they rarely sit on them - you need to lay them under other hens.
Maintenance and care. It adapts well to captivity.
Brown eared
Description. They are distinguished by brown plumage of the body and wings. On the neck and tip of the tail - a black and blue border. The back is creamy. The head is decorated with a black "hat". Eyes are yellow, beak is yellow-brown.
Productivity. Males weigh 2.7 kg, females 2.5 kg.
Other features. When a bird searches for food, it can turn large stones with its beak - to find the roots of plants. This is important to consider when creating enclosures - you need to plant them with non-poisonous plants. The bird is non-conflict and easily gets used to the person.
Maintenance and care. It feeds on plant foods. It makes up 70% of the diet. It is recommended to introduce peanuts into the feed.
Himalayan
The Himalayan or Nepalese pheasant lives in the highlands of Southwest China, Indochina, the Himalayas. Another name for the Himalayan pheasant is black lofur. There are several subspecies, of which in captivity, more often than others, they contain purple-black, white-crested, and white-backed varieties. In Europe, white pheasants appeared in the 18th century.
Description. The plumage color is black, with a purple-metallic tint. At the bottom of the back there is a wide white border at the edges of the plumage. The head is decorated with a long black crest. The paws are dark gray, there are spurs. The beak is light green in color. The plumage of the female is olive brown with a light brown border.
Productivity. The weight of the male is 1.3-2 kg, the female is about 1 kg. The number of eggs per season is from 15 pieces. Oviposition - 6-8 light cream or reddish-yellow eggs.
Other features. Many females incubate and hatch on their own. It is not recommended to lodge with other species of birds, as this breed is aggressive, and especially during the breeding season. Differs in shyness.
Maintenance and care. In captivity, they are fed a grain mixture of millet, wheat, corn and other seeds. They give chopped vegetables and fruits. This bird needs many shelters - they are made of logs, slate, stones, bushes. The bird is hardy and can withstand extreme temperatures. Tropical subspecies need to build houses for the winter.
Silver
Common breed. Her homeland is China. Due to its high egg production and high weight, it is beneficial to breed Silver Pheasant for meat.
Description. The body is covered with light gray or white plumage with dark stripes. There is a green tint. On the face is a red “mask”. The head is decorated with a blue-black crest. On the back is a white hood. The lower plumage is black, on the back and wings there are feathers with a black border. The bird seems "silvered." The upper feathers in the tail are snow-white. Paws - coral pink. The length of the male is 125 cm, of which the tail is 70 cm. The female is significantly smaller - 75 cm, the tail - 30 cm
Productivity. The weight of the male is up to 5 kg, and the female is about 2-2.5 kg. Oviposition during the season is 50 eggs. In clutch - 7-15 eggs.
Other features. Gains weight quickly. The Silver Pheasant has strong immunity, so it rarely gets sick. Males differ in pugnacity during reproduction.
Maintenance and care. The breed is perfectly adapted to the conditions of Russia. It tolerates frosts up to -30 ° C, as it has a dense plumage. He does not like drafts. Willingly eat chicken and goose feed. The bird is unpretentious, it is easy to keep in nurseries.
Taiwanese
Very rare bird. The second name is the Pheasant Svayno. It is listed in the Red Book. It was named after the ornithologist Swine, who discovered him in the highlands of Taiwan in 1862. This species is not found anywhere else.
Description. A small bird with violet-blue feathers on the chest and neck. On the lower back there is a black edging. The tail feathers are white. From the neck to the lower back there is a white spot. At the base of the wings are orange spots. Face without feathers, coral red. Paws are bright pink. Males have spurs. The length of the males is 80 cm, the tail is 48 cm. The length of the females is 50 cm, the tail is 25 cm.
Productivity. The average weight is 0.9-1.3 kg. In the clutch - 6-15 eggs. Up to 20 eggs are laid per season.
Other features. The bird is shy and careful. In nature, she hides in shrubs all day, and spends the night on trees. The period of activity is dusk and dawn. They live about 15 years.
Maintenance and care. It feeds like all chicken-like seeds, fruits, insects, greens.
Argus
The homeland of Greater Argus is the Malay Islands. You can find this rare bird in special nurseries and at amateur poultry farmers engaged in the sale of breeding birds.
Description. The plumage in color resembles a peacock. The bird is large, but not as bright as most pheasants. He has a gray-green speckled plumage, a red neck and a blue head. But during mating, the male spreads its tail, on which are oval golden "eyes". For this, the bird got its name - Argus, given to it in honor of a deity with many eyes. Paws are red. No spurs. In length it can reach 2 m, of which the tail is 1.5 m.
Productivity. The average weight is 1.4-1.6 kg. In clutch - 6-10 eggs. Females lay enough eggs, but are not always ready to hatch them. Argus meat has a unique taste.
Maintenance and care. Perfectly adapt to life in the aviary. Friendly, getting used to the owner. Young animals are fed with minced meat, carrots, worms, etc.
Horned
Horned pheasants or Tragopans are divided into five subspecies, and they all have common features - females are not similar to males.
Description. The males are quite large. They have a bright color and processes in the shape of a cone near the eyes. The color is dominated by red and brown shades. Throat - in growths, which are called "earrings". Females are not bright, brown, without “horns” and “earrings”. Paws are short, males have spurs.
Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.1 kg, females - 1.3-1.5 kg. The female lays 3-6 eggs for hatching.
Other features. Males are aggressive - they fight with each other.
Maintenance and care. It adapts well to captivity. He prefers berries, fruits, greens and wheat.
Types of tragopans:
- Black-headed or western tragopan. The male has a black “cap” on his head and a crest with a red end. Cheeks - without feathers, bright red. The male weighs 1.8-2 kg, the female - 1.4 kg.
- The brown-bellied. His name is Trabotana Cabot. There is also a black "cap", and a crest - orange. The weight of the male is 1.2-1.4 kg, females - up to 0.9 kg.
- Gray-bellied. The second name is the tragopan Blita. The largest representative of Tragopanov. The weight of the male is 2.1 kg, and the female is up to 1.5 kg. The head of the males is decorated with an orange crest with a black stripe.
- Ocellated. The second name is the tragopan Temminka. One of the most beautiful species of pheasants. The head of the males is decorated with a black and orange crest and blue “horns”. On the throat are blue-turquoise outgrowths, similar to lapels. The face without feathers is blue. The weight of the male is 1.2-1.4 kg, females - up to 1.0 kg.
- Tragopan satyr. The second name is Indian. The weight of the male is 1.5-2 kg, females - up to 1.2 kg. On the head there is a black crest with dark red spots.
Black-headed tragopan
Brown-bellied tragopan (Tragopan caboti)
Gray-bellied tragopan (Tragopan blythii)
Ocular tragopan
Peacock
This is not a specific species, but a whole group of subspecies, united by a common trait - they all look like a peacock with its feather pattern and magnificent tail. Peacock pheasants are also called mirror or mountain. This type of pheasant is poorly distributed in our country; Indian farmers are mainly engaged in its cultivation. The purpose of cultivation is decorative.
Description. On the back, wings and tail - "peacock" pattern. In the tail there are 16 feathers responsible for flight control. Plumage - silver, there are feathers with a pearl shade.
Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.0 kg, females 1.3-1.4 kg. The female lays up to 45 eggs per season, the young - up to 20 eggs. The eggs are tasty and healthy. In egg laying - up to 15 eggs.
Other features. Friendly, quickly get used to the person.
Maintenance and care. They are prone to diseases, therefore it is recommended to add antibiotics to the feed. Resists frosts to minus 35 degrees. Adapt well in captivity.
Wedge-tailed
The birthplace of this small bird is China. The second name is Koklas. It lives in mountain forests and shrubs. The habitat is northern China, Nepal and Afghanistan. A very small and dodgy bird - hard to catch.
Description. The head of the male is decorated with a crest divided in two. Belly and chest are brown, wings are white or gray, decorated with a striped pattern. The length of the male is 58-63 cm, of which the tail is 23-24 cm. The female is the same size. Unlike other pheasants, there are no bare spots on the face. Beak - black, paws with spurs.
Productivity. Males weigh about 1.1 kg. The female lays up to 25 eggs per season.
Other features. Females can hatch eggs and take care of chicks.
Maintenance and care. In nature, they feed mainly on plant foods. You can not overfeed with compound feeds - they can die from obesity. In the diet, greens should prevail - lettuce, nettle, yarrow, wheat seedlings, etc. Grain or mixed feed for chickens is added to the feed. They prefer a dry and cool climate. Poorly acclimatized in Europe - sensitive to dampness. Keep in open-air cages in pairs.
Romanian
This breed is a subspecies of the common pheasant. Obtained by crossing wild Japanese pheasant and European common. Often this bird is also called the Green or Emerald Pheasant, since its wings have a characteristic green tint. There are individuals in which feathers are cast yellow or blue. This is a large bird that is bred for meat.
Description. The plumage is gray-brown. Part of the head of the males is covered with green-blue plumage. Throughout the body - an emerald shade of plumage. On the head is a crest. Females are modestly colored - they have brown plumage, without a green tint.
Productivity. Weight - up to 2.5 kg. In poultry farms, this bird is raised only up to 1.5 months, sending for slaughter upon reaching a weight of 1 kg. The female lays from 20 to 60 eggs per season.
Other features. The egg production of a female is determined by her age. The meat of Romanian pheasants is appreciated for its dietary properties and great taste.
Maintenance and care. Maintenance and feeding are the same as for common pheasant.
Yellow
This species of golden pheasant is artificially bred.
Description. The plumage is bright yellow. The head is decorated with a long crest of lemon color. There is a yellow-orange hood. Females are more modestly colored, they are also yellow, but of a lighter shade. The length of the male is 1 m.
Productivity. The weight of the male is 0.9 kg, the female is 0.6 kg. In clutch 5-12 eggs.
Other features. Females lay eggs in pits, which they themselves dig in the ground. They live about 10 years.
Maintenance and care. They are fed with a mixture of wheat, millet, ground corn and other seeds. Finely chopped vegetables and fruits are given. In a tribal period, they are kept in a common aviary. During the mating season, birds are raised in families to avoid fierce fights. In the family - 1 male and 6-10 females. Food can be given once every 2-3 days, so as not to disturb once again fearful birds. In the enclosure there should be a “winter garden” - shrubs and dry trees.
Lofurs
Pheasants lofurs are a whole genus in the pheasant family. All birds of this genus have a common feature - male lofurs have a reddish back. The homeland of these birds is southern and central Asia. Many species live in isolation - on the islands. Types of lofurs - Siamese, Boulevard, Sumatran, black and others.
Description. The color of the lower back varies from orange-red hues to dark copper, as, for example, in Edwards lofura. All males of lofur have spurs. On the face are unusually large cavernous bodies painted in red or blue. So, in boulevard lofura, the cavernous bodies are so enlarged that they reach the ground during currenting.
Females of all lofurs have a more modest plumage - brownish hues. Dark blue and black colors predominate in males, many tufts have crests on their heads. The tail is usually white or yellow.
Productivity. Weight - 1.1-1.6 kg. In clutch 4-6 eggs. Sumatran Lafura has 2 eggs in a clutch.
Other features. Usually lofurs are polygamous. Only Sumatran lofur belongs to monogamous species. Females are capable of hatching chicks.
Maintenance and care. All but Sumatran lofura nest on the ground. Parents hatch the masonry, and they themselves feed offspring.
Thoroughbred Pheasants
All breeds of pheasants intended for home breeding are divided into 2 groups:
- Common or Caucasian pheasants.
- Green or Japanese pheasants.
In the first category there are much more varieties - they are usually bred for the sake of valuable meat. In the second category there are only 5 species, they are planted for decorative purposes - they are frequent inhabitants of home zoos.
Features of all breeds of pheasants:
- They are smaller than chickens. In terms of size, pheasants are comparable to small breeds of chicken in the egg direction.
- Pheasant meat is considered dietary; it is appreciated for its unique taste and low fat content. This is a real delicacy.
- Pheasant eggs are low cholesterol. Pheasant eggs are usually used for divorce - they are too expensive to eat.
- If there are insects on the beds, pheasants can clean the garden from them in a couple of days. Moreover, this bird eats even those insects that other birds do not like - for example, Colorado beetles.
- Feathers of pheasants are used to make jewelry.
The first pheasants were tamed and domesticated by the Greeks. The pheasants got their name in honor of the Fazis River - it was near it that the settlement was located in which this bird began to be kept and raised.
Most of the pheasants breed safely in captivity, and usually lead a polygamous lifestyle. But some prefer monogamy. When settling birds, one must take into account their nature and behavior. If two aggressive females and one male are in the same enclosure, then a stronger female can kill a weaker rival.
The one who decides to breed pheasants has a wide choice - nature and breeders took care of the diversity of species. Most existing breeds are bred for meat and feathers, while others are for decorative purposes. But before breeding pheasants for meat, you should evaluate the costs - given the low carcasses, it is quite difficult to make a profit from this enterprise.
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