manxman Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I am planning to rear a couple of dozen or so pheasants to supplement our usual 200 we buy in for our small shoot. Despite scouring the web I can't seem to find a supplier of small numbers of eggs. I can find quite a few ornamental varieties but they are expensive and not really what I want. Could anyone point me in the right direction of a mail order supplier? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Small quantities were available on e-bay. I don't know what time you have on your hands but have you thought about catching a few hens and a couple of cock birds up and trying for your own eggs. If you have time and space it could be worth looking at as if you want to rear a couple of dozen it would be just as easy to do all 200 that you want. Obviously depends on what you have set up to incubate, hatch and bring the birds on. If not, try e-bay or ask around other shoots to see if they can supply you with some small quantities. Ask you poult suppliers if they would swap some of your caught up hen birds for some of there laying pen eggs, they might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Small quantities were available on e-bay. I don't know what time you have on your hands but have you thought about catching a few hens and a couple of cock birds up and trying for your own eggs. If you have time and space it could be worth looking at as if you want to rear a couple of dozen it would be just as easy to do all 200 that you want. Obviously depends on what you have set up to incubate, hatch and bring the birds on. If not, try e-bay or ask around other shoots to see if they can supply you with some small quantities. Ask you poult suppliers if they would swap some of your caught up hen birds for some of there laying pen eggs, they might. As above. Or possibly buy a dozen or so ex-layers for their eggs. We have a little Brinsea incubator we use for this purpose. We sometimes use the squirrel traps to catch up birds, and a shoot close by catches up their hens and trades them for next seasons poults. They may do likewise for eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 When have you looked for eggs on the internet? You will probably find nothing around at the moment anyway as it's a bit too early, try in a month or two and they will more than likely start appearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxman Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Thanks for the replies folks. It did cross my mind that it was somewhat early for eggs. I am testing the water to see if I can pre order. I only have the space to do a couple of dozen or so. I plan to time it so they can go into the pens when our new season poults arrive. Unfortunately there are no game suppliers on the island so everything has to be shipped in and that's expensive, prohibitively for a few day olds. Hence the search for eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Thanks for the replies folks. It did cross my mind that it was somewhat early for eggs. I am testing the water to see if I can pre order. I only have the space to do a couple of dozen or so. I plan to time it so they can go into the pens when our new season poults arrive. Unfortunately there are no game suppliers on the island so everything has to be shipped in and that's expensive, prohibitively for a few day olds. Hence the search for eggs. I'd definitely try and catch a few of your own birds and see if you can get your own eggs. I'd go for about 8 hens and 1 cock which is more than enough. Once you have had enough eggs for what you need, let them out after a day or so and there is half a chance that the hens may go on to rear a brood of there own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arley Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I might be wrong but I think you've left it to late too catch up any birds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I might be wrong but I think you've left it to late too catch up any birds? This is the right time to do it. Make a catching pen out of 2x1 and chicken mesh so it's big enough to go around a feeder with room to spare (6'x6') and have a couple of funnels, like pop hole funnels, into it. Birds go into the pen via funnels to use the feeder and you take them out to put into your laying pens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arley Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Agree its the best time of year but its illegal to catch pheasants after the shooting season has finished I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Agree its the best time of year but its illegal to catch pheasants after the shooting season has finished I think? Definitely illegal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Definitely illegal Everyone does it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad93 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 You're not going to get told off for catching a game bird to rear a few poults and then release. Who would police it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe_keeper Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 It is illegal to catch up pheasants after the season but as mentioned above, everyone does it (including me). Not one person has ever been convicted for it. Last weekend I brought all my feeders in and set up 4 x patches of straw with a bag of wheat on each. By this weekend they would have had a week feeding on this. I will then set up my 10 x 10 catchers around the food and leave open pop holes for a further week. After that i will set the pop-holes and catch up. Ive negotiated with a new game farmer to take 50 hens off me in return for 100 poults and then we will buy a further 400 at £2.95 each. Most game farms require hens so you may be able to get your eggs that way. Where are you based as I could get you some if your down my way? Alternitively drop this guy a message on eBay as he should be able to sort you out - but as mentioned before its still a bit early for eggs just yet. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-Ring-Neck-Pheasant-hatching-eggs-PRE-SALE-/321095792497 H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Definitely illegal Only England and Wales but in Scotland you are allowed to catch up until the end of Feb. Not sure about NI or Isle of Man. It would be much better if they allowed catching up like they do in Scotland but then again everyone does it out of season and it doesn't seem to effect anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arley Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Might not be the best idea to admit you break the law on a forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Might not be the best idea to admit you break the law on a forum +1, not the best place to have this conversation, mind you, I am sure your all joking arnt you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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