PhilR Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Our pheasant poults are now 13 weeks old and some, generally the hens, have missing back feathers in some cases so many that you can see their skin quite clearly. Does anyone have any idea if this is normal moulting, or is there another reason that would cause it to occur? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Feather pecking/picking. It'll get worse as the dominant birds get more agressive. Best bet is to find the agressors and evict them from the pen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 If they are starting to damage the skin then the best solution is to lift the wire and let them out, if not then a few bald backs is nothing to worry about, the feathers will grow back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ireland's Finest! Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Your birds are starting to pick each other, which is proabably happening because Your pen is too small for the amount of birds you have in it, the birds are becoming bored and have nothing to occupy them. If its becoming a serious problem then you need to let the birds out now or they will pick the life out of each other, leaving them with no tails come shooting time, which looks horrendus, I've seen it happen in a neighbouring club. If its not too bad then you need to try and occupy the birds, 1. Feed them wheat in straw 2. Hang up Cabbage heads for them to pick instead. Other people prob have other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Your birds are starting to pick each other, which is proabably happening because Your pen is too small for the amount of birds you have in it, the birds are becoming bored and have nothing to occupy them. If its becoming a serious problem then you need to let the birds out now or they will pick the life out of each other, leaving them with no tails come shooting time, which looks horrendus, I've seen it happen in a neighbouring club. If its not too bad then you need to try and occupy the birds, 1. Feed them wheat in straw 2. Hang up Cabbage heads for them to pick instead. Other people prob have other ideas. What he said . It is more than likely the pen is too small now for the birds and you have to look at maybe letting some of them out. We have found that hanging up cabbages are great for keeping the birds occupied; I hung up 2 yesterday and came down today to find that there was nothing left on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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