Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hello, Had my pheasant supplier ring the farmer today to confirm our 120 poults for this coming season, hes going to give us 60 ringneck and 60 melanistic's, but he says he can offer us 1st cross americans, old english black necks or pure michigans aswell. I recognise the names, but dont have a clue about them, what they look like, how they fly etc. Any ideas? Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I believe these are the "blue-backed" pheasants, they are larger than our birds and very strong fliers. Their habit of roaming off, makes them not as popular as you would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Kool, Blue backed being which? I now know what the darknecks are and there habitats, along with the ringnecks and melanistics, just michigans and 1st cross americans now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow Goose Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 The American breeds do wander off,are stronger that ringneck and more prone to gapes.Overall they a lot better though as they fly like the wind and often higher than ringneck...enjoy them if you decide to buy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I think it is the Michigans, but I have never heard of "1st cross Americans". I suggest you ask the Dealer which ones have a light blue tinge to their backs. Its interesting how they are offering melanistic as a "type" now. Once upon a time, amongst the pure English pheasants you bought in you would get a few melanistic ones, which were considered mongrels and the Dealer wouldn't charge you for them. How times change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Cheers, well im definately getting more melanistics, or blue mongolians as they are called as they flew well, and they survived the best this year, im getting 60 day olds of these to rear. so ive still got 120 birds to decide what i want, apparently the darknecks are lazy and hold more but dont fly as vigorously, and the ringnecks are an all rounder, which lay well, hold ok, and fly well. Still havent found out what american crosses look like or are, aswell as these michigans, the internet and my books mention them but not in enough detail. Alex Im getting all excited now about this coming season. P.s, alot of gamekeepers i know dont like the melanistics much, which is why there isnt such a big market for them i think, and may put in a few to add variety. I think this is mainly because paying guns want to see a traditional pheasant get put up not a black one. I on the other hand like them alot, if i had my way all would be melanistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 A lot of 'knowledgeable' keepers use these 'unusual' varieties as marker birds to keep tabs on where their birds are wandering to. One estate uses white pheasants for the same reason then charges a penalty fee if you shoot one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Yeah have heard it happen with the white chinese pheasants, but never melanistics. I can see it working though. A lot of 'knowledgeable' keepers.... A nice little dig there.# Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Michigan blues are the blue back Pheasants and they fly like the wind. And just keep on flying, never to be seen again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Cheers tiercel..... Some interesting thoughts to keep me amused, so basically, if i get some michigans, they will fly well, but ****** off and not hold.. i wonder what these 1st cross americans are. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Asked one of my gamekeeper friends tonight at Young farmers about the dilemma, he said Michigans have blue backs, nice one cranfield and fly amazingly, and hold just the same as any other pheasant. He also said stear clear from dark necks as they are huge and dont fly well, and if the 1st cross americans are crossed with ringnecks or michigans, they should be good too. Think i may go for 60 ringnecks and 60 michigans. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 FB Bluebacks and their crosses wander like hell. Unless you have a very large acreage and can spend all day dogging in I strongly suggest you steer well clear of them. Go for ringnecks and a few melanistic as you originally said. We always have a few thousand bluebacks or first crosses to make up the numbers as we are a high bird shoot and yes they do fly well but I would hate to tell you how many hours we spend dogging in. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Time to get a dog FB I think. Either that or make sure your next missus likes to run round the fields all day SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Cheers for the information guys. Will keep the main bulk of them ringnecks 80, but am going to try 40 odd michigans just to see how it goes. All must make our own mistakes and all, :yp: Ill see how they cope on my land, im hoping they do wander, as i need them to wander to find another 2 cover strips away from the pen, always holds birds but not many, and is too far away from access to release any. Alex http://www.hy-fly.co.uk/pheasant.htm a decent website that sheds abit of light on the situation for future questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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