Pheasant pen in maize cover

[Rutlandwilly]

I have a really deep valley but I have no woodland on it, I put partridge down but also want to put some pheasants down.

 

Does anyone release pheasants into pens in maize cover with no trees?

 

If so how do you do it?

 

Any other tips welcome.

 

 

Thanks in advance

[CharlieT]

Trees are not necessary for an outstanding drive, many of the best drives in the country have none. All they have is deep valleys.

 

I presume your intention is to drive the birds from a plot at the top of one side of the valley to a plot at the top of the other side. Weather and wind permitting, there is no reason why these plots could not be maize. However, remember that in exposed conditions maize won't grow and stand well and something like kale would serve you better.

 

I would site the release pen in the bottom of the valley and a few weeks before shooting commences feed the birds up into the plots and then continue to only feed them in the plots, ie feed them where you intend to flush them from.

 

I find that release pens work best with a mixture of planting. Some open spaces and some taller crops for protection. Just remember that maize will not have reached its height before the birds have left the release pen and moved into the drives.

[Rutlandwilly]

What I mean is I want to put a release pen in the cover, no trees no scrub just maize and sorghum.

 

I can't and don't want to put the pen at the bottom because it's too close and I have found the birds just glide down to the pen, so I have 4 covers scattered on either side of the valley, with the intention of flying them to the alternate covers.

[CharlieT]

Yes, I know what you mean, birds always tend to fly back to the pen.

 

If your climate is good enough, maize will work, but just remember that if you also intend to use your release pen as covert for the season you will need to bear in mind disease implications and the maize not lasting beyond Christmas and possible damage to young maize plants when birds are released into it.

 

I have used maize as a covert crop in similar situations, deep valleys, with great success. I can not stress enough, however, that it really is climate dependant and I always plant something else in blocks/strips with it as a backup.

[Konnie]

As above try some part of you cover as reed canary grass, will offer decent shelter in the second year, and a fixed habitat for several so pen can be used again,

[r1steele]

My biggest concern would be the lack of roosting. I know the birds can just 'jug' down but I would certainly prefer a release pen which offered at least a little bit of roosting.

[Rutlandwilly]

My biggest concern would be the lack of roosting. I know the birds can just 'jug' down but I would certainly prefer a release pen which offered at least a little bit of roosting.

This is my concern too, can I make roosting by putting up perches.

[r1steele]

This is my concern too, can I make roosting by putting up perches.

I would be more worried about birds of prey using the perches.

[Rutlandwilly]

I would be more worried about birds of prey using the perches.

Good point, but what's the difference with a man made perch and a tree?

[CharlieT]

Good point, but what's the difference with a man made perch and a tree?

 

By the time poults are strong enough to roost up in a tree amongst the branches and leaves, which offer some protection they are relativly safe. Also,poults tend to go upto roost at dusk and come down at first light. Whereas they tend to roost on barren perches during the day, a few feet off the ground.

 

More importantly, buzzards love perches to spy from and drop down off them onto poults, the reason I won't have a pearch in my pens. I even endevour to stop them perching on fence posts for that very reason.

[rich1985]

I have a small pen in one of my drives which isn't maize but campaign mix South from kings, I put 200 birds in this pen which is constructed from Harris fencing, I put shelter in and some roosting in the form of a elder bush or haw thorn cut out the hedge, I do net the top of this particular pen and then trickle realise them. All works very well. I will be netting all 3 of my realise pens this year due to exploding buzzard and now red kite numbers.

[hesstondriver]

I have a small pen in one of my drives which isn't maize but campaign mix South from kings, I put 200 birds in this pen which is constructed from Harris fencing, I put shelter in and some roosting in the form of a elder bush or haw thorn cut out the hedge, I do net the top of this particular pen and then trickle realise them. All works very well. I will be netting all 3 of my realise pens this year due to exploding buzzard and now red kite numbers.

What he said !!!!

[scolopax]

Where will they roost post release?

 

Seen pheasants released very successfully as desribed in previous posts, but they have always at least had a thick hedgerow or two to go up to roost in.

 

A field or two of sugar beet would allow them to jug on the deck provided there is adequate fox control, ie none.

[rich1985]

There is a bramble covered hedge within a few yards of pen, post release they climb on the bramble and roost, they have also roasted on net on top of pen too, as I said it all works very well. If constructing a pen from Harris fencing run chicken wire round the bottom of the fencing or your pheasant will get out, the gaps may look small but trust me they can squeeze out!

Edited May 14, 2015 by rich1985