Sean Richo Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 Our DIY shoot has two pens one inside a small wood and one at the bottom of a valley next to a stream. We are thinking about building two new pens next season in diffetant places but these may mot be in woods but just on the outside of them in the field as the ground is flatter and easier to build. If we put a net roof on would this help us contain our ex layers is it a good idea to put a roof on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Scotland Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 We have nets on our pens it prevents the tawny owl taking our poults we only put 400 so we can't afford losses I would think that you would need a net for ex layers to get them settled put plenty of tree branches inside to help them roost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Many moons ago a game keeper friend of mine released some birds(poults) in some close topped pens. If my memory serves the pens where about 12ft by 25ft, similar to rearing pens. He put four or five up a ride through a small wood and ran electric fence round the lot. Eventually lifted the edge of the pens to let the birds out, strawed the ride top to bottom and come the season they had some storming birds out of this small wood, to guns pegged 150ft below in the meadow. Mind he was evil incarnate on anything listed vermin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Richo Posted February 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2017 Thank you for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nmb Posted February 19, 2017 Report Share Posted February 19, 2017 (edited) We have four pheasant pens. Two netted pens which have 450 birds between them and two non netted ones with 850 birds between them. We achieved a return of 38% in the netted ones and only 17% in the open ones. Also worth saying that last season one of the pens went from 20% when non netted to 41% this season with a net over the top. Our netted ones are in open areas with broom, ferns, nettles etc and we also add lots of branches to provide cover. We are looking at netting the others this season as we feel it helps a lot. Nick Edited February 19, 2017 by Nmb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Pheasants are naturaly roosting birds. If there are no bushes or trees they will find them,usualy next doors shoot. If they ground nest at night the the fox etc will find them.. Pens should benear or in woods or spinneys,once the find safety roosting tthey will use that area. Simple really,give them what they want,,,,security.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I put 200 ex layers down last season, netted for sure, then pop holes to let them out etc. But kept them shut for over a month so they got used to being in that area, that's where food and water was so they would come back. So would recommend putting a top on an ex layer pen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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