Useless Dame Keeper Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Managing a small pheasant pen. After dealing with a few cases of pecking (underwings and around tail - focusing on the weakest looking hens) had a young cock arrive a couple of days ago, not from the pen, but definitely from this year, presumably another shoot) today discovered a very mature cock at least last years if not before in the pen. yesterday before seeing the old cock noticed so baldness on the back of the head of the slightly mature cock, wasn’t certain. today to my horror I find the poor chap crouching beak in the ground with the entire back of his head pecked away through the bone. Dispatched quickly. my question is, should I dispatch the old cock that’s made his way in, to avoid risk of further damage, or is the just a coincidence and some other attack/predator. my bests are on the interloper. No pictures of the poor young chap, one of the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Welcome to Pigeon Watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 No cover in your pen Thats what you get - feather pecking Th old bird i doubt will have killed the poult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Useless Dame Keeper Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 (edited) Thank you for your comments- there is plenty of cover, both rain protection and brush, they also have additional stimulation from apples and berries. the original pecking was most likely due to the lack of available food, as mentioned, and the pecking was targeting the weak as well as a brief time when they required workers. To clarify, there were three incidents of the under wing and tail pecking. the incident I am asking about is the singular (currently) event of head peaking of a male pheasant. the pen, is under populated for its size. I have since sought advice from a poultry aficionado who as confirmed my suspicions that poultry are vicious and the scenario I suspected is correct. 2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Welcome to Pigeon Watch. Thank you Edited September 9 by Useless Dame Keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted September 10 Report Share Posted September 10 Get rid of the old cock bird as he will pull you poults away they are ******* in the morning for calling and will pull your poults away from your pens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 10 Report Share Posted September 10 (edited) 10 hours ago, Useless Dame Keeper said: Thank you for your comments- there is plenty of cover, both rain protection and brush, they also have additional stimulation from apples and berries. the original pecking was most likely due to the lack of available food, as mentioned, and the pecking was targeting the weak as well as a brief time when they required workers. To clarify, there were three incidents of the under wing and tail pecking. the incident I am asking about is the singular (currently) event of head peaking of a male pheasant. the pen, is under populated for its size. I have since sought advice from a poultry aficionado who as confirmed my suspicions that poultry are vicious and the scenario I suspected is correct. Thank you From the picture you put up there is no vegetation in your pen - hence why your birds get "bored" and feather peck You cant kill the pheasant in the pen - its out of season anyway Surely you want the birds out of the pens by now anyway ? Edited September 10 by jall25 Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 (edited) On 10/09/2024 at 08:44, jall25 said: From the picture you put up there is no vegetation in your pen - hence why your birds get "bored" and feather peck You cant kill the pheasant in the pen - its out of season anyway Surely you want the birds out of the pens by now anyway ? As jall says they should be out by now these are some of ours starting to guide them where I need them this is just one of our pens this morning VID-20240828-WA0001.mp4 Edited September 11 by Rim Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 1 hour ago, Rim Fire said: As jall says they should be out by now these are some of ours starting to guide them where I need them this is just one of our pens this morning VID-20240828-WA0001.mp4 2.38 MB · 0 downloads Looking well they are Rimfire To stop wastage and prevent disease i have put concrete slabs under each of our feeders = a pain - but well well worth it We dont have hardly a bird in any of the pens now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 I did that in the pens these won't be down more than week by then I hope to have them where I want them nearer where I want them at the cover crops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 56 minutes ago, Rim Fire said: I did that in the pens these won't be down more than week by then I hope to have them where I want them nearer where I want them at the cover crops I see You feed them out by moving the feeders towards the covers bit by bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 Yes leap frogging the feeders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Useless Dame Keeper Posted September 13 Author Report Share Posted September 13 On 10/09/2024 at 07:52, Rim Fire said: Get rid of the old cock bird as he will pull you poults away they are ******* in the morning for calling and will pull your poults away from your pens Thank you this was my feeling, we got him out but he’s returned again, couldn’t get him out tonight with out disturbing the poults- will firmly encourage dispatch. Luckily poults aren’t roaming yet, they’re moving on to grain soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Useless Dame Keeper Posted September 13 Author Report Share Posted September 13 On 11/09/2024 at 11:48, jall25 said: Looking well they are Rimfire To stop wastage and prevent disease i have put concrete slabs under each of our feeders = a pain - but well well worth it We dont have hardly a bird in any of the pens now Wow- you’re on a bigger scale than us, there’s only 120 in the pen I’m managing (less the aforementioned) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 13 Report Share Posted September 13 3 hours ago, Useless Dame Keeper said: Thank you this was my feeling, we got him out but he’s returned again, couldn’t get him out tonight with out disturbing the poults- will firmly encourage dispatch. Luckily poults aren’t roaming yet, they’re moving on to grain soon. As i say you cant - he is out of season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted September 14 Report Share Posted September 14 Catch it up and relocate him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 On 13/09/2024 at 23:41, jall25 said: As i say you cant - he is out of season I disagree in that if he is in the pen then he is no longer covered by the protection of the Game Act. As it could be argued he is not a "wild bird" as such. I'd seek advice for maybe the Game Conservancy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 Just now, enfieldspares said: I disagree in that if he is in the pen then he is no longer covered by the protection of the Game Act. As it could be argued he is not a "wild bird" as such. I'd seek advice for maybe the Game Conservancy? Either way - i really really really would not be worried about 1 cock pheasant "attacking" my poults I have hundreds of them and have no issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 (edited) 23 hours ago, jall25 said: I have hundreds of them and have no issues That's a point of view indeed. My back story is that my grandfather after he was war blinded in WWI was trained by St. Dunstans to raise chickens and so my mother learned that craft as a young girl and passed some of that knowledge on to us as kids. One thing that always stood out that if you get a "cannibal" in an enclosed flock you kill it immediately else it will infect the rest of the birds in the enclosure with the same vice. Edited September 17 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 17 Report Share Posted September 17 On 09/09/2024 at 19:58, Useless Dame Keeper said: Managing a small pheasant pen. After dealing with a few cases of pecking (underwings and around tail - focusing on the weakest looking hens) had a young cock arrive a couple of days ago, not from the pen, but definitely from this year, presumably another shoot) today discovered a very mature cock at least last years if not before in the pen. yesterday before seeing the old cock noticed so baldness on the back of the head of the slightly mature cock, wasn’t certain. today to my horror I find the poor chap crouching beak in the ground with the entire back of his head pecked away through the bone. Dispatched quickly. my bests are on the interloper. No pictures of the poor young chap, one of the culprit. Possibly Mice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted September 17 Report Share Posted September 17 We always have old birds arrive at our pens once the poults go in and never had a problem with them. I have never had a problem with pecking in release pens as the pens are big enough so they can get away from each other. Are the birds well? have they been wormed etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.