Raising Pheasants for training

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:07 pm

Has anyone raised pheasants for training before? I have raised poultry before so it wouldnt be a problem but my question is. Would it be better to raise 30-50 Pheasants and also sell them to other people in the area looking for birds or should I just buy pidgeon for 10 bucks a piece around here. Pheasants are like 30 bucks a piece around here for a grown bird. I have the property and room to easily raise them, its just whether it would be worth the time or not.

Thanks guys.

deke · Post by **deke** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:21 pm

We raised some for my pup last year, I wish i woud of just bought more full grown as we needed them. We used pidgeons we caught in a barn also

Post by **Sharon** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:33 pm

Need a game farm license to raise them here.

cjhills · Post by **cjhills** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:24 pm

If you can sell them for thirty dollars it is for sure worth it to raise them. Pheasants are easy to raise , if you buy female chicks they are really cheap and don't eat much til the get about 8 orv 10 weeks old. Might need a game farm license. Cj

DonF · Post by **DonF** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:35 pm

I've never used pheasant's for training. For me they are to big, to expensive and I understand they are cannibalistic as well. I'd train with pigeon's, I do train with pigeon's, and turn over to game birds with bob whites. I would consider chukar but I've seen them run around a lot more than I like. Bob white's are relatively inexpensive, keep well and fly well if kept in a bigger pen.

pigeon's at $10 each I might go for but just for getting a start raising my own. At $10 you have to be talking homer's? Ferals are free, just have to go out and pick them up. Raise some chick's out of them and they will home from farther away than you likely need. And they are not a one time and gone bird. You don't shoot them, they'll go right back in the loft to be used again tomorrow. You can recall quail and I've heard you can recall chukar but never heard anyone that recalled pheasant's. What do chukars cost you? Around here they run about $9 each. Cost you $9 to $30 for a one time use training bird and I suspect training won't go that well, lot of money for a one time bird.

For $60 you can get hundreds of pigeon's. Buy three pair at $10 each and get them laying for you or just get unflown young birds to start and your good to go even faster.

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:28 pm

I live in Michigan, im not sure where you can get pigeons. And yes, they were homing pigeons for 10 bucks a piece. I might buy a couple of those off the guy then if they are easy to breed, I wont tell him they will be used to train a pup though

Ive never seen pigeons up in Northern MI, but I guess I haven;t looked that hard for them either......But im pretty sure I haven't found any other than what people are raising as homing pigeons.

Gooseman07 · Post by **Gooseman07** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:48 pm

Yes, raise your own pheasants. Currently, full grown pheasants in PA sell for about $13-15 a piece. I feel that's expensive but I don't have room really to be raising 50 pheasants. Pheasants are VERY easy to raise, they can get cannobolistic but you burn their beaks back at about 8 wks and you're good to go for a while. I worked on a pheasant farm for 5 years. I've learned the ins and outs of game birds.

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:27 am

I think I will, we have 50 acres with a few sheds on it so I am going to convert one of the sheds into a pheasant pen. I could always use hens that are quite a bit smaller to start out training also.

Im sure I could sell off a bunch of them too, and who knows maybe i'll make a few extra bucks off them, ill never turn down extra cash.

Runningdog · Post by **Runningdog** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:23 am

Derrick wrote:I think I will, we have 50 acres with a few sheds on it so I am going to convert one of the sheds into a pheasant pen. I could always use hens that are quite a bit smaller to start out training also.

Im sure I could sell off a bunch of them too, and who knows maybe i'll make a few extra bucks off them, ill never turn down extra cash.

Goodluck, you will need to keep predators out, chicks need to stay warm,heat lamp, blinders work to keep them from pecking themselves...

Brazosvalleyvizslas · Post by **Brazosvalleyvizslas** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:36 am

Buy the Kansas Ringneck's. They are about the same size as Chukar and fly like scalded monkeys. You can get 1 day old chicks delivered for about $3 each. As an added benefit, throw them on the smoker and they taste much better than a flying rat.

cohanzick creek · Post by **cohanzick creek** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:09 am

Oakwood game farm has hen chicks for $.55 each. You have to buy a minimum of 250
cc

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:38 pm

250 is a bunch of them! Haha. I'm going to start out small first. Probably 50 of them. I found a place locally that'll sell them for 1.90 a piece for 50.

Also I just met a guy that came into where I work that said he has a bunch of partridge on his 40 acre plot and he gave me his phone number and said come on over and get as many as you want. I see at least 30 a day. So that's an awesome offer I will definitely hit him up on. I might even be able to train the pup there a little come fall with all the birds he's got.

Jagerdawg · Post by **Jagerdawg** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:11 pm

In Michigan I believe you need a game bird license to raise pheasant. You can train on wild ruffed grouse (partridge some call them) until April 16. The nesting season is closed to training April 17 to July 7. To train on your own land and shoot birds during that time you need a dog training permit. The permit allows you to shoot non native species during training. Non native species, the ringneck pheasant is a native species. That is why most people raise chukar, tenn. Reds or pigeons. Good luck with whatever you do. Happy hunting

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:28 pm

Ahh well I'm glad you told me. I figured since they said they would sell them to me that you didnt need a license. I need an updated version of the DNR hunting guide too.

ACooper · Post by **ACooper** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:32 pm

Pheasants wouldn't be my first choice for a training bird, but raise and sell? Have at it.

birddog98 · Post by **birddog98** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:04 am

I raise the Southern Blackeck and the Bianchi Pheasant both are from overseas but live well here in the states and are strong flyers!!...Yes I train with them but selling them as adult birds no wants to pay the price for rare birds..but they are very expolsive compared to any Ringneck I have founs hunting in the states!

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