Effect of Diet on the Ability of Young Pheasant Chicks to Withstand the Stress of Cold, Drenching Rain

Abstract

ONE of the practical problems encountered in the confinement rearing of pheasants is the inability of young pheasant chicks to withstand a cold, drenching rain if such a rain should occur during the first 48 to 72 hours after the the pheasants are moved from the brooder house to the open range.The usual procedure followed in the rearing of pheasants in confinement involves starting the pheasants in darkened, thermostatically heated pens where they remain until they are four weeks of age. When the four week starting period has elapsed each pen of pheasants is moved to a wire-mesh cage located on an open range, where they are held in close confinement for approximately 24 hours. Following this 24-hour holding period, doors in the cage are opened and the pheasants are allowed to roam over the entire range, which usually consists of a 20 to 30 acre area of grass …