Pheasants at My Farm
A trio of colorful pheasants are now members of my farm's flock.
Not long ago, I went to visit the Animal Nation Farm Sanctuary in nearby South Salem, New York, a wonderful and caring organization and go-to resource for at-risk animals from New York City and the surrounding areas. While there, I saw three golden pheasants and decided they would be wonderful additions to my farm. These exotic gamebirds are native to the forests in the mountainous areas of western China. They are not particularly large - males are about 35 to 40 inches in length with their tails making up about two-thirds of that measurement. They are beautifully marked with mainly bright red, orange, and yellow plumage. Right now, these pheasants are getting acclimated to their new coop just outside my stable where they can be closely monitored. I am looking forward to learning about these birds and watching them thrive here at Cantitoe Corners.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- The Animal Nation Farm Sanctuary is home to more than 250 animals. Animal Nation also runs a non-profit Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Facility and a Domestic Animal Rescue & Adoption Center located in Norwalk, Connecticut. The organization’s mission is to eliminate cruelty to animals while spreading and teaching compassion and the humane treatment of all creatures.
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- The Farm Sanctuary is home to horses, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and even two emus.
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- There are also many birds including ducks, geese, peafowl, and swans. In fact, Animal Nation helped me re-home a wounded Mute Swan a few years ago.
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- In one of Animal Nation’s Sanctuary barns was an area specifically for pheasants – beautiful colorful gamebirds.
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- I took these three back with me to my farm – two red golden pheasants and one yellow golden pheasant.
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- For now, they are in this safe enclosure, where they can be warm and well protected from predators…
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- … And right next to some very welcoming neighbors – my gaggle of geese. My geese don’t mind the winter weather at all. Remember, they have very warm goose down feathers.
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- I always provide a good bedding of hay, so they can relax comfortably. Hay also helps provide good footing on icy surfaces.
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- This is the yellow golden pheasant. The yellow is a color mutation of the red golden pheasant. It was originally developed in the 1950s. To maintain the yellow coloring, these birds need shaded areas to protect their feathers from the sun.
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- This is the red golden pheasant with its bright colorful plumage. This bird is a little more social than the other two. He often comes to the front of the coop to see visitors.
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- Males have a golden-yellow crest with a hint of red at the tip. The face, throat, chin, and the sides of neck are rusty tan.
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- The upper back is green and the rest of the back and rump is golden-yellow.
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- All my outdoor birds get a good supply of seeds. Pheasants also eat insects, berries, and plant matter.
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- I provide different types of feeders with lots of seed especially now when birds like to bulk up on high-energy foods to build fat reserves that keep them warm.
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- Pheasants also enjoy fresh greens and some fruit for fiber and vitamins. I provide lots of fresh greens for all my birds – grown right here in my gardens.
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- And of course, there is always fresh water – checked and changed often to ensure it is always clean and free-flowing.
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- Pheasants are very curious, but they prefer to perch up high in their coop. This pheasant has a deep bold red chest.
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- And while they can fly clumsily in short bursts, they tend to run and spend most of their time on the ground. The striped cape can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black and orange fan that covers the face.
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- Pheasants are also hardy, very intelligent, and friendly.
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- Well cared-for golden pheasants can live an average of 15-years. These birds will live very happily here at Cantitoe Corners. Look out for them in future blogs.
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