pheasants in the garden

[shivvy]

I am lucky enough to have a garden that pheasants seem to be attracted to. Last year and the year before we only had one male and then 1 male and 1 female however this year we have 1 male and 3 females! (I am very excited about it!)
Unfortunately we have never had any pheasants that have had chicks (or ones that survived anyway).
What I would like to know really is just a bit of info about where they might be likely to nest/roost,
the liklihood of them producing chicks,
whether he/she sits on the eggs,
what to listen for,
how to help/protect them
etc etc etc.
All info would be greatly accepted - I have looked up some info on the net but I think hearing about peoples personal experience isso much more useful.
I'm eager for any new knowledge about these lovely creatures as they are an absolute joy to see in the garden.
Thanks

[RATTER15]

They are lovely to eat!! no need to pluck them, you just leave them to hang until the maggots are falling from them, then you wrap pheasant in newspaper and cook in oven, when you unwrap the pheasant the skin and the feathers come away with the newspaper and the meat is so very tender!!

[wildwood]

They roost in the trees at night although many of the captive bred ones will roost on the ground in a huddle. The hen will make a nest in a very private place so you'll be unlikely to find it, and will incubate the eggs once the full clutch has been laid (about 13-15 eggs). Untill the chicks can fly they will be kept well away from houses and other places where dogs and cats are likely to hang around. Hence you may never see a hen with chicks.

You can help to protect pheasants - and all birds - by keeping cats and dogs inside at night and keep your property free to rubbish and overgrowth so as not to attract rat(ter)s and foxes.

[burnhal]

The one male will sort out all three females- as it were! Female will sit the eggs- that is why she is mottled brown- hides well. Nest is a depression on the ground under a bush or in short grass. Eggs are fairly large and olive brown. Young are capable of running around and feeding pretty much soon after hatching.
Food is almost anything they can pick up off the ground.
How big is your garde, out of curiosity? Is it fenced? How do the adults get in? Fly or walk? Just making sure the young can get out if and when!

[shivvy]

Hi burnhal. The adults walk in. The garden is about an acre but it backs onto unfenced fields/rough land. I think that is why they probably like it. I feed the garden birds and there is pickings for the pheasants out of that but I also throw down food for them too.
A few few more questions . . .
am I likely to spot the nest so as to avoid damaging it?
when are the hens likely to lay?
will all 3 lay and if so, do they all have seperate nests?
am I likely to see the chicks?
do they also feed on corn/wheat/barley?
how long do they spend with the adults?
will they stay in the area or move off and find their own patch?

Thanks

[burnhal]

as to spotting the nest- just keep your eyes open and tread carefully!
If all three lay they will have seperate nests- it may be they are just visiting for the free feed and will nest elsewhere anyway!
They will move away from the nest pretty much straightaway and go wherever the adult feels is safe- so no guarantees I am afraid!
If they are happy coming in to feed chances are the young will come with them!
Nesting time anytime now!

[Cetti]

Do you have a large estate anywhere near you shivvy, as almost all the pheasants in the UK are captive bred just for the gun? (Shooting season Sep - Feb)

As burnhal says they will be nesting soon. Usually April - June and can have as many as 15 eggs, although most are taken by rats and foxes hence the large clutches.

The males occasionally have just the one wife but more often than not (as in your case) a number of females, who live on the male's territory and are exclusively his! Two or three is the norm but some greedy males can have up to 10 wives!!!

In winter pheasants often divide themselves into singe sex flocks, within which there is an establishes hierarchy for feeding and roosting. Many prefer the safety of trees to rooost, out of the way of predators.