Breeding Pheasant - Cute chicks

Whilst the breeding of the pheasant is closely controlled by David the Gamekeeper, mother nature shows us how it's really done and we have plenty of pheasant nesting in the scrub around the grounds. All very well camouflaged.

These seem to be doing quite well, with large clutches of eggs and we try to disturb them as little as possible. All of them, Estate reared or not will be well fed and mingle once they are grown.

Meanwhile the eggs are 'pippin' in large numbers in the hatchery as the little chicks fight their way out. The trays are no longer rocking and the bases are solid so the chicks can't fall through.

It's fascinating to watch as the chick cuts a circular hole around the top of the egg as it cuts it's own 'hatch' out. For linguists - verb 'hatch' as in life from an egg, noun 'hatch' as in doorway (often nautical).

Flipping the top back and emerging as an independent life. 

Looking a little grumpy before the feathers fluff up.  The temperature and humidity are still regulated to give it the best chance of survival before being taken into the 'nursery'.

Little chick being transported into the nursery.

Lots of mates to play with, and still temperature regulated.

Not long before they get moved to the outside pens.

Breeding pheasant - the first egg!

Not broody - having a dust bath

Well it looks like the birds have done the business and now we are reaping the first eggs.  My only experience of this was a few years ago when I kept hens and a broody hen decided to defend her nest to the death!  In the interests of preserving my hands, I decided to let her be.  However, this is not what I am seeing in the pheasant aviaries. The eggs seem to be dotted around and none of the females seem overly broody.

Eggs ready for collecting

Most are have some dirt and ground debris attached and require washing with a special egg wash. And they have to be put into the trays 'pointy' end down.  Apparently to help prevent the yolk sac from sticking to the side.

Egg wash required

After cleaning they stand in the trays for about 10 days at an angle and are turned daily.  The temperature is regulated at 15c. Then they get put into a large incubator where the temperature is increased to about 37.5c and humidity maintained at 65% using ionized water (to prevent disease).

The incubator

The trays that the eggs sit on, rock every 2 hrs, again to stop the yolk sack setting on the edge of the eggs. The door remains firmly closed to maintain the correct conditions and is only opened when absolutely necessary, so I had to peer through the viewing hatch! However, they will be checked half way through to check that the eggs are fertile, by shining a light through the shell.

Viewing hatch into incubator.

After 21 days the eggs should start 'pipping', when the chick starts to crack the shell ready to hatch.  So I now have to be patient before we can move to the next stage.

Breeding Pheasant - A mating game

Proud cock pheasant with his ladies

Pheasant are not a native bird to the UK and therefore the majority of birds seen around the countryside have been released at some time, albeit a few successfully breed in the wild.  A previous blog on pheasants was published back in May last year. Sporting Estates invest huge amounts of time and effort into their bird stocks and so it is with great interest I am going to follow the breeding season of a few pheasant on the Dougarie Estate.

Davy Anderson with a small pen

The Estate hasn't bred it's own birds for quite a number of years, but the new gamekeeper, David Anderson, has a lot of experience in this area and will be testing his skills over the next few months.

One of the main pens

Capturing the birds provided the first hurdle, and Davy set traps to capture both male and female (Cocks & Hens), before transporting them back to the ready made avaries on the estate.  One one return journey - he stopped outside the lodge and commented about the number of hens he had seen while driving back, before realising he hadn't closed the basket on the back of the quad!

Female (hen) pheasant 

Undeterred, sufficient birds are now being managed in purpose built avaries.  There is plenty of room, as the cocks will fight for the females, along with fresh water, food and shelter.  The same needs of any animal and if the accommodation / care isn't good enough the birds are unlikely to breed.  The pen is covered to prevent predators (mainly buzzards - there are no foxes on Arran) from having an easy meal.

The birds enjoying a bit of sunshine

Unlike hens, pheasant tend only to lay eggs in the breeding season between February & April. So now we are just waiting for the first egg!

Images copyright of Arran in Focus

Introducing David

Gamekeeper - David

David joined the Estate on the 1^st July this year as our new gamekeeper after Alastair moved back to the mainland to take up a new post. Drew will continue to stay with us as the underkeeper whilst attending college during the year.

Alastair on a shoot last year

David has come from the Knockando Estate in Aberlour where he was the stalker / ghillie.  With over 20 years under his belt he is an experienced gamekeeper having run the pheasant shoots, stalking for both red and roe deer, along with fishing on the River Spey. At the same time as this he was responsible for the keepering at the Castle Grant shoots.

David has brought his own working dogs with him, a Labrador, spaniel and two pointers.  One is still very much a puppy that is still undergoing training and won't be out on shoots this year.

The castle like Towers

David has taken up residence at the Towers with his wife Jan and their 4 year old son, also called David. David will be attending Shiskine primary school when term starts and is enjoying living in a house that looks like a castle.  Jan has been helping with the estates holiday houses and is looking to meet new people on the island.  

Pheasant - A brief overview

Pheasant cock

Pheasant are not a native bird in the UK although they have been around for a considerable time, possibly as early as the 10^th century. They are a regular sight on many country roads where they seem to forage at road edges, dicing with death, near to car wheels. They are very easy to spot along the Machrie Moor Road.

Cock with hen in the background

The main habitat of pheasant is around woodland edges, grassland and shrubby open ground, although they roost in trees of an evening and take shelter in woodlands.

Muted tones of the hen pheasant

The Estates that rear pheasant and conduct shoots take considerable care in managing the bird welfare and habitat for the birds.  This has an impact on other wildlife and a study by Game and wildlife conservation trust found this created favourable conditions for song birds and fauna.  It is the opinion of some experts that the pheasant population would collapse without the regular release of reared birds and the land management that goes with it.

Red legged partridge, also found in small numbers on Arran

The popularity of the pheasant as a game bird grew throughout the 19^th & 20^th century, overtaking the partridge. It is estimated that around 30 million pheasants are released each year. The pheasant is believed to be the most hunted bird in the world! Although commonly seen, the birds quickly recognise hunting parties and retreat to safety and hiding.

Pheasant retreating from human contact

The birds do not fly by choice, preferring to run or walk.  When they do fly, it is only for short distances and with a noisy wing sound and alarm call.

Working dog retrieving a hen pheasant

The male is known as a cock and the female a hen. The female, as with most birds, is much plainer and has a shorter tail. Young take the appearance of a female until they are around 10 weeks old when the male plumage begins to appear.

Some of a shoot 'bag'

The season for shoots in the UK is the 1^st October to the 1^st February, the birds are protected outside these months.


All photographs copyright of Arran in Focus