Breeding

MacFarlane Pheasants Inc. prides itself on its impeccable customer service. Any questions that you may have are important and we will do our best to answer them. Below are a few commonly asked questions. Each area of the rearing process has its own individual page to better organize and facilitate your search and our response.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pheasant Breeding

A Ringneck hen will lay 50- 60 eggs during the spring/summer season. We expect an average of 75% hatch here at our farm. This varies depending on the breeds and the time of the year.

The ideal temperature to store eggs is 58-60 degrees, but they can be stored at room temperature for a short period of time.

We use a 20% protein breeder diet starting one full month prior to production.

I do not suggest any grains, but the use of a complete pelleted feed. Feeding grains can lead to cannibalism and hens that have too much internal body fat leading to “blow-outs” and mortality.

The initial breeder feed is 2.75 % calcium, at the onset of laying, 20% production, the calcium is increased to 3% in the feed. As to free choice calcium grit I suggest a half and half mix of oyster shell and granite poultry grit given free choice for feed utilization and to assist the breakdown of the oyster shell. I use a calcium carbonate chip called “poultry pellets” from a local ag supply company and provide it free choice.

My crew picks the eggs at least 4 times daily in the outside pens. The indoor breeders are picked at least 6 times daily to decrease the cull rate.

Our eggs are washed in a Kuhl egg wash machine with a mild non-foaming soap and Clorox Bleach at 400-450 PPM. They are in the wash bath for 3 minutes and have a blower to get most of the water off. The water temp is 105 degrees. The eggs are then sprayed with a Quatinary Ammonia solution at 700 ppm as a final sanitizer. The eggs are stored at 56-59 degrees with 75% humidity. Test kits are available for both bleach and ammonia.

Most outside natural lighting breeding is done 10-12 hens per rooster in flock matings at 25-30 square foot per hen pen space. Indoor breeding is 15-16 hens per rooster in completely light and air controlled facility. In both cases the birds are wing clipped, primaries on one side only, and given a shot of Tylan to clean the birds prior to placing. All birds get peepers.

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Breeding  |  Ordering Chicks  |  Hatching  |  Brooding  |  Growout/Pens   |  Avian Influenza Precautions