What Can Pheasants Eat? Foods to Feed and Foods to Avoid

Pheasants can eat a wide variety of foods, including grains, seeds, plants, insects, and other foods they naturally forage for in the wild. However, when raising pheasants in captivity, just because a bird can eat something does not necessarily mean it should be a regular part of its diet.

At MacFarlane Pheasants, we have learned through decades of raising game birds that the quality and consistency of feed matter. A properly formulated game bird feed should provide the foundation of a captive pheasant’s diet, while supplemental foods should be chosen carefully.

This guide takes a closer look at what pheasants can eat, what not to feed pheasants, and why the ingredients in commercial feed matter. For a complete overview of pheasant nutrition and feeding by life stage, visit our guide to what pheasants eat.

What Foods Can Pheasants Eat?

Pheasants are naturally varied eaters. In the wild, they forage for whatever nutritious foods are available in their habitat and may eat:

• Seeds
• Grains
• Insects
• Worms and other small invertebrates
• Berries
• Plant material
• Agricultural crops and waste grain

Their natural diet changes with the seasons. Young pheasants rely more heavily on protein-rich insects as they grow, while seeds, grains, and vegetation make up a larger portion of an adult bird’s diet.

Captive pheasants don’t have the same opportunity to balance their diets through natural foraging. That’s one reason a complete game bird feed is important when raising pheasants.

What Should You Feed Captive Pheasants?

A quality game bird feed formulated for the bird’s age should generally be the primary food source for captive pheasants.

Complete feeds are designed to provide appropriate amounts of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. At MacFarlane Pheasants, we have our feed formulated to meet the needs of our birds rather than relying on individual grains or supplemental foods to provide complete nutrition.

Young pheasants have especially specific nutritional requirements.

What Not to Feed Pheasants

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that feed quality involves much more than the protein percentage printed on the label.

Two feeds that contain the same percentage of protein can be made from very different ingredients. Feed mills may use different grains, protein sources, and byproducts to reach the desired nutritional profile.

That’s why we recommend knowing what’s actually in your feed.

At MacFarlane Pheasants, we are particularly cautious about ingredients that have not performed well in our own feeding program. Historically, our feed formulations have avoided ingredients such as:

• Dried distillers grains
• Cereal fines
• Canola meal
• Soy flour

Our decisions are based on our experience raising pheasants and the formulations developed for our operation. That doesn’t mean every ingredient is inherently unsafe for every bird or every formulation. Instead, it illustrates why it’s important to consider the complete nutritional formulation and ingredient quality, rather than choosing feed based on protein percentage or price alone.

Can Pheasants Eat Soybeans?

Yes, pheasants can eat soybeans, and soybean-derived ingredients are commonly used as protein sources in animal feeds. In the wild, pheasants may also forage in agricultural areas where soybeans are grown.

However, there’s an important distinction between soybeans, soybean meal, and soy flour.

Soybean meal is the protein-rich material remaining after much of the oil has been removed from soybeans and is commonly incorporated into formulated feeds. In our own feeding program, we’ve used soybean meal while avoiding soy flour.

Rather than adding large quantities of raw soybeans or other individual ingredients to a pheasant’s diet, we recommend relying on a properly formulated game bird feed.

Can Pheasants Eat Corn?

Yes. Pheasants commonly eat corn and other grains, particularly when foraging around agricultural areas.

At our farm, we’ve also used a small amount of cracked corn as a supplement during prolonged periods of cold weather when birds consume more energy.

Corn should be considered a supplement rather than a complete pheasant food. Feeding too much of a single grain can displace the balanced nutrition birds would otherwise receive from their regular feed.

Can Pheasants Eat Chicken Feed?

Pheasants may eat chicken feed, but standard chicken feed is not our recommended choice for raising pheasants, particularly young chicks.

Pheasants and chickens have different nutritional requirements. A chicken feed may not provide the protein or overall nutritional balance needed for pheasants at a particular stage of development.

Our preference is:

1. A properly formulated game bird feed
2. An appropriate turkey feed when game bird feed isn’t available

Always check the nutritional analysis rather than assuming a feed is suitable simply because it is intended for poultry.

For specific recommendations for young birds, see our guide to what to feed baby pheasants.

Can Pheasants Eat Turkey Feed?

Turkey feed can be used as an alternative when an appropriate game bird feed isn’t available.

The important thing is to compare the nutritional profile with the needs of your birds, particularly the protein percentage. Young pheasants require considerably more protein than mature birds, so the appropriate feed will change as they grow.

Game bird feed remains our first choice whenever it is available.

Can Pheasants Eat Seeds and Grains?

Yes. Seeds and grains are a natural part of a pheasant’s diet and are commonly eaten by wild birds.

Depending on their habitat, wild pheasants may encounter corn, wheat, seeds, and other agricultural foods while foraging.

For captive pheasants, grains shouldn’t replace a complete game bird ration. Providing too much supplemental grain can cause birds to eat less of the nutritionally balanced feed they need.

Can Pheasants Eat Insects?

Yes. Insects are an important natural food source for pheasants, especially young birds in the wild.

Pheasant chicks grow rapidly and have high protein requirements. In natural settings, insects help provide some of that protein. Captive chicks receive those nutrients through properly formulated high-protein game bird starter feeds instead.

Foods Pheasants Should Not Eat

Instead of thinking of pheasant nutrition as a long list of foods that are either “safe” or “unsafe,” it is more useful to consider whether a food contributes to a properly balanced diet.

Avoid making large amounts of table scraps, highly processed human foods, or individual grains the foundation of a pheasant’s diet. Also avoid spoiled, moldy, contaminated, or otherwise questionable feed.

Pay particular attention to:

• Moldy or spoiled feed: Never knowingly feed birds food that has become moldy or contaminated.
• Poorly stored feed: Moisture, pests, and improper storage can compromise feed quality.
• Too many supplemental foods: Excess treats or grains can reduce consumption of complete feed.
• Feed formulated for the wrong bird or age: Nutritional needs vary significantly between species and stages of development.
• Unknown feed ingredients: Know what you’re buying and ask questions when you’re unsure about a formulation.

When introducing anything new, consider how it fits into the bird’s overall diet rather than simply whether the pheasant is willing to eat it.

Why Pheasant Feed Ingredients Matter

Protein percentage is important, but it’s only part of the story. Over the years, we’ve learned to ask our feed suppliers several important questions.

What’s actually in the feed? Feed manufacturers may use a variety of ingredients and byproducts. Understanding the ingredient list helps you evaluate what you’re feeding your birds.

Who formulated the feed? A qualified nutritionist can help ensure the complete nutritional profile is appropriate rather than simply meeting a target protein percentage.

Can the ingredients change? Some mills use least-cost formulation, which allows ingredients to change based on price and availability while still attempting to meet the feed’s nutritional specifications.

For a commercial pheasant operation, consistency can be especially important. MacFarlane Pheasants works closely with feed professionals and uses carefully developed formulations because nutrition has a direct effect on growth, feather quality, health, and bird condition.

Feed Quality Matters

Pheasants will eat many different foods, but what they are willing to eat and what provides the best nutrition aren’t always the same thing.

For birds being raised in captivity, start with a high-quality game bird feed appropriate for their age. Pay attention to the ingredient list, nutritional profile, feed freshness, and how your birds respond.

At MacFarlane Pheasants, our feeding practices have evolved through decades of raising game birds and working with feed professionals. We believe good feed is an investment in the health and quality of the birds we raise.