One of the greatest struggles with pheasant chicks in the beginning is getting them to adjust to their new surroundings. These chicks are shipped out as early as one day old, and have a higher mortality rate, as they can be prone to starve outs. Here are some tips that we have learned throughout our years of experience to help prevent this.
Before you even receive your new chicks, you should spend some time preparing the brooding house. We have found that using cut straw is the most successful litter for the baby chicks. The chicks tend to want to eat other forms of litter, and this causes fatality in most cases. The first few weeks of life, it is essential to monitor exactly what they have access to and what they are putting into their bodies.
You know those painfully hot days in summer when you do not want to move, much less eat or drink anything? Pheasants experience that too! If their barn gets too hot or too cold they will not eat or drink, so you want to be monitoring their heat lamp every few hours for the first five days at least. You want to spend some time making sure that there are not any areas for potential drafts as this will make them uncomfortable as well. When they are not getting the proper nutrients their growing bodies need, they will either become malnourished and an easy target for various diseases, or they will starve out altogether.
Once you receive your chicks, you are going to want to get them comfortable with eating and drinking as soon as possible. We have found this to be one of the biggest keys in transitioning chicks to their new homes. One simple trick is to dip their beaks in a little water to get their bodies to crave more and encourage drinking. You also want to make sure you always have appropriate amounts of both food and water readily available at all times.
Caring for your chicks in the beginning may seem as though it is a full time job. With these tips, as well as many others found on our website, we can help guide you along your way. We have information available on everything from materials for your brooding barn, to what feed we have found to be the most successful. If you are ever in the area, feel free to stop by for a visit, we would love to share our expertise with you.