Pheasant.com Blog

The Midwest Poultry Consortium Center of Excellence (CEO) benefits students who are interested in strong research-based poultry education. Students from participating sites may take innovative poultry science classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and take part in internships that will fit into the academic timetable. Credits are transferable to the students’ home university. MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. is active in the Midwest Poultry Consortium and regularly takes interns at their farm. This summer we welcomed Caroline Greg from Iowa State University and Reilly Hoefker from South Dakota State University. Both students are taking advantage of the University of Wisconsin classes. Read More »

Herman Smit arrived in the United States from a small town called Secunda in South Africa on March 17, 2018. He will spend 10 months at MacFarlane Pheasants before returning to his home. Read More »

It is mature bird season at MacFarlane Pheasants! Our customers from all over North America and Canada are anxiously awaiting the arrival of pheasants and partridges from our farm. It takes careful planning to make sure our deliveries run smoothly. Read More »

Lodewyk Davis has been in the United States, working at MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. since March 7, 2018. He came here on a work visa from Richards Bay, South Africa. Richards Bay is situated on the Mhiatuze River. It has one of the country’s largest harbors and is the deepest natural harbor in the Southern hemisphere! Lodewyk says his home is close to the ocean and the subtropical climate is quite different from Wisconsin. Lodewyk describes our seasonal changes as “quite dramatic, in comparison.” Read More »

We are using a water sanitation system in our hen barns and in barn 7 called AANE. AANE (Automated Activation Non-Electric) is a cost-efficient system that eliminates the need for manual mixing. The unit dilutes the activated concentrate and keeps the mixture consistent. It does not require electricity or wiring. Only one water connection is required to provide activation of the product. Basically, the system activates chlorine dioxide on demand and an adjustable proportioner called Dosatron. Read More »

Stephan arrived in Janesville, Wisconsin from his home in Schoemanskloof, South Africa on March 15, 2018. Like all of the workers who came here from South Africa, he went through a complex process with a company in South Africa that places workers in a United States work environment. MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. was one of the employers that signed up with that company to accept workers who were vetted and could obtain a work visa. This is MacFarlane’s second year in the program. Stephan has nothing but praise for his opportunity to work at MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Read More »

Production Manager Troy Cisewski shared his appreciation for returning South African workers at MacFarlane Pheasants and the four new workers he supervises at the breeder farm. Read More »

A brooder crew’s work is never done! Last week, we described the maintenance that must be completed before the beginning of chick season. This week you will learn about all of the steps we take after maintenance is complete, but before our chicks are placed in the barns. Read More »