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Flight Pens The ground cover either doesn’t grow or gets burned up by the heat and lack of rain. This week we had significant rainfall in Janesville, WI, which was very helpful! Pens with poor cover need to be irrigated daily, increasing the cost of electricity, fuel, and machinery use. Pheasants in poor cover flight pens must be placed at half density to reduce fighting and picking (no place to hide from aggressive birds). Excessive heat decreases birds’ appetites resulting in slower growth and possible tail loss. Algae grow on plassons (waterers in pens), so plassons need to cleaned regularly. Roosters will fight and become aggressive to other roosters and hens in pens, leading to damaged tails and possible death. Droughts and excessive heat will attract predators looking for food and a water source. Pushing birds in extreme heat will cause birds to get overheated, stressed, and possibly die. We minimize this movement to the morning hours when it is cooler for this reason. During shipments, once pheasants are placed in crates, we have a driver drive the birds around to keep airflow to the birds until they are ready to leave for delivery. Read More »

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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 »

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Helpful Barn Dimmers

On May 18, 2017 in Barns by spope

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We have been using the PLS-2400 MR4 PTC Light Dimmers from Precision Lighting out of Arkansas since 2015. Before we got these dimmers in our barns, we used residential dimmers and dimmed our lights manually, for the most part. Our newer system does the job with greater ease and effectiveness. Read More »


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Beetles and bugs in the barns are not just yucky. They cause sanitary concerns, as well as affect the health of our birds. The Darkling Beetle, is a vector for salmonella, e-coli, Newcastle disease and other diseases and viruses. Flies are a big pain and are controlled with permethrin spray and traps. Read More »


Hen Barn Update May 2017

On May 12, 2017 in Barns by spope

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We let you know in February 2017 that construction had started on a new building on MacFarlane Pheasants. We are excited to report that our new hen barn construction has been completed. The electricians are working to complete their role in this project and cages that are a part of the facility have arrived in port from Germany. The benefit to this expansion is that by November of this year our dressed bird production will be significantly expanded. Read More »


We’re Building a New Hen Barn!

On February 2, 2017 in Barns by spope

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We have been busy planning a second Hen Barn because our food products’ customers can’t get enough of our tasty, nutritious pheasant. Our White Pheasants are raised for our food division. Grocery store orders, restaurants who serve pheasant and our retail business are growing, so the bottom line is we need to raise more pheasants for our food division! Read More »


Air Flow in Barns

On April 28, 2015 in Barns, Brooder by spope

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Air movement in the barns plays an important role in keeping game birds healthy. When the temperature starts to change in the spring and the fall, we have to adjust so the birds can get acclimated enough to go outside without problems. Being able to do this involves getting the inside temperature equal to the coolest outside temperature the birds will be exposed to. Read More »


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Maintaining equipment at a farm the size of MacFarlane Pheasants is a job that requires attention. If you give it attention, then your equipment will work through its expected lifetime. Read More »