I may have made a mistake

[Mito Man]

A few weeks ago I drove a tractor with a flail over a pheasants nest. It was only hours later that I noticed a clutch of 7 eggs sitting out in the open. I put them in an incubator thinking that the pheasant would make a new nest and I’d just put the eggs in when they’re not looking.
That didn’t happen and eventually I brought the incubator to London so I could keep a closer eye on them.
Yesterday evening I could hear chirping.
Current situation is one chick who won’t stop chirping unless held
I don’t think I can handle 7
Also no idea what to do when it grows up.

[scotta]

They now own you.

[Simon]

#PheasantDad

[Rich B]

We had some chicken eggs to hatch over easter from the local farm. it was fun when they came out (3 of the 6 hatched) and my little boy loved it, but after that it was just continual cleaning out their little hutch because they were just shitting machines, everyone was bored and glad we were able to give them back after a week!

[Mito Man]

It’s eating a bit but I can’t get it to drink water. Dunking its beak in a teaspoon but I don’t know what to do. I’m so out of my depth here

[mik]

THESE GUYS will possibly take them, but it’s not exactly round the corner from you.

[Rich B]

THESE GUYS will possibly take them, but it’s not exactly round the corner from you.

Meerkats love chicks…

[Ascender]

Congratulations on your new arrivals!

Good luck!

[nuttinnew]

Proof if proof be need be you're not a pheasant plucker.

[Beany]

Proof if proof be need be you're not a pheasant plucker.

To be fair he's not a pheasant plucker, he's a pheasant plucker's son
he's only plucking pheasants 'till the pheasant plucker comes.

[Gavin]

Oh wow, that is a wee fluff ball. Do they not imprint on the first thing they see?

Good luck

[mik]

Do they not imprint on the first thing they see?

A couple of years ago Mrs mik got a pair of Cayuga ducks at around 2 weeks old. Breeder had incubated the eggs.

They very much do imprint, but they will switch to an alternative human / food provider. Even as adults they are far more docile / happy to be handled than her other ducks.

Had to be kept warm indoors for another few weeks. They do eat A LOT however, and what goes in…..

[Mito Man]

Situation update

Older sibling already being a dick.

[mik]

Is that crumb feed?

If not you’ll need some (like this

When they are a bit older they might like (defrosted!) frozen peas. Might need to split them in half by hand.

[Mito Man]

Yeah, similar with 19% protein but apparently that’s a bit low for pheasants.

[Simon]

You're phucked.

[Mito Man]

I think one dude is phucked, it made a hole in its egg late yesterday and has made no further progress. It’s still alive though. I read about helping it by peeling the shell but according to my dad whenever he’s done that to a chicken or pigeon egg the chick was never right. Perhaps better to just let nature take its course on this.

[Alex88]

Lovely little things. Hope you find somewhere for them!

[Mito Man]

Last one hatched yesterday. The final count is 6 complete nutters

It’s appropriate that they all come with racing stripes, they can run with some serious speed!

[Mito Man]

They’re pretty big now, had to build them a new cage as they kept flying out the cardboard box.
Also they never imprinted onto me but my dog, which I’m sure will do wonders for their survival instinct

I guess I need to think about building them a permanent outdoor aviary. What do you bird owners do to keep everything fox proof? I thought about digging a trench around the aviary and sticking chicken netting maybe a foot into the ground?
I’ve also noticed this kind of design where the mesh extends past the base

In an ideal world I’d prefer something which can be dragged along the lawn so they get a new patch of grass every so often but I can’t think of a way to fox proof that.