Pheasant Losing Feathers... Help Please

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Hello All,

I noticed last night that about a half dozen of my pheasant are beginning to lose their feathers near there rear.  I have 175 pheasant at about 18 weeks in a 6500 sq ft flight pen.  I am feeding the birds a 23% feed that they have been on since week 9 (30% prior).  Their tail feathers are real long for their age (I think), about 24 to 28" long.  They are missing about 3 to 4" of feathers off the stem towards the base of the tail feathers, not the entire feather itself.  I did not notice any pecking when I was out there.  Cover in the pen is about completely down with the time of the year, but there is still plenty of brush and pines that they go in.  Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Reeves]

They are missing about 3 to 4" of feathers off the stem towards the base of the tail feathers, not the entire feather itself.

At the body, or the tip of the tail ?

If at the body, you have picking going on. Which will lead to cannibalism.
If at the tip of the tail, just wear and tear from the ground etc.

[Little Bear Game Farm]

At the body and its just the same half dozen.  I watched them again yesterday and did not notice any pecking.  I'll try to get a couple pics today.  I did give them some terramycin in case there is more of an underlying health problem.  I was in the adjacent pen last weekend catching chukar and they were constantly flushing so could this be a stress problem?

Thanks!

[Reeves]

Odds are, you'll never see them picking each other: they'll be busy watching you.

You may have too many in one pen.

Stopping this can be hard, once started.

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Old Post, I know... Well, I had a very different problem when I started this post a few years ago.  My pheasant are about 12 weeks right now and their coloring is coming in pretty good.  However, none of the males have any tail feathers.  There are about 400 in a 13000SF flight pen on 23% feed (just switched from 30% two weeks ago) and if I remember correctly, they should have 4 to 6" tails by now.  With only 8 weeks to delivery, is there any chance their tails will come in much?  And, same, as last time, I have not noticed any pecking or really any rough play going on.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

Tails are the last thing that comes in. Don't expect the tail to be as long as 1 year adults.

Just because pheasants become adults at 20wks, doesn't mean they will be full feathered. They molt between this cycle.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm