That Quail Place Forum
Production and Business => Poultry Production => Topic started by: Purpletaco on April 04, 2009, 04:37:52 PM
-
What do most of you use to put in your pheasant pens for your hens to lay in. Does anyone have a good source to get them
Thanks,
Curt
-
I don't put anything in my pens and they lay right on. ty2 Jim
-
agd1 you really don't need laying boxes but if you really want to just make some 1x1 wooden boxes, that would do the trick but i would bet on them wanting to lay in them
-
Read this right after you posted it.....waiting to see what kinds of answers you get :angel:
-
Read this right after you posted it.....waiting to see what kinds of answers you get :angel:
So you'll know how to get your's to lay, huh? gi8
-
Read this right after you posted it.....waiting to see what kinds of answers you get :angel:
So you'll know how to get your's to lay, huh? gi8
w23
-
Thanks, I hate mosquitos.
-
Thanks, I hate mosquitos.
thk1
Ok, ok ! I may as well add my loonie now, before this gets way off track :grin:
I wouldn't just let them lay their eggs all over the place. The idea is to have clean eggs for incubation. Having them lay wherever, in a pen where fecal matter is mixed with dirt, is asking for a science project in the incubator.
1'x1' nests are too small.
Steve (Pheasant Hollow) posted pictures of various nests he uses. You'll have to look for the posts. (he still reads here at TQP but has his panties in a knot...maybe he will post them again ? i9 :grin: )
You do not have to buy them. Just build them.
Will you be letting them hatch their own eggs ? If so you'll want to build them low enough for the chicks to enter/exit the nest with ease.
When I get new (young) birds that will be in their first laying season, I put a couple plastic eggs in each nest. This gives them a clue of where to lay & has always worked for me.
Try to avoid raised nest boxes, unless it is for a species that requires them raised.
-
agd1 i would only put in laying boxes if you are going to let them hatch their own eggs otherwise let them lay wherever
-
Thanks, I hate mosquitos.
thk1
(Figgered you was swattin' one on back of my head).
Glad to see all ideas about this. Plan to raise a few, starting this spring. No point "egg hunting" whole pen 3-4 times a day
Looks like kingwolf's a real "birdlover" good to see youngsters paying attention to something useful, and learning
-
King...read my last post again.
I wouldn't just let them lay their eggs all over the place. The idea is to have clean eggs for incubation. Having them lay wherever, in a pen where fecal matter is mixed with dirt, is asking for a science project in the incubator.
-
Heres the reason I asked the question. last year I had a real bad problem with my outdoor birds dropping eggs wherever. This is alright if we have no rain. But any type of rain and they get to nasty to hatch. A few years back I had been to guys pens in the UP who had little small like barns he put out and he said 90% of his pheasants laid their eggs inside of them. This kept the eggs from the elements. I just wondered if it would be worthwhile and if anyone else was doing it.
Thanks,
curt
-
King...read my last post again.
OH! dh1 wasn't paying attention there but i really haven't had that much of a problem with the fecal matter all my hens lay in the same spot and then if the eggs do get dirty i just wash them off but i have never gotten them to lay in the nesting boxes Ive made for them
-
A few years back I had been to guys pens in the UP who had little small like barns he put out and he said 90% of his pheasants laid their eggs inside of them. This kept the eggs from the elements. I just wondered if it would be worthwhile and if anyone else was doing it.
I've seen this many times, and yes, it works.
King....you read my info on washing eggs ?
-
nope i haven't but it sounds like i need to though
-
In reading your thread thought I would give a shout (raise lots of pheasants and quail and waterfowl):
You never mention if if the "4 pheaants" is all you have in this pen, what size of pen, drainage, so on.
What I do for my specialized or large brooding or flight pens:
1. For nesting - the fact is you never can control where birds will drop eggs no matter unless in a wire cage (even there they drop them outside nesting boxes). What I do is make "A" frame shaped boses - open both ends. Make from scrape wood like sheet borad T1-11. Plywood and OSB will work if paint). Make a min. of 18" long with a width of 12" at the base and 14-16" high at the point. Just comfortable but small enough so one bird lays at a time. Place in a well drained area and place grass clippings or fine straw inside. The boxes help but again birds will drop whenever/whereever.
On a larger scale pen I have made "stands" for protection from elements and freedom. Make a 48"x48" two-by-four frame (with a middle cross-member ar 24"). Cut 4 "2x4" legs 24" high and fasten to inside corners. Use green-treat for legs.
Cut a sheet of OSB into 2 pcs of 48"x48". Use one for the cover. Screw or nail to top of frame. Get a roll of 36"wide asphalt shingle roofing on it (Need 2 pcs and overlap). Since pheasants are diggers and pickers, cover edge of OSB and roof cover with plastic (not metal) drywall outside corner. Use 3/16" fender washers and 1 1/4" screws. On sides I enclose 3 with a 12x12 hole cut in for escaping from other birds. Place in well drained area.
Fill again with grass clippings or fine straw.
This "hut" provides: 1) Nesting, 2) protection from elememnts, and 3) roof deck for sunning and escape from "jerk" birds. During non-nesting times also provides space for an extra small feeder/waterer out of the elements.
May seem complicated but really it is not and is realatively cheap. Those really into birds and expansion usually has most of this stuff lying around.
Did you know pheasants "love" to swim in pools or pans like ducks?
-
pheasants like to swim ? :-o
-
I've never seen one "swim", but have seen them "wade" through water.