[doganjo]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in wildlife or here.  A friend wanted some pheasant eggs hatched - just to let them roam on her land, no shooting involved.  I had another friend's incubator so here they are.  17 eggs - so far two hatched but one got stuck behind the tray and died and one is small.  Took it into the brood box I made in case the same happened but only two others have cracked so far and they look slow to break free.  I'm almost sure they were set on 13th April and was about to chuck them this morning till I found these two - 29 days so far.  Crossing my fingers that this isn't the only surviving hatchling; poor wee thing cheeps all the time - lonely maybe.  I only have chick crumbs but it isn't eating yet anyway.

[in the hills]

Doganjo - my daughter and elderly neighbour were upset when a pheasant they had been watching abandoned her nest. Probably not the right thing to do, I know, but popped them in the incubator with some hen eggs. They hatched but both died despite initially looking strong. They cheeped a lot too and didnt seem settled. Was told by the gamekeepers wife afterwards that they need a higher brood temperature than chickens and special crumbs designed for gamebirds ..... higher in protein?

[doganjo]

I wouldn't mix breeds anyway, but I must admit I can't regulate the heat on this thing - it's quite old.  I did wonder if that was why they'd taken so long to hatch.  If any more hatch out I have a box with a heat lamp set up for them. But their 'owner' is coming on Tuesday morning with pheasant crumbs if they live that long.  He's been away or he'd have brought it sooner.  Just crossing fingers and trying to stop myself looking in the incy - just wish the cover was see through - it is yellow with age and heat I suppose.  I'm wondering if I should put the singleton back in the incubator overnight though, although I'd hate for it to get stuck too..

[jaykay]

How are the two pipped ones doing?

[doganjo]

How are the two pipped ones doing?

I''m scared to look again in case the temperature drops.  Just going to check on the one in the brooder

[in the hills]

Hi Doganjo - is the one in the brooder cold - hence the cheeping? Can you try lowering the heat lamp? Was told they need a higher temp. than chicks would.


On a site about rearing pheasant chicks it said that you could pop a couple of chicken chicks in with them as they helped to encourage/show the phessie chicks how to eat. Also said to spread the food on a green paper plate - colour encouraged them to peck and eat. We peck at crumbs with our fingers to encourage chicks to eat. Might be worth a try. 

Is the humidity high enough in the incy?

[doganjo]

This is a dinosaur incy - no contol  

It's not mine but it did hatch my ducks and some for my friend too, so not all bad. 

I'll check the wee one before I go to bed and pop it back in the incy I think.  I'll put more water in the reservoir too. They don't need food or drink for 24hours anyway.  Just so annoyed the other one got stuck and died.It's not cheeping now though - settled down in the shavings.

[adamhfc]

i just managed to hatch 2 and there thick i had to put a few other chicks in with them before they started to feed

[Fowlman]

Pheasant chicks tend to be suicidal too, not too bad with just a few but anymore than that you need to have a round brooder as they will panic and head for any corner and some suffocate.

[doganjo]

They seem to be awfully slow in hatching but that may be down to the incubator temperature - later than I thought too - does anybody know if there's a big variation in hatching days - the first two pipped and hatched at 29 days, but there are another three in there that are open and alive but taking a long time.  I'm scared to throw any of the others out now in case they are still viable but really really slow.

[jaykay]

I had ducklings hatch over three days recently, I think due to the powercut that happened part way through hatching, so reduced temp.

So hang onto those eggs for now, hopefully some more will make it out 

[doganjo]

I had ducklings hatch over three days recently, I think due to the powercut that happened part way through hatching, so reduced temp.

So hang onto those eggs for now, hopefully some more will make it out 

Will do, keep your fingers and toes crossed for them    Dog breeding I know about, pheasants are a complete mystery to me(except growed up ones on a shoot  ), but this is making me want to buy a better incubator than this one my friends left here.

[jaykay]

All duly crossed 
I treated myself to an Octagon 20 with the humidity pump a few years ago. I love it and end up hatching far too many eggs cos it's so reliable it makes it fun rather than worrying