Raising Pheasant Chicks
But why? is the question we keep getting. Because we care and we can!
Pheasants used to be common in the area. With changes in the type of crops on the valley floor, there isn’t as much habitat and the population is smaller. In 2005, we put it a pond and established a wildlife habitat belt. We planted grasses and shrubs to provide food and shelter for pheasants. The quail and rabbits love it. However, pheasants haven’t moved in by themselves, so when the opportunity to raise the birds presented itself, we took it!
We get the babies at one day old. Following the protocols of Pheasants Forever, 98 of our first 100 chicks lived to be 6 weeks old, when they were released in the vineyard.
Increasing biodiversity is important for healthy ecosystems. We have long been planting plants to act as hosts for beneficial insects, stabilize stream banks, and encourage wildlife. It’s fun and rewarding to watch these beautiful creatures grow and thrive as a result of our good stewardship of the land!
