Male Pheasant And His Ladies.

[Bigbad]

Every year, about this time, my resident pheasant suddenly has 3 females with him. Eventually it will go down to 2, then 1, then he will be back to being by himself.
Is it usual for a pheasant to have 3 mates at the same time?

Thanks.

[Mamyalynne]

Seems Peasants take the 'Harem' approach in mating season.


http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/pheasant/ALL/414/

[Bigbad]

Thank you Mamyalynne. I have bookmarked the page and will read it properly when I have time.
I know it’s silly, but I get quite fond of some of the creatures that visit my garden, and phezzie is definitely a favourite.
Three females must mean quite a few chicks, but I have never yet seen any. Perhaps I’ll get my “Born Free” moment this year!

[Mamyalynne]

Not silly at all, I too get fond of the local wild visitors - though at the moment the geese battling for both territory and mates outside my bedroom window is a bit annoying at dawn.

Have to take the downs and the ups of being near nature.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Our Mr Fezziwick only has 2 ladies this year..however last year Mr Fezziwick Snr had 6.They cost us a fortune in Rich Tea biscuits.

[wolf63]

Although I am more of a mammal person I think that Mr Pheasant must be a good looking chap. The ladies swoon over him and he manages to get himself a couple (or more) girl Pheasants at the same time. Slowly the girls realise that he is after only one thing and slowly they gravitate away from him. The girls are happy because they are 'with chick' and he knows that the next year there will be more ladies to impress.

[Togo]

We have 1 male Pheasant who inhabits the back garden( gave me the ruddy fright of my life this morning whilst getting the recycle bin out. "She who must be obeyed" cried laughing.) But at one time in January we had 8 hens around the bird feeder. As I type this up he is raising a racket down the bank in the woods. Randy git.

[Bigbad]

Phezzie showed up with a limpy leg just before Christmas 2014, and I thought he wouldn’t survive. But he did, and it obviously hasn’t affected his “pulling” power!

Prior to this, when he had his women with him, he used to claw at the food, as if to say “Hey, ladies. Look at my big claws.” He can’t do it any more, though, because he falls over!

[Mamyalynne]

Most alarming experience of the feathered kind I had (barring the budgie and the policeman) was late one evening I remembered I hadn't brought the washing in from the line on the balcony.

Opened the door and illuminate in the light that shone from behind me was a huge spectre with wings spread, a curdling shriek from both me and he/she - I then realised it was Heron that had decided to perch on the balcony rail.


Took a while for my BP to return to normal.

[wolf63]

The Budgie and the Policeman?

[Mamyalynne]

One night sat alone in the lounge someone (I was certain) tried my balcony door handle, alarmed as I had 2 small children in bed I called the Police.

When they arrived and I explained one said he would go out to look if anyone was lurking about, as he opened the door I realised the budgie was out of her cage and she looked ready to launch towards him as he exited....so I gave him a shove and pushed him outside and slammed the door.

What I had forgotten was I hadn't taken the washing line down and he was almost garrotted - his partner was sat on the floor in tears of hysterics.

[wolf63]

Mamy - I do hope that the budgie was grateful for saving her from the outside world. Good job the Police in this country don't have guns!

:-)

[Mamyalynne]

I think they may have run me in had they been able to keep a straight face.

Yes, our Kelly was grateful.