Diamond pheasant new lands. diamond pheasant

Type characteristic

Diamond pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae), also known as Lady Amherst's pheasant. This pheasant is named after the wife of the Governor General of India, William Pitt Amherst, Countess Sarah Amherst. It was William Amherst who sent the first diamond pheasants from India to London in the early 1800s. Has no subspecies. The natural range includes the territory from southwestern China to northern Burma. At home in China, the diamond pheasant is called the flower pheasant.

The original habitat of the diamond pheasant is the remote mountain slopes between 2000 and 3600 meters above sea level, and in places (in Yunnan, China) it is found at altitudes up to 4600 meters. It prefers dense and thorny thickets of bamboo and other plant species. During the winter, diamond pheasants take refuge in sheltered valleys. Currently, there is a wild population of diamond pheasants in the UK, which originated from birds that escaped from captivity. In the British Isles, this species inhabits conifer stands ten to thirty years old. Dense thickets of bushes also matter here. Lady Amherst's pheasant is also found in deciduous forests with dense undergrowth of brambles and rhododendrons. This is a settled bird - the diamond pheasant lives all year round in the same area, but sometimes moves, developing new areas of the forest. At night, they usually roost in the trees. In times of danger, they prefer to run away rather than fly away. The overall population of wild diamond pheasants is suspected to be declining due to continued destruction and fragmentation of habitats and uncontrolled hunting of these birds for food. In England, the wild population of the diamond pheasant has between 200 and 500 birds.

general description

Like the golden pheasant, the males of the diamond pheasant have a long tail and amaze with the abundance of colors present in the plumage.Diamond pheasants in an aviary will look extremely regally pompous. They acquire adult plumage during their second year of life.The females are more modestly colored. They are sometimes confused with female golden pheasants, but are larger and have blue/gray legs and bluish skin near the eyes.

The diamond pheasant is one of the most common birds kept in captivity. This is due primarily to the beauty of the bird itself and the interesting behavior of males during courtship, as well as the unpretentiousness of keeping this species. The main problem of keeping a diamond pheasant in captivity is currently the genetic purity of birds. Unfortunately, hybrids of the diamond pheasant with the golden one are more common in captivity. Breeders of France, Belgiumand Holland jointly brought out pure lines of diamond pheasant, which they received as well as gold rings under the number 5000 . And it is these birds with a pure pedigree that are currently valued on the market.Diamond pheasants do not cause any particular problems when kept in captivity. These are very hardy birds, they are able to withstand extreme temperatures. The modest requirements of the diamond pheasant for keeping conditions make this species an ideal object for beginner poultry farmers. They are accommodating with other types of birds, such as pigeons. They can be easily tamed by just spending a lot of time with them and offering treats from hand, and after a very short time they become completely tame.

Feeding and nutrition of the diamond pheasant in captivity and in the natural environment

Diamond pheasants in their natural environment feed on grains, leaves, bamboo shoots and invertebrates (insects, larvae, earthworms, centipedes, snails, spiders). Food is obtained from the ground. In general, the diet of this species in the wild has not been sufficiently studied due to its secretive lifestyle. In China, the diamond pheasant is called "Sun-hee", which translates as "kidney-eating bird".In captivity, the diet of the diamond pheasant is the same as that of other pheasant species. It is fed with special pellets, wheat and various greens, berries and fruits. As a treat, you can give out flour worms.In the West, diamond pheasants are offered peanuts as a treat, however, peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a carcinogen and causes liver damage in birds, other animals, and even humans. Roasting peanuts reduces the content of aflatoxin, but does not completely eliminate it. The WPA recommends adding this type of egg white to the diet.

Reproduction and breeding of the diamond pheasant in captivity and in the natural environment

The beginning of the breeding season depends on the climate: usually it is April-May and until the end of June. For example, in Poland, females begin to lay eggs from mid-March. Birds become fertile already in the first year of life, however, it is recommended to allow only adult males in standard adult plumage to breed (it is necessary to evaluate the birds for the degree of purity of the pedigree). Mating Behavior: During the breeding season, the male performs quite remarkable courtship. He runs around the female, trying to cut off her retreat. Then he stops and runs straight towards her. Here he begins to take extraordinary poses. He straightens his collar, lowers his wings and tries to show the female all his colorful plumage at once. It is believed that males do not start mating without a preliminary mating dance. In captivity, 2-3 females per male diamond pheasant are usually kept, although pair keeping of a diamond pheasant in captivity is also possible. However, with an increase in the number of females, the total load of the male on each individual female decreases, because during reproduction, roosters can become quite persistent in their courtship and even aggressive.The female diamond pheasant lays 6-12 cream-colored eggs in a small depression in the ground, which is sometimes lined with dry leaves and grass. The nest can be either open or hidden in a secluded corner of the enclosure. In captivity, up to 40 eggs can be obtained from one female in one season. The egg production of chickens directly depends on their age, care and feeding. Incubation of diamond pheasant eggs takes 22-24 days. After hatching, the chicks are completely independent, but the females continue to stay nearby for some time and keep the chicks warm at night. Some males take part in raising chicks.

Diamond pheasant enclosures: type and size of enclosures.

The aviary for a diamond pheasant must be at least 10 square meters. meters. And some breeders recommend even more (up to 150 sq. M.). Male diamond pheasants have long tails that can be damaged in cramped enclosures. The Diamond Pheasant can be kept in pairs, trios or harems. Diamond pheasants are very active birds, so there should be several compartments and shelters in the aviary. When planning your enclosure, be sure to consider planting shrubs and small trees. An aviary is best for these birds. combined type, i.e. the birds will have a closed house and an open aviary for walking, planted with various shrubs. Diamond pheasants do not damage enclosure plants like other pheasant species. And besides, other species of birds can be kept together with diamond pheasants.

Female Diamond Pheasant

Head


Purebred female : The feathers are brown to reddish brown with a black border above the eyes.

female hybrid: No rust colored feathers above the eyes.

Breast


Pedigree females: Red-brown feathers with black trim.

female hybrid: The chest is more grey.


Pedigree: chest with rufous base color and certainly not grey. Dirty-white throat quickly turns into a red chest.

Uppertail


Pedigree: Remarkable structure of stripes on the back with delicate micro-patterns on the rump. The rump may also be striped, with females having many variations. The female of the golden neverhas stripes on the rump.

hybrid: Fragments of stripes from the back immediately pass to the tail.

Tail


Pedigree: Striped structure pattern and rounded feathers.

Hybridnye: Characterized by pointed feather tips, and the striped structure of the pattern is not clearly defined.


Pedigree: There are slight variations in the striped structure of the pattern. The tail feathers are always rounded and the striped pattern extends to the tip.

Male Diamond Pheasant

Head


thoroughbred bird : Pure feathers are rounded and dark green.

hybrid bird. The presence of red pigment in white feathers, in the feathers of the head of the hybrid rooster, red pigment is clearly visible in the white part of the feather.

Collar


Pedigree: Here it is clear that the feathers of the collar are all rounded, and only on the lower part the rounding is less pronounced.


Pedigree: small white horseshoe-shaped feathers

Hybrid. The tips of the collar feathers are straight cut, not horseshoe-shaped.

Lateral tail feathers



Pedigree: long white feathers with regular stripes, with rounded orange feathers.

Hybrid: red feathers are not very rounded, sharp.


Pedigree: All lateral tail feathers are rounded. Basically, they are narrower and continue to the end of the tail. The side feathers of the tail are light orange in color.The feathers of the diamond pheasant's cock are red on the head, orange to red on the uppertail and bright orange feathers on the sides of the tail.

Tail


Pedigree: Black, unbroken stripes are evenly spaced on a white base.

Hybrid: the stripes are not even, broken, and also irregularly located on the base.


Pedigree: The stripes on the tail are parallel and not broken (torn), the space between the stripes is decorated with small black lines, the width and curvature of the black stripes is constant throughout the tail and the same for all birds, that is, in fact, it does not differ from one animal to another, the stripes extend to the tip of the tail.


Evenly spaced tail stripes are already present in young male diamond pheasants.

Type characteristic

Diamond pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae), also known as Lady Amherst's pheasant. This pheasant is named after the wife of the Governor General of India, William Pitt Amherst, Countess Sarah Amherst. It was William Amherst who sent the first diamond pheasants from India to London in the early 1800s. Has no subspecies. The natural range includes the territory from southwestern China to northern Burma. At home in China, the diamond pheasant is called the flower pheasant.

The original habitat of the diamond pheasant is the remote mountain slopes between 2000 and 3600 meters above sea level, and in places (in Yunnan, China) it is found at altitudes up to 4600 meters. It prefers dense and thorny thickets of bamboo and other plant species. During the winter, diamond pheasants take refuge in sheltered valleys. Currently, there is a wild population of diamond pheasants in the UK, which originated from birds that escaped from captivity. In the British Isles, this species inhabits conifer stands ten to thirty years old. Dense thickets of bushes also matter here. Lady Amherst's pheasant is also found in deciduous forests with dense undergrowth of brambles and rhododendrons. This is a sedentary bird - the diamond pheasant lives all year round in the same area, but sometimes moves, mastering new areas of the forest. At night, they usually roost in the trees. In times of danger, they prefer to run away rather than fly away. The overall population of wild diamond pheasants is suspected to be declining due to continued destruction and fragmentation of habitats and uncontrolled hunting of these birds for food. In England, the wild population of the diamond pheasant has between 200 and 500 birds.

general description

Like the golden pheasant, the males of the diamond pheasant have a long tail and amaze with the abundance of colors present in the plumage.


Diamond pheasants in an aviary will look extremely regally pompous. They acquire adult plumage during their second year of life.The females are more modestly colored. They are sometimes confused with female golden pheasants, but are larger and have blue/gray legs and bluish skin near the eyes.


You can familiarize yourself with the features of the wild coloring of males and females of the diamond pheasant, as well as signs of hybridization of this species with the golden pheasant.

The diamond pheasant is one of the most common birds kept in captivity. This is due primarily to the beauty of the bird itself and the interesting behavior of males during courtship, as well as the unpretentiousness of keeping this species. The main problem of keeping a diamond pheasant in captivity is currently the genetic purity of birds. Unfortunately, hybrids of the diamond pheasant with the golden one are more common in captivity. Breeders of France, Belgium
and Holland jointly brought out pure lines of diamond pheasant, which they received as well as gold rings under the number . And it is these birds with a pure pedigree that are currently valued on the market.

Diamond pheasants do not cause any particular problems when kept in captivity. These are very hardy birds, they are able to withstand extreme temperatures. The modest requirements of the diamond pheasant for keeping conditions make this species an ideal object for beginner poultry farmers. They are accommodating with other types of birds, such as pigeons. They can be easily tamed by just spending a lot of time with them and offering treats from hand, and after a very short time they become completely tame.

Feeding and nutrition of the diamond pheasant in captivity and in the natural environment

Diamond pheasants in their natural environment feed on grains, leaves, bamboo shoots and invertebrates (insects, larvae, earthworms, centipedes, snails, spiders). Food is obtained from the ground. In general, the diet of this species in the wild has not been sufficiently studied due to its secretive lifestyle. In China, the diamond pheasant is called "Sun-hee", which translates as "kidney-eating bird".

In captivity, the diet of the diamond pheasant is the same as that of other pheasant species. It is fed with special pellets, wheat and various greens, berries and fruits. As a treat, you can give out flour worms.

In the West, diamond pheasants are offered peanuts as a treat, however, peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a carcinogen and causes liver damage in birds, other animals, and even humans. Roasting peanuts reduces the content of aflatoxin, but does not completely eliminate it. The WPA recommends adding this type of egg white to the diet.

Reproduction and breeding of the diamond pheasant in captivity and in the natural environment

The beginning of the breeding season depends on the climate: usually it is April-May and until the end of June. For example, in Poland, females begin to lay eggs from mid-March. Birds become fertile already in the first year of life, however, it is recommended to allow only adult males in standard adult plumage to breed (it is necessary to evaluate the birds for the degree of purity of the pedigree). Mating Behavior: During the breeding season, the male performs quite remarkable courtship. He runs around the female, trying to cut off her retreat. Then he stops and runs straight towards her. Here he begins to take extraordinary poses. He straightens his collar, lowers his wings and tries to show the female all his colorful plumage at once. It is believed that males do not start mating without a preliminary mating dance. In captivity, 2-3 females per male diamond pheasant are usually kept, although pair keeping of a diamond pheasant in captivity is also possible. However, with an increase in the number of females, the total load of the male on each individual female decreases, because during reproduction, roosters can become quite persistent in their courtship and even aggressive.


The female diamond pheasant lays 6-12 cream-colored eggs in a small depression in the ground, which is sometimes lined with dry leaves and grass. The nest can be either open or hidden in a secluded corner of the enclosure. In captivity, up to 40 eggs can be obtained from one female in one season. The egg production of chickens directly depends on their age, care and feeding. Incubation of diamond pheasant eggs takes 22-24 days. After hatching, the chicks are completely independent, but the females continue to stay nearby for some time and keep the chicks warm at night. Some males take part in raising chicks.

Diamond pheasant enclosures: type and size of enclosures.

The aviary for a diamond pheasant must be at least 10 square meters. meters.
And some breeders recommend even more (up to 150 sq. M.). Male diamond pheasants have long tails that can be damaged in cramped enclosures. The Diamond Pheasant can be kept in pairs, trios or harems. Diamond pheasants are very active birds, so there should be several compartments and shelters in the aviary. When planning your enclosure, be sure to consider planting shrubs and small trees. A combined type aviary is best suited for these birds, i.e. the birds will have a closed house and an open aviary for walking, planted with various shrubs. Diamond pheasants do not damage enclosure plants like other pheasant species. And besides, other species of birds can be kept together with diamond pheasants.

According to many experts, one of the most beautiful birds successfully bred in captivity is the diamond pheasant. The photos attached to the article will allow the reader to verify this. It is also important that they can easily adapt to the climate of many regions of our country and will become a real decoration of any farm.

Appearance

Of course, the main decoration of a diamond pheasant is its tail. With an average body length of 150 centimeters, about 100 of them fall precisely on the tail. It is luxurious without exaggeration - the black and white pattern enchants and, alas, is the reason that the bird is almost exterminated in its homeland. In females, the tail is much less beautiful - although they themselves are larger, its length rarely exceeds 40 centimeters.

The weight of birds ranges from 1 to 1.5 kilograms, which makes them very interesting from a gastronomic point of view.

The plumage of the male is striking in its beauty, richness and brightness. The head is painted bright orange, and the sides are black. A gray, not too large, but sharp beak stands out. There is a variegated black and white hood - very beautiful and elegant. The chest and back are painted blue-black. The lower back is rich orange. However, they acquire such a rich color only in the second year of life.

Females, like most bird species, are much less beautiful - gray or brown alternates with black, so that they are closer in color to the usual discreet sparrow.

When you know the description of the diamond pheasant, it is worth saying a few words about the habitat of this amazing bird.

In nature, they live mainly in China, but small populations are found in Nepal and Myanmar. Alas, in the homeland the birds are practically exterminated. Local peasants hunt them simply because of the tasty meat. Bright feathers also cause a lot of problems for unfortunate pheasants - quite often hunters want to get not so much meat as chic tail plumage.

Fortunately, several copies were brought in the nineteenth century from China to England. Here they took root - as it turned out, high humidity and relatively low temperatures do not cause serious problems for the birds. At first, it was popular to keep a diamond pheasant in parks and rich estates - in wild nature they didn't meet at all. But one day, several birds managed to escape and settle in deciduous and coniferous forests abounding in shrubs. The food turned out to be quite enough (the pheasant eats buds, seeds, young shoots and leaves with pleasure), and there are relatively few natural enemies. Therefore, today, with some luck, the bright plumage of birds can be seen in many forests of Great Britain.

Place to keep

Before you start a diamond pheasant, it will be useful to know the features of keeping and breeding. It all starts with an aviary. It should be large enough - a bird whose body length is one and a half meters needs a spacious room. Otherwise, the pheasant starts to get sick, and some males are left without their luxurious tail. Of course, this should not be allowed under any circumstances.

Therefore, first you need to prepare an aviary - its area should be at least 10 square meters. It is desirable - several times more. One corner should be densely planted with shrubs, where birds can spend time, relax and enjoy natural fresh food.

Also, one should not forget about the houses in which the pheasants hide from the cold and wind. It is desirable to make railings thick, not less than 3-4 centimeters in diameter, so that it is convenient for the birds to sit on them.

The optimal floor covering - small pebbles or a concrete surface will not work - the birds out of habit try to rake the ground and will be seriously injured.

Choosing the right diet

Every owner wants his pets to please the eye with beauty, brightness and have excellent health. In this case, when establishing a diamond pheasant, you need to know the features of the content - first of all, this proper feeding.

The basis of the diet is grain - about 50%. This includes wheat, corn and barley. But corn should be given in a relatively small amount - because of it, the bird quickly gains weight, so it is better to focus on it before the autumn slaughter.

Do not forget about fresh food - dandelions, plantain and nettles. In summer, it is desirable to give as much of such greenery as possible so that the pheasant receives the microelements and vitamins it needs. Otherwise, over time, the plumage will fade.

You can give a variety of food waste - from the remains of porridge and bread crumbs to vegetable peelings.

Any insects and snails will be a good addition. An excellent solution would be to enrich the diet of juveniles with them - earthworms, spiders, snails and even the Colorado potato beetle are nutritious food with a high protein content.

Finally, it is worth adding mineral and vitamin supplements to the diet - the same ones that are given to chickens, geese and other poultry.

Breeding in captivity

In spring, females begin to lay eggs - an average of about ten. It depends on age, as well as the correctness of the diet. Shortly before this, males spend almost all their free time from sleeping and feeding on courting them - peculiar dances, a demonstration of chic plumage.

It is worth seizing this moment, providing the birds with enough hay, small branches and straw so that the females can build a nest in which they will lay their eggs. At the same time, you can install plywood boxes in which the bird will hide from overly prying eyes.

The incubation period ranges from 22 to 24 days. After that, tiny, but already completely covered with fluff chicks are born. Females take care of them, and in some cases males also look after the young. But in most cases, the latter are rather indifferent to their children.

Juvenile care

It is advisable to move the female, together with the chicks, from the rest of the birds. Otherwise, young birds will not receive enough food, and aggressive individuals may well inflict damage on them or simply accidentally step on them during feeding.

But the female can not be planted in any case. In general, pheasants tolerate low temperatures well, but chicks have rather poor thermoregulation of the body, so you need a hen that will warm them at night. Can you replace it infrared heater- in this case, the temperature in the cage should be maintained at about 38 degrees Celsius and, of course, the appearance of drafts is unacceptable.

From childhood, pheasants need space. So one square meter cannot contain more than 30 chicks. The best food at this time is finely chopped hard-boiled eggs with herbs. In the second month, you can give adult food, adding a large amount of greenery there.

Common diseases

In general, diseases rarely disturb pheasants. But still, it is extremely important to know about them, especially since some are infectious, which means they pose a great danger to the entire livestock. These include several diseases.

Viral smallpox - is determined by the appearance of special rashes on the scalp and paws. It is quite simple to treat - you need to add an antiviral drug to the water, and also lubricate the rash with Lugol's solution.

Aspergillosis - fungal disease affecting the bronchi and air sacs. As a result, the bird develops an incredible thirst, and the paws and beak also turn blue. Treatment is carried out with an antifungal aerosol.

The most common non-communicable disease is emphysema. Tubercles appear on the body - by pressing on them, you can easily release the accumulated air. Birds do not eat well, almost do not move. The most reliable way to solve the problem is to pierce the blisters and treat with an antiseptic.

Conclusion

This is where the article ends. Now you know enough about the keeping and breeding of the diamond pheasant, and you will also be able to diagnose the most common diseases, raise juveniles. So, problems when working with these amazing birds will not occur.

Diamond pheasants are also called Amherst. Such representatives are among the most beautiful birds in the world. The name came from the Countess of Amherst. Her husband sent the first pheasants to England from India in the 19th century, after which the breed began to spread throughout Europe. Despite the unusual appearance and exotic nature of birds, the diamond pheasant copes well with frost, is not demanding in care, all this simplifies breeding of the species in captivity.

Description

Visually, male and female diamond pheasants are very different from each other. Males have a more colorful feather and decorative effect is more pronounced. The abundance of flowers in such an animal is amazing. Approximately one and a half meter torso of a bird about a meter is a tail, which is black and white in a diamond pheasant.

On the head of the animal there is a small crest of bright red color. Feather of a similar shade near the tail of the bird. A little lower than the crest there is a white hood, but its border is black. The end of the wings, the back shimmer with black and emerald feathers, the abdominal part of the animal is white.

As for females, diamond pheasants do not have such rich plumage. It is often grey-brown. Visually, female diamond pheasants resemble royal pheasants, but there are certain features that distinguish the breed - blue skin around the eyes, as well as gray or blue feathers at the legs. Females are always larger in size than males, the body is about 70 cm long, but the tail is small up to 35 cm. The mass of a diamond pheasant ranges from 900 grams to one and a half kilograms. Normal plumage appears only in the second year of life.

Habitat

The birthplace of the described breed is China, but for several decades the bird migrated very actively, therefore, in nature, the diamond pheasant is found in European countries. The habitat of these representatives is dense shrubs, as well as thickets of bamboo. For them, the best place is a remote mountainous area.

With the onset of winter, the birds move to the valleys where they can hide and it is always warmer in the valleys. As a rule, the diamond pheasant loves a sedentary lifestyle. Representatives stay in the same area for a long time, and move only in the situation when it is extremely necessary. At night and during sleep, the bird moves to the branches of trees, but if there is danger, the animal does not take off, but starts to run away.

In Britain, diamond pheasants appeared due to the escape of the breed from captivity. Thus, pheasants settled in coniferous and deciduous forests, where there are many bushes. In nature, the main food of the breed is young leaves, buds, bamboo shoots and seeds. They also love worms, larvae and other similar living creatures. Since in nature animals behave secretly, it is impossible to say for sure about the nutrition of birds.

Diamond pheasants are a sought-after breed of birds, while in captivity they do not need special care. The animal is hardy and strong, can be kept even with sudden changes in temperature. The diamond breed gets along well with other birds, they are friendly, feeding can be done directly from the hands, and after a while they will be able to eat from the hands without fear.

There is one difficulty in keeping, in captivity - gradually purebred breeds begin to be replaced by hybrid representatives. Often there is a bird with a golden hue, but outwardly the animal does not differ from a pure breed.

Keeping in captivity can only be carried out if there is a large enclosure, which will be at least 10 sq.m wide. In the teston, such birds feel bad, and males can simply damage their royal tail. Since the animal prefers to live in pairs, and sometimes even in a harem, housing for a pheasant must be divided into several zones, a certain place should be made with shelter, and bushes should also be planted. In captivity, feeding is carried out with greens, larvae and worms, grains, vegetables and fruits can be given. Some use pelleted bird food.

Breeding

As a rule, a pheasant family has one male and 2-3 females. Almost every spring, females bring up to 10 eggs. The egg production of the breed can be different and depends not only on the age of the animal, but also on the quality of the food. In principle, females can give birth already in the first year of life, but it is better to select individuals that are older than 2 years of age for breeding. This is due to the fact that after 2 years the females have normal plumage and you can clearly assess the breed and its purity.

During the breeding season, animals are very active. Males begin to conduct mating dances, straighten their collars and tails to show their beauty to the opposite sex. If the female does not react and does not respond, then the male will insist on his own, and in some cases even show an aggressive attitude.

The incubation period is 22-24 days. From the very first days, the chicks behave independently, but the females still do not leave offspring and warm them at night, take care of them. In some cases, fathers may also be involved in parenting.

The Diamond Pheasant, also known as Lady Amherst's Pheasant, is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. It got its name in honor of Countess Sarah Amherst, whose husband, being Governor General, at the very beginning of the 19th century sent the first pheasants from India to London, from where the birds then spread to Europe. Despite their exotic appearance, diamond pheasants perfectly tolerate low temperatures and do not require increased attention to themselves, which contributes to the breeding of these beautiful birds in captivity in private lands.

The external description of male and female individuals differs significantly. Nature has awarded the males with a special decorative effect and colorful plumage, striking with an abundance of colors. With a total body length of approximately 1.5 m, 100 cm falls on a long royal black and white tail.

A bright red crest flaunts on the head of a diamond pheasant, the same bright feathers are located at the base of the tail. Below the crest is a white hood, the feathers of which are clearly bordered by a black stripe. On the tips of the wings and back, dark feathers with an emerald sheen are noticeable, the belly is snow-white.

Females have more modest plumage in a gray-brown color scheme. According to the external description, they could be confused with the royal pheasant, if not for the distinctive features - bluish skin around the eyes and gray or bluish plumage on the legs. The female is larger than the male, her body reaches a length of about 65 cm, and the tail is only 30–35 cm. The live weight of birds of this breed varies from 0.9 kg to 1.5 kg. They acquire adult plumage only in the second year of life.

Distribution and habitat

China is considered the birthplace of these beautiful birds, but over the past century they have actively migrated and now they can be found in the wild even on the European continent. In its natural environment, the diamond pheasant lives in dense shrub or bamboo thickets in remote mountainous areas.

For the winter it descends to the valleys, where it is warmer and it is possible to hide. Prefers a sedentary lifestyle, lives in one area for a long time, moving only when absolutely necessary. For sleep climbs on the branches. Sensing danger, it does not take off, but starts running.

In Britain, the wild population was formed from birds that escaped from captivity. They live in deciduous or coniferous forests with dense thickets of blackberries and other shrubs. Living in natural conditions, feed on young leaves and buds, bamboo shoots, seeds, as well as larvae, worms and other invertebrates. Due to their secretive habitat, the diet of these birds has not been studied enough.

The diamond pheasant is one of the most sought after varieties, the home keeping of which does not cause much trouble to breeders. This is a strong and hardy bird that can withstand sudden changes in temperature and is completely undemanding to care for. She gets along well with other types of birds, is sociable, she can be hand-fed, and eventually completely tamed.

The only thing that complicates the breeding of birds in captivity is the gradual replacement of pure individuals with hybrids. Often there are hybrids of the diamond variety with gold, which external description practically indistinguishable from purebred birds. However, the Dutch, French and Belgian breeders together managed to develop lines with a pure pedigree, which are especially valued on the market.

In captivity, the diamond pheasant can eat various greens, worms, grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as special granulated food.

poultry breeding

Usually a pheasant family consists of one male and two or three females, each of which in the spring, somewhere in April - May, lays 6-10 eggs in the nest. Egg production depends on the age and quality of feeding of the bird. Physiologically, the female is fertile already in the first year of life, but for breeding it is recommended to select birds no younger than 2 years old - by this time they have formed adult plumage, and the purity of the breed can be assessed.

During the breeding season, the diamond pheasant is unusually active. He performs mating dance, during which he straightens his striped collar and pompous tail, showing the female all the beauty of her plumage. If the female does not reciprocate, the pheasant can be quite persistent, even aggressive.

The incubation period for pheasant eggs lasts 22–24 days. From the first day of life, the chicks are independent, but the females take care of their babies for some time and keep them warm at night. Sometimes males take part in raising the chicks.

Video "Pheasant Breeding"

From this video you will learn how to breed pheasants at home.

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