Pheasants & Peafowl

Avian influenza

SignsSudden death, several birds listless at once, swollen face or wattles, neurological signs such as a twisted neck, green diarrhea

PreventionRoofed aviary that wild birds cannot enter. Dedicated footwear and hand-washing. If suspected, call the Livestock Hygiene Service Center and do not move the birds on your own

Histomoniasis (blackhead)

SignsSulfur-yellow droppings, fluffed-up and hunched, face darkens; pheasants weaken rapidly and often die

PreventionNever keep on the same ground as chickens. Spread by cecal worms and earthworms, so remove floor droppings daily and keep the floor dry

Marek's disease

SignsParalysis of one leg or wing in young birds, sitting with legs splayed front and back, weight loss, misshapen pupils. Peafowl are especially susceptible

PreventionChoose vaccinated chicks. Quarantine new birds for 4 weeks. Avoid housing with chickens; reduce feather dust by cleaning

Roundworm and capillaria infection

SignsWeight loss, diarrhea, head shaking, open-mouth gaping, dull plumage, pale face from anemia. Chicks stop growing

PreventionRemove floor droppings daily and have regular fecal exams. Earth floors where birds eat earthworms and insects need special care

Egg binding

SignsSitting in the nest and straining, swollen abdomen, dragging a leg, no droppings. Common in first layers and cold weather

PreventionSupplement calcium with oyster shell. Protect from spring cold snaps and avoid obesity. Allow sunbathing for vitamin D

Red mites and feather lice

SignsRestless at night, constant pecking at feathers, ragged plumage, pale face from anemia, reduced laying

PreventionReduce gaps in perches and disinfect with boiling water or sunlight. Keep a permanent dust bath. Remove wild bird nests around the aviary

Head trauma and neck injury

PreventionUse a soft nylon-net ceiling. Do not enter the aviary suddenly; speak as you approach. Keep dogs and cats away

First aidPlace in a dark box, rest and keep warm. If the head tilts, the bird staggers, or there is bleeding, see a vet the same day. Do not force handling

Damaged tail or train feathers

PreventionMake the aviary at least twice as deep as the tail length. Avoid narrow doors and wire mesh. Keep rain-soaked feathers from being trodden on

First aidIf a broken shaft bleeds, press the base to stop it. Have a vet pull any feather that will not stop bleeding. Do not pull it yourself

Frostbite of the toes

PreventionIn winter, a windbreak against wind and snow and wide wooden perches. Never use metal perches. Dry bedding underfoot

First aidDo not warm quickly; rewarm slowly in a room-temperature room. If toes turn black or swell, see a vet the same day. Do not rub

Leg fracture or entanglement in mesh

PreventionUse mesh fine enough that legs cannot pass through. Replace leg bands as the bird grows. Remove steps and holes in the floor

First aidRestrain the bird and cut away tangled mesh. Keep the leg still, rest in a box, and see a vet the same day. Do not make your own splint

Avian influenza

RouteInhaling or contacting droppings and secretions of sick birds

PreventionNever touch dead or sick birds bare-handed. Mask and gloves. Report suspected cases to the Livestock Hygiene Service Center

Salmonellosis

RouteOral, via hands, eggs, or equipment soiled with droppings

PreventionWash hands with soap after care. Dedicated footwear for the aviary. Wash eggs and cook thoroughly

Psittacosis

RouteInhaling dried droppings or feather dust

PreventionDampen with water before cleaning and wear a mask. If you develop fever and cough, tell your doctor you keep birds

Campylobacteriosis

RouteOral, via water, hands, or meat contaminated with droppings

PreventionWash waterers daily. Children and the elderly should wash hands especially carefully after care

Food

• Pheasant or game-bird formulated feed as the staple, morning and evening
• Small amounts of greens, grain, and fruit. High-protein feed for chicks
• Oyster shell and grit always available in separate containers

Water

• Replace with clean water daily. Check for freezing in winter
• With several birds, place waterers in at least 2 spots

Toys & play

• Hang greens or a whole cabbage to encourage foraging
• A dry sand patch for dust bathing (at least 60 cm across)
• Perches and logs at different heights for climbing up and down

Nest, bed & hideout

• A thick night perch at least 1.5–2 m above the ground
• A hiding place mimicking tall grass and a nest box for females

Bedding & litter

• Earth or sand floors need good drainage; do not let them stay damp
• Under the roof, a thick layer of rice hulls or straw; remove droppings daily
• Fill spots where rainwater pools with gravel

Cage / housing material

Wooden or steel posts, fine wire mesh on the sides, soft net ceiling

Size & space

Pheasants: at least 3 × 2 m per pair. Peafowl: at least 2.5 m high

Layout

• A roofed sleeping area sheltered from wind and rain at the back
• Perches high enough that the tail does not touch the ground
• Feeders and waterers high enough that droppings cannot fall in

Placement notes

• Keep away from neighbors; peafowl calls carry several hundred meters
• Close every gap that wild birds, rats, or weasels could get through

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Free-ranging only inside a roofed enclosure; released birds flee into trees
• An aviary deep enough to run in gives enough exercise
• When letting birds out, keep dogs and cats away and always supervise

Temperature & humidity

Temperature5–30°C as a guide. Watch for toe frostbite in peafowl below freezing

HumidityPrefers it on the dry side. A damp floor breeds parasites and disease

Summer & winter

• Summer: shade, ventilation, cold water. Avoid wire mesh in direct sun
• Winter: windbreak enclosure and wide wooden perches. Keep water from freezing

Nail trimming

Wear down naturally on an earth floor. Have a vet or experienced keeper trim overgrown nails; never force-trim the spurs

Brushing, skin & coat care

No brushing needed. Maintain the dust bath; during molt check how feathers shed and inspect the skin for parasites

Other care

Flight-feather clipping on one wing only, by a vet. Regularly check for beak overgrowth and dirty toes

Protection from predators

• Weasels, foxes, raccoon dogs, and cats enter at night. Bury the mesh at least 20 cm into the ground
• Crows and raptors attack from above. Block with a net ceiling and roof
• Mosquitoes and mites cause fowlpox and anemia. Insect netting and cleaning

Foreign-body ingestion

Do not drop wire, nails, plastic scraps, or net offcuts on the floor. Head shaking, not eating, or a swollen crop (the pouch at the neck) means a vet visit the same day

Being stepped on

Check underfoot before walking so you do not step on chicks or hens that crowd around your feet in the aviary. If you step on one, do not move it; place it in a box and see a vet

Getting pinched

Long tail feathers and legs are easily caught when opening or closing doors. Check where the whole bird is before closing. If caught, check for bleeding and fractures and see a vet

Falls

Startled birds fly straight up and hit the ceiling or mesh. Do not enter suddenly; speak as you approach. If the bird staggers after a collision, see a vet the same day

Escape

Strong fliers; they clear fences and escape into trees. Use double doors and manage flight feathers. If one escapes, find its evening roost, lure it with food, and notify the police and municipal office

Safe release procedure

1. If pecked, shield your face with your arm and spread a cloth to block the bird's view
2. For a kicking bird, hold it from behind with both wings pressed to its body
3. Support the long tail feathers together with the body so they do not break
4. Place in a dark box or carrier to calm it

After the release

Spur wounds are deep. Rinse under running water; if swelling or fever develops, see a doctor the same day

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, age, number of birds kept, photo of droppings, condition of cage mates, vaccination history, any recently added birds

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch it with a cloth to check response. Eyes closed and no response is dangerous
• Check breathing by the rise and fall of the chest. At rest, 20–40 breaths per minute
• Place a hand on the chest to feel the heartbeat. At rest, 150–300 beats per minute

Stopping bleeding

• For a bleeding feather, press the base with your fingers for at least 3 minutes
• For a bleeding toe or beak, press with clean gauze and apply styptic powder
• If it will not stop or the bird is limp, see a vet at once. Losing 1% of body weight in blood is dangerous

Transport

• Place in a dark cardboard box or carrier without bending the tail feathers
• Keep at 25–30°C, do not jostle, keep quiet. Darken the car interior