MacFarlane Pheasants Inc.<\/a>\u00a0prides itself on its impeccable customer service. Any questions that you may have are important and we will do our best to answer them. Below are a few commonly asked questions. Each area of the rearing process has its own individual page to better organize and facilitate your search and our response.<\/p>\n<\/div> A Ringneck hen will lay 50- 60 eggs during the spring\/summer season. We expect an average of 75% hatch here at our farm. This varies depending on the breeds and the time of the year.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The ideal temperature to store eggs is 58-60 degrees, but they can be stored at room temperature for a short period of time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> We use a 20% protein breeder diet starting one full month prior to production.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> I do not suggest any grains, but the use of a complete pelleted feed. Feeding grains can lead to cannibalism and hens that have too much internal body fat leading to “blow-outs” and mortality.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The initial breeder feed is 2.75 % calcium, at the onset of laying, 20% production, the calcium is increased to 3% in the feed. As to free choice calcium grit I suggest a half and half mix of oyster shell and granite poultry grit given free choice for feed utilization and to assist the breakdown of the oyster shell. I use a calcium carbonate chip called “poultry pellets” from a local ag supply company and provide it free choice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> My crew picks the eggs at least 4 times daily in the outside pens. The indoor breeders are picked at least 6 times daily to decrease the cull rate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Our eggs are washed in a Kuhl egg wash machine with a mild non-foaming soap and Clorox Bleach at 400-450 PPM. They are in the wash bath for 3 minutes and have a blower to get most of the water off. The water temp is 105 degrees. The eggs are then sprayed with a Quatinary Ammonia solution at 700 ppm as a final sanitizer. The eggs are stored at 56-59 degrees with 75% humidity. Test kits are available for both bleach and ammonia.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Most outside natural lighting breeding is done 10-12 hens per rooster in flock matings at 25-30 square foot per hen pen space. Indoor breeding is 15-16 hens per rooster in completely light and air controlled facility. In both cases the birds are wing clipped, primaries on one side only, and given a shot of Tylan to clean the birds prior to placing. All birds get peepers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Frequently Asked Questions About Pheasant Breeding<\/h2><\/h2><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How many eggs will a pheasant lay?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>At what temperature should I store my eggs?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What feed do we suggest for breeders?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Inside breeders get a 23% protein diet?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What calcium level do you feed? Do you include oyster shell or calcium carbonate chips free choice?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How often do you pick the eggs?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How do you wash the eggs?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>What ratio of rooster to hen do we use?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Support Topics<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>
Breeding<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Ordering Chicks<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Hatching<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Brooding<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Growout\/Pens<\/a> \u00a0 |\u00a0 Avian Influenza Precautions<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2317,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2318","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n