Nature is a talented artist, you cannot say otherwise, admiring the beautiful, bright, unique color of some species of birds. One of such wonderful creations of nature is the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus). China gave such beauty to the world, namely, the subtropical jungle of China is the birthplace of the bird. There are many different breeds of these birds, but it is the golden pheasant that is considered the most popular among those involved in breeding birds.
Colorful bird
If we talk about collar pheasants, then for all species, the main decorations are: wide, long crest and step, roof-shaped long tail, in which there are 18 tail feathers. Another distinctive decoration is a beautiful collar, it is like a mantle, with it the birds look proud and important, like nobles.
Golden pheasant - bird, description which deserves attention. The color of this golden miracle is extremely bright and justifies the name of this breed. The head of the male is decorated with a yellow crest with a golden tint, the neck is “dressed” in a collar of the same color, and the plumage over the tail is also golden. Females cannot boast of such a rich outfit; their plumage is dominated by brown color with a red tint. Against the background of their "gentlemen" "ladies" look more than modest. Connoisseurs of these birds call its wild form red - pheasant red gold.
Teenage males are very similar to females, they can only be distinguished by the spotted tail and red spots scattered throughout the body. The total length of an adult male is approximately 100-150 cm. The female is half smaller: 65-70 cm. Legs and beak, both in “boys” and in “girls” are yellow.
Living in the natural environment
For 10-20 years, there are populations of golden pheasant in the UK. Birds settled in coniferous forests of pine and larch. They choose their place of residence so that the thickets alternate with the meadows on which they feed. Very dense forests, as well as completely open and moist places pheasants do not like.
The golden pheasant bird is found in nature only in mountain forests. Her favorite place is bamboo thickets at the foot of rocky mountains. This bird can be visited also on tea plantations, agricultural fields. Such places for her as the dining room, where the table is constantly laid with your favorite dishes. After harvesting and harvesting, grain remains, and here the feathered beauties and got used to feed there.
In nature, pheasants do not really like the company and prefer to stay alone or in small groups, during the mating season they create a family and separate. An interesting fact is that when the danger arose, the “golden” bird just runs away, and does not fly away, which would seem to be more effective. Only when there is no other way out, he remembers that he can fly. Running Bird - Isn't It Surprising?
What feeds the golden pheasant - a luxurious chicken
These magnificent hens eat, one might say, the same as simple hens. The main diet is plant food and grain. In nature, they love to feast on flowers, especially rhododendrons. Bamboo shoots for these feathered gourmets, like candy kids. From time to time, “golden” vegetarians depart from the established menu and eat small spiders and bugs.
In the daytime, birds spend more time on the ground in search of food, at night they settle for the night, picking up a very tall tree for this. They prefer to spend the night at high altitude.
Golden pheasant: breeding and reproduction in natural conditions
Beautiful pheasants arrange mating games in mid-spring. As soon as the first spring good weather is established, the males begin to emit piercing screams day and night. Thus, they inform about the beginning of the current period. These serenades are so loud that a person who is too close wants to close his ears. The females like these “songs” - this is the main thing!
What the golden pheasant doesn’t do for the sake of her chosen one. Colorful bird in a favorable light to demonstrate their bright plumage, starts to dance. During the wedding dance, the female makes her choice, after which the birds immediately mate. Sometimes, to defend the object of adoration, males arrange whole battles.
Females of pheasants are ready for procreation in the first year, males go on this longer. At the end of the second year of life, the pheasant can mate efficiently. In nature, the female lays from 5 to 12 eggs, climbing for this purpose in dense grass or in bamboo thickets. The incubation period lasts 21-24 days.
Chicks, having gotten out of the egg, do not leave the nest for two days, after this period the kids are happy to accompany their mother, running after her in search of food. After 2 weeks, pheasants begin to make their first flights, having learned to fly, they can already sleep with their mother on a tree. The "golden" mother is very caring, hatching and raising chicks only on her. The "golden" dad does not take any part in family chores. He collects 2-3 females around him, acquires offspring from them and “washes his paws”. On this his mission of procreation is completed.
How captive golden pheasants breed
For several hundred years, the golden pheasant is considered a resident of Europe, a very long time ago it was brought here. In captivity, it reproduces quite successfully. Experienced breeders compare the female pheasant with chicken: eats grain, chicks hatches, then displays them, like an ordinary domestic hen.
At home, the female begins to lay eggs in April, every other day 1 egg. They can be selected, leaving the future mother only the last clutch of 12-15 eggs, in which case you can get up to 30 pieces from one laying hen. When the female sits down to incubate the babies, do not forget to isolate the male, otherwise you risk not waiting for the offspring. A negligent dad has a bad habit of pecking eggs or driving a mother from a nest.
It is recommended to feed hatched chicks with larvae of insects, flour worms. It is also useful for kids to cook a mixture of finely chopped meat, chopped boiled eggs, grated carrots, salad and crushed crackers. From the age of one month, no personal care for youth is required. The grown chicks cease to notice their parent and live quite independently.
Number
To date, the golden pheasant He didn’t reveal all his secrets to nature lovers. In the natural environment, it is still not fully understood. One thing is for sure, the terrible prospect of extinction and extinction does not threaten this beautiful bird. In nature, they are few in number, but this fact is compensated by the fact that a very large number of "golden" birds are kept in zoos, reserves, nurseries and simply in private estates. Golden pheasants with their bright plumage and beautiful, graceful body shape can decorate any house, and they feel quite comfortable in captivity.