Pheasant care – in brief
A healthy pheasant population requires access to food, cover, and shelter all year round. A well-balanced pheasant mix supports the population from spring to winter, while established pheasant strips and coverts provide permanent shelter. With the right measures at the right times, hunters and landowners can significantly improve pheasant survival and reproduction.
Pheasant needs throughout the year
The pheasant is a resident bird that lives in the same area its entire life. This makes the quality of the locality crucial: if food sources, cover, and shelter are present, the birds thrive. If one element is missing, survival drops significantly – especially for chicks and young birds.
Spring: breeding season
From March–April, pheasants mate. The hens seek nesting sites in dense, low vegetation, and both sexes require nutrient-rich food. Avoid disturbing nesting areas by ditches, field edges, and hedgerows, and ensure that game crops and strips are ready for establishment by April–May.
Summer: The critical phase for chicks
The chicks hatch from May to July and are completely dependent on insects as a protein source for the first few weeks. A thriving, diverse wildlife area attracts insects – and thus chicks. Keep the edge of the field margin open to the south (warmth, insects), and limit pesticide use in wildlife areas.
Autumn: endurance building
From August to October, pheasants build up fat reserves before winter, and seed production in the wild game fields is at its peak. A well-maintained pheasant strip provides optimal conditions for the birds to reach the hunting season in good condition.
Winter: feeding is crucial
Winter is the pheasant's most difficult period – the frost locks up food sources and energy expenditure increases. Regular winter feeding at feeding stations, sheltered by cover and fences, is one of the most effective investments in the population. The feed should contain energy-rich seeds such as corn, wheat, and sunflower seeds.
Pheasant mix and game cover: what do you plant, and why?
A pheasant mix is not just feed – it is a landscape feature that, over one growing season, creates dense cover, natural food, and shelter where the terrain is otherwise open. Faunamaster Pheasant Mix is specifically developed for the establishment of pheasant strips and game cover extensions and is aimed at hunters and hunting syndicates wishing for a practical solution without having to mix the seed themselves.
Establishing pheasant strips and coverts
Place pheasant strips and game cover crops in the lee of the prevailing wind direction (typically west-southwest in Denmark), against existing vegetation (shelterbelts, hedgerows, woodland edges) and with a southerly aspect for warmth and insect activity. A strip of 6–12 metres in width along a field edge is typically sufficient; larger areas provide better cover, but even narrow strips have a measurable effect.
| Period | Handling |
|---|---|
| March–April | Prepare the soil, plough and harrow |
| Major | Sowing of pheasant mix (soil temperature min. 8–10 °C) |
| June–July | Check for germination; control weeds as needed |
| August–October | The birds are foraging – avoid disturbance |
| November–February | Supplement with winter feed; maintain game cover |
Effective establishment with ATV seed drill
For establishing game crops and pheasant strips in difficult-to-access terrain, the Faunamaster S105 and S180 seeders are ideal. They are mounted on ATVs or UTVs and enable precise sowing along forest edges, field borders, and farm buildings – places where traditional field equipment cannot be used.
Annual cycle: Pheasant care overview
| Season | Priority | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | English success | Avoid disturbance; establish wild patches |
| Summer | Chicken survival | Insect forage; dense vegetation; shelter |
| Autumn | Fitness building | Seed-bearing stripes; foraging root |
| Winter | Survival | Regular feeding; shelter and hiding places |
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow a pheasant mix?
Typically from May to early June, when the soil temperature is above 8–10 °C. Early sowing gives the birds maximum coverage time before autumn.
How big should a pheasant strip be?
Even a strip 6–8 metres wide along a fence has a measurable effect. Larger areas are better, but width and shelter are more important than the total area alone.
What do I feed pheasants in the winter?
Energy-rich seeds such as maize, wheat and sunflower seeds. Place the feed at fixed, sheltered feeding stations in the lee of copses or dense vegetation – preferably daily in the cold months.
Can pheasant strips be combined with pollinator margins?
Yes – a flower-rich pollinator mix along the pheasant strips provides an insect-rich food source for chicks and supplements the seed-bearing cover well.
Get started
A strong pheasant population starts with the right conditions in the terrain. Faunamaster offers both Pheasant Mix And S105/S180 seed drills for efficient sowing. See the full range at shop.faunamaster.com.