Pheasant care - in brief
A healthy pheasant population requires access to food, cover, and shelter year-round. A well-composed pheasant mix supports the population from spring to winter, while established pheasant strips and hedgerows 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 sedentary bird that lives in the same area its entire life. This makes the quality of the location crucial: if food, 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 to April, pheasants mate. The hens seek nesting sites in dense, low vegetation, and both sexes need nutrient-rich food. Avoid disturbing nesting areas near ditches, field edges, and hedges, and ensure that game fields and strips are ready for establishment by April-May.
Summer: The chickens' critical phase
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 wild field attracts insects – and thus chicks. Keep the edge of the field open to the south (warmth, insects), and limit pesticide use in wild fields.
Autumn: fitness building
From August to October, pheasants build up fat reserves before winter, and seed production in the game fields is at its peak. A well-designed pheasant strip provides the birds with optimal conditions to reach the hunting season in good condition.
Winter: feeding is crucial
Winter is the pheasant's most difficult period – frost locks up food sources, and energy consumption increases. Regular winter feeding at feeding stations sheltered by thickets 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 feed and game management: What do you plant, and why?
A pheasant mix is not just feed – it's a landscape element that creates dense cover, natural food, and shelter over one growing season where the terrain is otherwise open. Faunamaster Pheasant Mix is developed specifically for the establishment of pheasant strips and game cover extensions and is aimed at hunters and hunting associations who want a practical solution without having to mix the blend themselves.
Establishment of pheasant strips and coverts
Place pheasant strips and game fields in the lee of the prevailing wind direction (typically west-southwest in Denmark), up against existing vegetation (shelterbelts, live hedges, forest edges), and with a south-facing exposure for warmth and insect activity. A strip 6–12 meters wide 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, plow, and harrow |
| May | Sowing pheasant mix (soil temperature min. 8–10 °C) |
| June-July | Check germination; weed as needed |
| August–October | Birds foraging – avoid disturbance |
| November–February | Supplement with winter feed; maintain reserves |
Effective establishment with an ATV seeder
For establishing game strips and pheasant strips in difficult terrain, Faunamaster S105 and S180 seeders are ideal. They are mounted on ATVs or UTVs and enable precise sowing along forest edges, field edges, 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 foraging; dense vegetation; hiding places |
| Autumn | Fitness building | Berry-bearing stripes; foraging roots |
| Winter | Survival | Regular feeding; shelter and hiding |
Frequently asked questions
When should I sow a pheasant mix?
Typically from May to early June, when soil temperatures are above 8–10 °C. Early sowing gives the birds maximum coverage time before autumn.
How big should a pheasant strip be?
Even a strip of 6-8 meters 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 corn, wheat, and sunflower seeds. Place the feed at fixed, sheltered feeding spots protected by copses or dense vegetation – preferably daily during the cold months.
Can pheasant strips be combined with pollinator strips?
Yes – a flower-rich pollinator mix along the pheasant strips provides an insect-rich food base for chicks and complements the seed-bearing cover well.
Get started
A strong pheasant population starts with the right conditions in the terrain. Faunamaster offers both Pheasant Mix "og" S105/S180 seed drills for efficient sowing. See the full range at shop.faunamaster.com.