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We specialise in Japanese Green cross pheasants. As far as we are aware we keep the only commercial flock of pure Southern Japanese Green pheasants in Europe, which means we are the sole producers of 1^st and 2^nd cross Japanese Green.

We currently pen 35000 laying pheasant hens, the majority of which are kept in traditional 10’ x 10’ grassed pens. All the birds are over-wintered at Hy-Fly. The primary reason for using a “closed flock” is for biosecurity.

Our breeding pheasants endure a stringent selection process and birds with any undesirable traits are discarded. This enables us to ensure that each strain is as consistent as possible.

All of our breeding birds undergo a strict vaccination programme to protect again infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma, TRT, Newcastles disease and salmonella, as well as being treated for lice. The birds are routinely wormed on a 21 day programme.

We can supply various other strains including Blacknecks, Common Ringnecks, Michigan, Polish and Melanastic. In addition to our own products we source eggs from the most reliable and reputable French suppliers. We are able to supply Chinese Ringnecks and Manchurian cross which are delivered direct to us from MacFarlanes (U.S.A.) as eggs or chicks. However, they are only available as poults due to quarantine regulations.

THE BREEDS

As quoted in The International Encyclopedia of Shooting edited by Michael Brander “It is an extremely hardy bird and was imported into Britain by the Earl of Derby in 1840 and when crossed with either torquatus or colchicus excellent sporting birds of great size were produced. They are reputed to stray less from coverts and to take wing more readily and to fly more strongly than any of their parents.”

Southern Japanese Green –

Smaller than most other pheasants, it is unusually wild and extremely fast on the wing.

The pure bird is too expensive and wild for shooting but when crossed with other breeds provides a fantastic bird for flat land shoots

where good returns are as important as flying ability.

1^st Cross Japanese – 50% pure Japanese Green with 50% common or blackneck.

2^nd Cross Japanese - 25% pure Japanese Green, 25% Blackneck, 25% Manchurian and 25% Chinese Ringneck.

Common Ringneck Polish

Blackneck Manchurian

White Mutant Melanistic Mutant

PHEASANT EGG PRODUCTION

We set approximately 2.25 million pheasant eggs annually, the majority of which are from our own production. We use a network of supply farms in our local area who look after our laying birds on a daily basis along with collecting, washing and packing the eggs. The eggs are collected by one of our drivers and delivered to the hatchery.

Each supply farm is equipped with enough 10’ x 10’ pens for 1000, 1500 or 2000 hens, with the cock birds at a ratio of 1:10. Each pen has its own feeder and nipple drinker. The drinker system is mains fed through a medicator and regulator, so we can easily administer any treatments, tonics or sanitiser when required.

Our breeder management team carefully monitor each supply farm, making regular visits to ensure that all is in order and providing any assistance or advice the farmer may require.

RAISED LAYING UNITS

Over recent years we have been experimenting with pheasants in raised laying units. The main advantage of using such a system is the welfare of the bird. Our climate in the North West of England can be extremely wet making ground conditions far from ideal. The raised laying units protect the birds from this, especially during the most stressful period of their lives – the laying season. Additional benefits include a reduction in the risk of contracting diseases or parasites and cleaner eggs. Clean eggs alone are a massive advantage with regard to controlling the bacterial levels on hatching eggs.

We do understand that there are reservations from certain corners of our industry regarding the use of such systems. However, it must be remembered that all French pheasant eggs are produced in such a way and they don’t have the extreme wet weather experienced in the North of England.

When managed correctly the raised laying units are no more detrimental to the birds than those in traditional grassed pens. Unhappy pheasants will either not lay at all or egg quality is poor. We have found that egg production and quality from our laying units has been exceptional plus the condition of the birds at the end of the laying period is easily comparable with ground birds.