Chapters 2.3
2.3 Pheasants
Colton Klein , University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Klein,C. (2022) Birds. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Background
Phasianus colchicus are chicken-like birds that have long pointed tails (Giudice & Ratti, 2001). Typical traits of pheasants include long legs, small heads, and plump bodies (National Geographic, n.d.). Male pheasants and females are similar in size generally weighing from 500-3000g. The primary difference between the male in female birds can be seen in their appearance as males have blue-green heads, red face wattles, and distinctive net rings, whereas females are plain buff and brown. These birds tend to forage on the ground in fields where they consume waste grain, seeds, and insects. The average life expectancy of a bird is typically between 10-20 months (National Geographic, n.d.).
Geographical origination
The medium size upland foul was introduced to North America as a game bird from Eurasia (Giudice & Ratti, 2001). Pheasants have since become widespread across the USA and in parts of southern Canada, where they are mostly found in areas with lots of agricultural landscape (Giudice & Ratti, 2001). Due to the result of habitat loss and fragmentation, the pheasant's populations have been declining in most regions of North America (California Outdoors, 2015).
Pheasant production
When commercially raising pheasants there are many crucial steps that each producer needs to effectively manage to produce healthy flocks (Hayes, n.d.). A pheasant’s life cycle begins by hatching out of an egg (NDSU, 2016). After hatching, pheasants are in the brooding stage for the first 6-8 weeks of life. During this stage, the chicks achieve rapid growth through high protein diets. The pheasant chicks, alike most poultry breeds, also require water, heat, light, and shelter to protect them from the weather and predators. It is recommended that pheasants are also given 0.5 square feet per chick to prevent disease and cannibalism (NDSU, 2016). After the pheasants have developed their feathers to protect them from outdoor elements, they are moved outdoors into flight pens where they can exercise to become strong and healthy birds (Oakwood Game Farm, n.d.).
.The flight pen, as seen in Figure 1, displays the habitat in that the birds are raised until maturity. In the flight pen, there should be a source of greenery which provides cover and shade for the birds (NDSU, 2016). During this stage, it is recommended that each pheasant has at least 20 square feet of space to prevent feather picking and cannibalism (NDSU, 2016).
Nutritional significance
The meat content of the pheasant consists of breast meat, leg meat, and skin (Hans et al., 1985). When prepared, 100 grams of pheasant consists of 34g of protein, 7g of fat, 56g of water, while also containing varying amounts of magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. The pheasant contains about 200 calories per 100 grams of meat, (Hans et al., 1985).
Preparation
There are several common ways that pheasants are prepared to consume. All indigenous cultures prepared the meat by roasting the birds in ashes on spits, boiling them in baskets filled with hot water hot stones, or by stewing the meat (Suttles et al., 2005).
Indigenous connections
Pheasants have been hunted and harvested by the Northeast, Algonquian, Micmac, Northwest Coast, Wakashan, and Kwakiutl cultures (Stoddard, 1967). The Micmac culture hunted pheasants with bows, arrows, snares, and other traps while the Kwakiutl culture typically used guns to shoot pheasants. The primary use for the upland game was for a food source as the feathers were also used for bed stuffing and cultural ornaments (Suttles et al., 2005).
Benefits
Human Nutrition
The pheasant provides humans with a healthy alternative to meat as it is high in protein, potassium, and iron (Hans et al., 1985). Pheasant is also substantially lower in calories than other poultry birds like chickens (USDA, 2021), which is good for someone on a low-calorie diet. With consumers becoming more aware of their health, there could be a growing market for pheasant meat and eggs.
References
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2. Andrea Blázquez, & 26, J. (2021, July 26). U.S. retail price of Fresh Chicken 2020. Statista. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/236834/retail-price-of-fresh-chicken-in-the-united-states/.
3. Brooks, C. (2009, November 14). Beyond white meat and market freezers. The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/nyregion/15dinect.html.
4. Game bird raising tips: Tips for Raising Pheasants. Oakwood Game Farm. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2021, from http://www.oakwoodgamefarm.com/game-raising-tips/.
5. Giudice, J. H., & Ratti, J. T. (2001). Ring-necked pheasant : Phasianus colchicus. Birds of North America, Inc.
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8. Hauck, A. (2009, December 10). Why does South Dakota have so many pheasants? Star Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.startribune.com/why-does-south-dakota-have-so-many-pheasants/79008327/.
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10. Lynn Kime Senior Extension Associate Expertise Agricultural Economics, Harper, J. K., & R. Michael Hulet Former Associate Professor of Poultry Science Pennsylvania State University. (2021, September 29). Pheasant production. Penn State Extension. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://extension.psu.edu/pheasant-production.
11. National Geographic. (n.d.). Common pheasant: National geographic. Animals. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/common-pheasant.
12. North Dakota State University. Raising Pheasants - Publications. (2016). Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/environment-natural- resources/raising-pheasants.
13. Outdoors, C. (2015, January 15). Why are wild pheasants on the decline? California Outdoors Q&A. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://californiaoutdoors.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/why-are-wild-pheasants-on-the- decline/.
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15. Sohl, T. (2004, February 16). Ring-necked pheasant. Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/ring_necked_pheasant_info.htm.
16. Spope, M. F. F. (2019, April 16). Pheasant.com blog: Late season movement of pheasants from barns to flight pens and before you know it, it's spring! Late Season Movement of Pheasants from Barns. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.pheasant.com/about-us/blog/late-season-movement-of-pheasants-from-barns-to-flight-pens-and-before-you-know-it-its-spring/postid/394.
17. Stoddard, N. B. (1967). Micmac foods . Nova Scotia Museum.
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