Keeping and Breeding the Lady Amherst's Pheasant. Although not endangered, the Lady Amherst’s pheasant is becoming increasingly harder to find in its pure form in captivity. The Lady Amherst's Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) are native to south western China and Tibet, but have also established a self-supporting, but now declining, feral population in England. The actual back is yellow, which turns to an orange-red by the base of the tail. The upper back has green scales similar to those of the chest region. terms. Below: Lady Amherst Hybrid (probably with Golden Pheasant). This pheasant is one of the most vibrant colored pheasant species. This species is a great beginner pheasant to help people gain experience before pursuing other species. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. If you have questions about the purity of some Lady Amherst’s pheasants, send me some pictures and I will give you my input. Our stock includes birds from Kurt Landig's imported birds from China. The facial skin is supposed to be light blue. More people need to focus on keeping these gorgeous pheasants pure, since one of the objectives of aviculture is preserving birds in their pure form. Resplendent Quetzals - The Rare Jewel Birds of the World. The female (hen) - featured below - is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over, similar to that of the female Common Pheasant but with finer barring. Some males have actually helped in rearing young, but not all males make good parents. They usually roost in trees at night. Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. They feed on the ground on grain, leaves and invertebrates (= animals without internal skeleton, such as insects, larvae, earthworms, millipedes, snails, spiders). The male has a gruff call in the breeding season. Please contact me if you are interested in some to get placed on my waiting list. We are Lady Amherst’s Pheasants. © Copyright 2020. Most do not realize the damage this causes to the dwindling gene pool of pure specimens. All Rights Reserved. These pheasants may breed their first year, but it is better to use a fully colored male to not loose fertility. Crows: The birds that go fishing with breadcrumbs! Blue Creek Aviaries. Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds, other animals, and even humans. They are docile and can be kept with other bird species such as doves, small hookbills and finches. The females are a rufous brown color overall. You might be wondering who Lady Amherst is. Lady Amherst’s pheasant male dust bathing. The diet is the same as in other pheasant species. Below are some photos of few day old Lady Amherst’s pheasant chicks. mealworms, berries and other fruits make nutritious treats. Especially peanuts with dark spots on them should be considered suspect, but even those that look clean and perfect could possibly be contaminated. I have found that my Lady Amherst’s pheasants do not lay as many eggs as the golden pheasants, but they are nonetheless productive. The males can get aggressive with the females when caged, and having the other birds helps dilute this activity. It is considered a ruffed pheasant, since the males sport an elaborate ruff which is utilized during the courtship displays. Terms Of Use / Copyright Restrictions, Site Privacy Policy | Report Abuse | Website Administrator | Web Design by Drupal Development Services. I will have Lady Amherst’s pheasants available this fall (singles only). He was responsible for sending the first specimen of our species to London in 1828. The Smallest Bird on Earth Weighs Less than a Penny! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); © 2011 beautyofbirds.com - All Rights Reserved. Crosses have occurred in captivity and the hybrid progeny have been bred, being passed as pure stock. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. A little higher protein breeder diet is recommended starting January in addition to supplementation with greens and various grains. The tail is white with black bars (hybrids will usually do not have solid, un-broken bars). A monogamous species, it is best to keep the pair with their young from the previous year. All of our breeders are banded and pedigreed, and the young are also closed banded and come with pedigrees. Peanuts are often offered as treats -- however, peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin. In terms of their care, Lady Amherst’s pheasants are the same in terms of maintenance and breeding as the golden pheasant. The adult male averages 43 inches (~110 cm) in length, its tail accounting for 31 inches (~80 cm) of the total length. They usually roost in trees at night. The parrots that build "bird condominiums" : The, The record holder for speaking most words: the common. It is only provided for educational and entertainment purposes, and is in no way intended as a substitute for According to a study conducted…, Throughout history, Crows, Ravens and other black birds were feared as symbols of evil or death.…, These splendidly plumaged birds are found in certain areas of Southern Mexico and Central America…, It has already been recorded that the Common Poorwills can enter extended periods of hibernation as…, Smallest Bird in Existence: Which is it: the Bee or the Bumble Bee Hummingbirds? During the off-season, they are fed a lower protein pellet mixed with grain. The Amherst will readily hybridize with the Golden Pheasant and the offspring are usually fertile. I suggest educating oneself on the Lady Amherst’s pheasant and finding reputable stock, which is typically out of imported lines, as I have done. This species is closely related to the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus).. A closely related species, the golden pheasant, can hybridize with Lady Amherst’s pheasants to produce fertile offspring. The Lady Amherst’s pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae), found in Southwestern China and Northern Burma, is an ornamental bird commonly found in the collections of many aviculture enthusiasts across the United States. Amherst pheasants should be kept separate from the Golden pheasants to prevent cross breeding. Their ritualistic dance, display and dazzling beauty makes them a very popular species. The male has a gruff call in the breeding season. Others also attempt to create color mutations, which are usually hybrids. The underside of the males is supposed to be a pure white color (hints of buff or red coloring suggest a hybrid). They too have blue facial skin and blue-grey legs like those of a male. The Heroes that Were Pigeons: The Smart “Rescue and War” Pigeons Thank you. During courtship, the male chases the female and his display includes extending the ruff and hissing-like vocalizations. Please note: Any content published on this site is commentary or opinion, and is protected under Free Speech. Roasting reduces aflatoxin but does not eliminate it entirely. It is also supposed to help to keep them in mixed aviaries, including doves, small hookbills, finches. The wing plates are covered in blue feathers. The modest demands of the Lady Amherst makes it an ideal species for the beginner to pheasant keeping. The hens average twenty eggs a season depending on the feed and care. It is considered bad practice to breed hybrids as it causes damage to pure blood lines. The hen lays 6 to 12 creamy buff eggs, which she incubates for 23 to 24 days. The ruff consists of white feathers outlined with black, creating a stunning scaled effect. Avianweb / BeautyOfBirds or any of their authors / publishers assume no responsibility for the use or misuse of any of the published material. The crown of the males is dark green, followed by a red crest. Depending on the…. peafowl and eared pheasants in their aviary. Lady Amherst’s pheasants are a pleasure to watch and raise. professional advice. Next to the Golden Pheasant, the Lady Amherst is said to be the easiest pheasant to breed. The males take two years to acquire their breeding plumage, which features multiple contrasting colors. Visit the golden pheasant page as well to see how these ruffed pheasant species compare. Since the chicks can fly within days of hatching, their brooders must be designed in a manner that keeps them from flying out. Pure birds are challenging to find, but not impossible. The incubation period is 22-23 days, and the chicks are easy to raise.