Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Secret life of the pheasant!

Well....as Victor Meldrew says...."I don't believe it!"

My hen pheasant left her nest to sneak round to my bird feeder and feast on the crumbs and seeds dropped beneath it.

Minutes later another female pheasant came into my garden and enticed her away into the field where they spent a few minutes grazing.
My pheasant seemed reluctant too go far away from the hedge.
BUT - a cock pheasant made his way across the field and the second female walked away.

The cock pheasant put himself between the my hen pheasant and the hedge.
Then (and this is where Annie says I was being a bit voyeuristic!) he jumped on the hen, pinning her to the ground and pecking her head. Of course they were mating and, never having witnessed it before, I had no idea how violent pheasants could be!




Within minutes it was over and my hen pheasant flew back over the hedge and returned to her nest, aparently none the worse for wear.
I think the eggs had been left for about half an hour in total. It has been so very cold and wet I really doubt that any will hatch but, if they do, it should be today or tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!!

x Jo

17 comments:

  1. Eeek - yeah... that's how it goes. I breed chickens and did hatch some Pheasants once but they were spitefull things and the male was constantly attacking ME even though I was his 'MuM'. Never again - I say !!!!
    I've got 38 chicken eggs due to hatch on Monday in my incubator :-)
    Happy WOYWW 206 - sorry about your weather :-(

    Ike xx #101

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  2. Trust you do indeed get some hatchlings.
    have a good week.
    Margaret #64

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  3. My Tony was like that too and my poor Girls had no feathers on their backs or heads so Tony was despatched after much consideration! Nature can be so violent. All I can say is thank goodness we aren't like that!
    Hugs
    xx

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  4. Ooh! Can't wait for the next instalment.
    Hugs
    Neet xx

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  5. Hi there just popping by to say hello not joining in this week. Hope next time I pop by there might be some hatchlings!! Anne x

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  6. Cats can be vicious when too....I do hope an egg hatches.xx

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  7. The brut!! Isn't it enough that she has layed him a full nest of eggs?
    Next installment soon please.
    Hugs,
    A x

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  8. Oh dear--that's a disturbing way to mate! They are so cute though, who knew. I hope the eggs hatch!! Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #125

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  9. Sounds like 50 Shades of Prey! Hope you get some hatchlings soon.
    Happy WOYWW. Pam#14

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  10. Fascinating post. It's surprsing how nasty some birds can be. Dunnocks have several partners and have funny little ways ;) Blackbirds can be bullies. Looking forward to your next installment.. Happy WOYWW Gill x #117

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  11. "Mayhem in the Meadow" could be a new book.
    Hope the eggs do hatch, would be such a shame if all failed. Think a lot will be lost to this cold weather, you open the back door and its like a blast from the Arctic!
    Carol xx

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  12. Hi Jo, I don't hold out much hope for those eggs - it's not the first time she's left them to get cold as I remember. Maybe she will lay a second clutch after the attention she has just received :) Elizabeth xx

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  13. Hope the eggs hatch! She deserves a treat after that! What a bad bird he was! Chris#145

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  14. And you've got film at eleven! :)

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  15. It seems a little unlikely that the eggs will hatch but I hope we are all wrong. They do look beautiful though. Thanks for sharing. Happy belated WOYWW. Caro x (#61)

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  16. It would be a shame if all that nesting came to nothing, so fingers crossed! You'd think that sort of attention would put her right off, lol. Have a great week, Hugs Shaz#85 xx

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  17. forget the eggs...off she goes to have a frolic.... slut..... hahhahahahha

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Thanks for all your comments. I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas.