Rescued a pheasant

[Roderick Spode]

Found this little guy by the side of a country road yesterday on the way home from work. Clearly been hit by a car and off his legs. Spoke to our local vets, they said bring him in and they would euthanise - no option of treatment or recuperation as he is a wild animal, and they don't have the capacity to care for him. That's fine says I, we keep chickens and have brought many of them back from death's door, so we can care for him.

He has had a comfortable 24 hours in the garden shed, to make sure he doesn't have avian flu or other nasties. As I type he's resting on my forearm with his head tucked into my lapel, and has seemed bright and alert today, so I'm hoping for a good outcome. Even if his legs don't recover, there are options to support disabled wild animals - so long as he wants to live, we will help him do so.

[Japveesix]

He looks cool, what's his name?

Our pheasant at work is fondly known as Phil.

[dundarach]

Brilliant piece of pleasant pheasant news on a gloomy Friday.

Top marks!

[2 GKC]

Great work. Hope he recovers

[Roderick Spode]

We called him Ezekiel. Long story.

Anyway he's just started drinking water, so that's going to make it so much easier to administer anti-inflammatories and pain relief to him. Crop feeding is never fun for any of us.

His legs are showing positive resistance and movement, so I think it's temporary neuralgia rather than permanent paralysis. We have spare chicken coops he can move into if his recovery is only partial, so he has a future ahead of him in any case.

[thebraketester]

Looks tasty!

[V1nce Fox]

Thank you for saving him.

[anonymous-user]

Teach him to cross the road and move when cars are about to run him over

[ReverendCounter]

Blends in really well with the beard and shirt, not fowl at all.

[liner33]

We had one that would come in the garden during the first lockdown and call me to throw some bird food out for him , really missed him when he stopped coming

[moorx]

V1nce Fox said:

Thank you for saving him.

This I love pheasants, they are such stunning birds. Please keep us updated.

[Roderick Spode]

We have been crop feeding the little chap with Emeraid made into a paste, and syringed as we would with a poorly chicken. He is very tolerant and doesn't seem to mind. In addition he demolished a small tub of seed and dried mealworms, so hopefully showing signs of appetite.

One thing he doesn't seem to do is drink. Offered him fresh water, and regularly try to encourage him to drink some by dunking his beak, or dripping some water on the end of it, to no avail. This evening I was enjoying a beer - Camden Helles Lager - and decided to offer him some from the edge of the glass. Naturally he started guzzling it up. So my pheasant is a pisshead. Going to head out on the town now for a kebab and a fight.

[TR4man]

Such beautiful looking birds, thank you for trying to save him!

[nordboy]

Well done, they are stunning looking, by they are without doubt as thick as st!!

[Cudd Wudd]

Roderick Spode said:

So my pheasant is a pisshead.

That may explain the issue with his legs...

[loskie]

beware there's a high incidence of avian influenza currently in pheasants. You may be putting the rest of your poultry at risk.


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-f...

Edited by loskie on Sunday 25th September 11:27

[Dave.]

Cheaper than a Bernard Mathews!

Merry Christmas!

[PositronicRay]

Dave. said:

Cheaper than a Bernard Mathews!

Merry Christmas!

[dudleybloke]

How's he getting on today?

[rallye101]

dudleybloke said:

How's he getting on today?

Resting, just got him out the oven....