swinhoe pheasants

chookfarmers · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:01 pm **Posts:** 15

My new pair of swinhoe pheasants are fighting and it’s the female that is the aggressor
Is this normal mating behavior? I don’t understand as I got them together and I was told they have been together for 2 years so why now are they fighting?

love_peafowl · **Posted:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:28 am

I have heard of this before some hens can adopt the male demeanor if the male is not strong. Be careful she could kill the male. I would take her out until say feb then put her back as see what happens

yokohama · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:33 am

I have had pairs together for a few years and had them turn on each other for no reason. This has happened 4 times with long term pairs. Hens try and kill cocks and cocks kill hens.
I now just assume it will happen with every pair ONE DAY, and I wont be disappointed if it does. In my experience they will, at some point also kill anything that shares their aviary.

They are still my favourite though. :-D

RPoultry · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:40 pm **Posts:** 933

could it be that the avairy is too small, or there is not enough cover for them both to hide from the other?

love_peafowl · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:48 am

No it just the nature of some, its no diierent to reeves a good percentage of cocks will be so aggressive to everything including humans

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

I agree with love peafowl that some birds are just more aggressive and that there is also varying compatability between pairs.

However, I also agree with Zac in that aviary size and furnishing can alter how this aggression is shown and how damaging it ends up being to the bird on the receiving end.

So if you can change these factors it may help.

Ronny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 6

Some great suggestions for a perennial problem with all breeds of pheasant, except Golden and Lady Amherst I have found.
Just a suggestion, it is a solution that has worked 50% of the times I have used it. Take the victim to a new pen, on their own for at least a week preferably longer, it becomes their territory. Do not feed the aggressor for a day before reintroducing them in the new pen.It almost always works if it is the male being picked on, not so successful with the hen. I agree pen size and cover are very important.Some birds just seem to end up with loser tattooed on their forehead and everything picks on them, a quick humane end is the best solution for them.

chookfarmers · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:01 pm **Posts:** 15

The pair is in an aviary 5 x 12 meters and it has lots of plants and tall grass and rocks. She seems to look for him then just attack even when he is on the other side of the aviary and seee can't see him. I will keep watching and if she doesn't stop I will take her out for awhile. Thank you

bluepeafowl · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:01 am

love_peafowl wrote:

No it just the nature of some, its no diierent to reeves a good percentage of cocks will be so aggressive to everything including humans

This is correct, regardless of the pen size or furnishings within the pen if either sex show aggression your only option is to remove the offender and return it after the season is complete. This is the same for aggressive green peafowl regardless of the pen being 50 sqfeet or 500sqfeet if they are aggressive they will attack you.

chookfarmers · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:01 pm **Posts:** 15

That rings true with mine he can hide or get away but she hunts him down

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