Saturday 16 April 2016

Oh dear Mrs Pheasant.

Oh dear Mrs Pheasant/s - I don't think you have got the general idea at all.   The nest outside our front door, which had eight eggs in at the start of the week, now has sixteen eggs in it and still counting.

The farmer says that the likelihood is that two hen pheasants are using the nest and that either both will desert it, one will fight off the other and try to sit on all the eggs (far too many), or they will both sit side by side if they don't fall out.   So we shall have to watch and wait to see what happens.   One thing is for sure though -it is unlikely we shall have a happy brood of babies in the front garden this year.   Such a disappointment.

23 comments:

donna baker said...

I have seen that happen with hens and geese Pat. In both cases, babies have hatched, but don't know about wild fowl.

Mac n' Janet said...

What a mess, well you know what they say about being bird brained.

Twiglet said...

Isn't nature fascinating though. Pheasants always seem to be a bit silly don't they.

Rachel Phillips said...

We watched a cock pheasant outside in the garden this morning with two hens under a hedge; he climbed on one back and then the other. There is your lesson in the birds and the bees for today.

Terry and Linda said...

Goodness sakes! What an adventure! I will be fun to see what you come up with...or they come up with!

Linda

Frances said...

Dear Weaver, sorry about these front garden developments.
Over at my site, I have a city bird nest photograph at the very end of my current post.
It might make you smile.
xo

Joanne Noragon said...

But how interesting!

Bless said...

Wow! You'll have to keep us updated on the developments! I've a nest of house finches in my front porch light! This is the 2nd year they've built their nest in my light and I am unable to turn on the light because of it!

Frugal in Derbyshire said...

It might turn out alright. I've had hens sitting in tandem that has worked quite well. Don't know about pheasants tho'. How long is the incubation period for them?

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Pheasants seem such stupid creatures to me. If all birds were assigned to The Francis of Assissi Secondary School, the pheasants would surely all be in the special needs class along with the wood pigeons.

ADRIAN said...

They do this every year. If you have a broody hen let her sit on half of them then supervise the pheasant nest to make sure at least one incubates the eggs. They are the thickest of creatures and why anyone would think it sport to shoot one is beyond me. Just feed them grain and when tame wring their necks.

angryparsnip said...

This is so interesting. Please keep us updated.
When the quail start laying their eggs you can find very flimsy nests just a few leaves on the ground in protected places.
As soon as they hatch the babies are up and follow their mums off into the bushes.

cheers, parsnip

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

When we had a small flock of laying hens, they tended to ALL lay in the same nesting box. Often, there were two of them in there crammed in at the same time. We never had chicks, however. -Jenn

Barbara said...

Oh, I hope it all comes out all right! It is so disconcerting to see things in nature go awry and feel helpless to "fix" it.

Hildred said...

Such goings-on.....don't you find though that often the ones with beautiful plumage have rather flighty judgement.... Oh, I must be thinking of the male pheasant, the females are quite drab and ordinary.....

Cro Magnon said...

Well at least it'll make the nest-watching more interesting.

The Weaver of Grass said...

There is enough information in these replies for at least one sex education lesson any day! And I have no idea how long the incubation period is- sorry.

Heather said...

What a shame. I had no idea that any bird would share the nest of another. Fingers crossed that they might like each other's companionship during the incubation period!

Midmarsh John said...

It will be fascinating to see the outcome.

Rachel Phillips said...

The incubation period is about 28 days.

Gerry Snape said...

It's a threesome!....how mixed up will those baby pheasants be....shocked of Penketh!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Can you imagine taking care of 16 babies? Can't wait to see the outcome.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for that Rachel - 28 days it is - providing one or the other of the daft birds decides to sit and incubate the eggs.