Key Points and Precautions for Silver Pheasant Breeding Technology Explained
As a Class II protected animal in China, the silver pheasant is not only a fairly well-known ornamental bird, but also has high medicinal value. Nowadays, the wild silver pheasant population has declined, while artificial breeding has received state permission, and the breeding prospects are fairly promising. Today let us learn about silver pheasant breeding technology and precautions.
Silver Pheasant Breeding Technology
1. Preparation of breeding site: Artificial domestication and breeding have gradually caused the silver pheasant to lose its unruly and wild nature, and it has a strong ability to adapt to a flat-raising environment in netted housing. The shed for raising silver pheasants should be chosen in a quiet, dry, well-ventilated, well-drained place facing south. The cage is divided into an inner room and an exercise yard. The inner room is 8-12 sq m, and the exercise yard uses a cage-net structure and is 20-25 sq m. It is best to use nylon netting for the enclosure to reduce collision injuries.
2. Feed preparation: There is no unified standard for raising silver pheasants, and different nutritional ratios can be matched at different stages. Silver pheasants have a wide source of feed. Depending on the season, they can eat plant leaves, roots, stems, fruits, and corn, soybeans, wheat, etc., and can also be provided with insects.
3. Mating and reproduction: Corresponding mate selection should be made for breeding silver pheasants according to their different sexual maturity times. Group them appropriately. The number of male silver pheasants in the same group should not be too large, and 2-3 is appropriate. To prevent fighting, breeding silver pheasants can be fitted with eye covers so that the group can settle down as quickly as possible for mating and egg laying. Provide laying nest boxes in advance, and collect eggs in time to prevent breeding eggs from being pecked open or secretly eaten by the silver pheasants. During the breeding period, the protein and calcium content in the daily ration needs to be increased to prevent soft-shelled eggs.
4. Daily maintenance: In addition to providing nutrient-rich feed, various vaccinations and internal and external deworming work should also be done well when the climate changes. Autumn is the best period for selling and selecting breeding silver pheasants. In winter, work on cold protection, warmth retention, and ventilation should be done well, and closed silver pheasant houses should have ventilation holes.
Incubation and Brooding Management
1. Silver pheasant incubation is divided into natural incubation and artificial incubation. Natural incubation mainly takes place in the cage, where the female silver pheasant builds a nest by herself or lays eggs in an artificial nest. In this process, we should provide a relatively quiet environment for the silver pheasant to prevent it from being startled. If factors affecting the female silver pheasant's incubation appear, the male silver pheasant will make loud calls to draw enemies toward himself and protect the female silver pheasant. Artificial incubation generally uses a fully automatic incubator. Before incubation, breeding eggs should be screened and disinfected. The incubation temperature is 37.5-38.2°C, and the relative humidity is 55-65%. Turn the eggs once every 2 hours, with a turning angle of 90. After 18-19 days of incubation, the eggs need to be cooled, 2 times a day for 5-10 minutes each time, and it is suitable if it feels slightly cool when tested against the eyelid. Two days before hatching, place them on the hatching tray, stop turning the eggs, and move the embryo eggs into the hatcher to wait for hatching.
2. After the silver pheasant chicks hatch, they need further careful artificial care. Use small-group rearing. In terms of temperature: use infrared lamps as the heat source for warmth, with an initial temperature of 34-36°C, then gradually lower the temperature as the age in days increases. From 1 month to 2 months, the temperature drops from 30°C to about 23°C. In terms of lighting: maintain 24 hours of light duration for the first half month after birth, and then maintain 12 hours until 2 months. In terms of humidity: generally maintain 50-55%, and pay attention to ventilation. In terms of feeding: do it promptly and effectively. Twenty-four hours after birth, give glucose water with a composition proportion of about 5%. After that, use bread worms to start feeding. Afterward, normal feed can be used for feeding. Small pellets are suitable for the feed. Chicks are prone to B vitamin deficiency, so B vitamins can be added to the feed at 50 mg/kg. To prevent leg bending, some cod liver oil, vitamin D, calcium, manganese, etc. can be added.
Precautions for Silver Pheasant Breeding
1. Because the silver pheasant is a Class II protected animal in China, large-scale breeding requires preparing many materials, such as a Wildlife Business License, Animal Health and Epidemic Prevention Qualification Certificate, veterinarian certificate, etc. It is necessary to file with the relevant departments, and specialized technical personnel are also required. For the specific procedures and documents required, please consult the local relevant departments.
2. During the rearing process of silver pheasant chicks, in addition to paying attention to ventilation, also pay attention to keeping warm to prevent them from catching cold.
3. Keep the rearing environment clean and hygienic.
The silver pheasant breeding technology and precautions are mainly the above content. In the early stage of silver pheasant breeding, the main task is to do a good job in handling the procedures. Afterward, as long as the silver pheasants are cared for in a timely manner according to the technical support and guidance of professional personnel, a very good harvest can be obtained.