Pheasants:Anyone rearing American blue backs??

Birdnuts

Chatting to a gamekeeper mate of mine based on a large estate in Meath a few weeks ago. He was telling me about this new breed on the scene that have been brought in from the US to deal with the increasing problem of birds that refuse to show for the gun when flushed. Apparently the've become quiet popular on many of the well estaiblished shoots in the Boyne Valley. Anyone know anything more about this ie. are they in other parts of Ireland??, have you reared them succesfully?? etc.:)

PS: I've seen a few pics and by god there good lookin birds:D;)

pedroeibar1

I've never shot any, here or in the UK. Supposedly they are strong flyers, but have a reputation for wandering/straying. Never tried them, ordinary melanistic work for us.
Rs
P.

Birdnuts

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

I've never shot any, here or in the UK. Supposedly they are strong flyers, but have a reputation for wandering/straying. Never tried them, ordinary melanistic work for us.
Rs
P.

There wilder allright - though I suppose that makes for better sport and possibly higher survival rates post release and pre-hunting season:)

Eddie B

These birds have been on the scene for a good few years now in this country! They are Manchurian pheasants, or Manchurian- ringneck cross!

Their a big strong bird on average, and very territorial which can be a disadvantage for they push out other cock birds (even the wild ones) out of the area!

They're very popular in the USA and have a couple of different names in different area's! Around here, we call them Michigan bluebacks!!

Birdnuts

Eddie B wrote: »

These birds have been on the scene for a good few years now in this country! They are Manchurian pheasants, or Manchurian- ringneck cross!

Their a big strong bird on average, and very territorial which can be a disadvantage for they push out other cock birds (even the wild ones) out of the area!

They're very popular in the USA and have a couple of different names in different area's! Around here, we call them Michigan bluebacks!!

Have you found them hardier then the standard birds??

Eddie B

Birdnuts wrote: »

Have you found them hardier then the standard birds??

Yes definitely seem to be hardier, heavier, and a better survival rate than the ringnecks!

Their popular in a lot of shoots in the UK, and a lot of adult birds brought over here in february and march and sold to gun clubs will have bluebacks in the mix!!!

Birdnuts

Eddie B wrote: »

Yes definitely seem to be hardier, heavier, and a better survival rate than the ringnecks!

Their popular in a lot of shoots in the UK, and a lot of adult birds brought over here in february and march and sold to gun clubs will have bluebacks in the mix!!!

Look forward to spotting a few around here in the years to come:)

landkeeper

they are michigan blue backs and as posted have been around for years , gamekeepers nightmare no homing instinct and take lots and lots of dogging in to keep them at home the first ones i heard of were relaeased in kilkenny 15 yrs ago were shot 7 miles away from the shoot they were released on ,but by christ they can fly

cavan shooter

I released 6 Michigan Blues back 6 years ago ringed their legs so we could identify them. They where shot in the neighbouring club 2 years later, around 10 miles from where they were released. They are a more aggressive bird and this caused some trouble with the ring necks we had. I did hang on to a couple of cocks and hens as apparently they make a good cross, A lot of ring necks have been crossed with them and you can see that if you look carefully at some ring necks.

Anyway, if your letting them out put them out in the middle of the shoot, that should tame their wanderings.

DavyDee

Some bird to wander alright and fly, released 2 in feb near the house and havent seen either of them in afew months, both birds came from a shoot and were around for afew weeks after, dont think charlie would have got near them as i ran the dogs on both of them after a week or so! The gun club bought a good few of them and the birds have been seen everywhere but where they were released! Make serious birds when crossed with ring necks!

dicky82

are these birds also known as mexican blues? or has my source got a speach impeadimeant (spelling).

Birdnuts

cavan shooter wrote: »

I released 6 Michigan Blues back 6 years ago ringed their legs so we could identify them. They where shot in the neighbouring club 2 years later, around 10 miles from where they were released. They are a more aggressive bird and this caused some trouble with the ring necks we had. I did hang on to a couple of cocks and hens as apparently they make a good cross, A lot of ring necks have been crossed with them and you can see that if you look carefully at some ring necks.

Anyway, if your letting them out put them out in the middle of the shoot, that should tame their wanderings.

I'd love to get a wall chart with all the varieties of ring necks on it - in their native Chinese range there are a load of sub-species which makes id of birds in Ireland tricky with all the releases. Can ring necks be crossed with other species like Silver and Reeves pheasants??:)

DavyDee

Birdnuts wrote: »

I'd love to get a wall chart with all the varieties of ring necks on it - in their native Chinese range there are a load of sub-species which makes id of birds in Ireland tricky with all the releases. Can ring necks be crossed with other species like Silver and Reeves pheasants??:)

Ring necks can be crossed with reeves, there was some gun club in meath that done it successfully and the average size of the birds shot was 50 inches plus lovely lookin birds too! Only thing about rearing birds like these, pot hunters and people from outside your gun club cant help themselves but try and have a pop at them! And they are Michigan Blue backs as good as i know not mexican!

Birdnuts

DavyDee wrote: »

Ring necks can be crossed with reeves, there was some gun club in meath that done it successfully and the average size of the birds shot was 50 inches plus lovely lookin birds too! Only thing about rearing birds like these, pot hunters and people from outside your gun club cant help themselves but try and have a pop at them! And they are Michigan Blue backs as good as i know not mexican!

Interesting - I know in the UK that localized populations of Golden and Lady Amthurst Pheasents have become estaiblished in the wild in Southern England. Though I don't know to what extent there hunted or if they even have a season.

IceMaiden

On some GB grounds the guns gets a pre determined fine [Goes to charity] for shooting Goldens or white birds etc.

Birdnuts

IceMaiden wrote: »

On some GB grounds the guns gets a pre determined fine [Goes to charity] for shooting Goldens or white birds etc.

I'd buy one - the males are stunning looking birds and would look well on my mantle piece;)