 PHOTO: KENNETH W. FINK |
PHOTO: KENNETH W. FINK |
|
The Golden Pheasant is an extremely popular species as an aviary bird. The census carried out by the World Pheasant Association in 1976 showed that there were over 2,000 more Golden Pheasants in captivity than any other ornamental pheasant species. Coming from central China, the Golden has long been kept in aviaries by the Chinese who prize them for their beauty. At a live food restaurant in Guilin, China in 1989, I found Golden Pheasants for sale at fifty dollars each and Temminck's Tragopan at thirty dollars. Flydressers of trout and salmon flies value their feathers for flytying and ladies value them for hat decoration.
As an aviary bird, they appear to be content and to do well in aviaries of quite small size, and they are totally hardy. Altogether a wonderful and beautiful little pheasant. A number of mutations have occurred of the Golden Pheasant, such as the Dark-throated, the Salmon, and the Yellow Golden. The latter, which was produced by the Italian Professor Ghigi, is probably the best known and the most striking. Avicultural Notes Minimum aviary size lOO sq. ft. (9.3 m2) Status in captivity Very numerous Full adult plumage Second year Egg clutch size ~12 eggs Incubation period 22 days Feeding habits Normal pheasant diet |
| Avicultural Notes | |
| Minimum aviary size | 100 sq. ft. (9.3 m2) |
| Status in captivity | Very numerous |
| Full adult plumage | Second year |
| Egg clutch size | 6 - 12 eggs |
| Incubation Period | 22 days |
| Feeding Habits | Normal pheasant diet |