tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post4097299547905616104..comments2023-08-28T04:49:47.536-07:00Comments on Milkweed & Teasel: Bitting Pheasants and Going to WoodJennifer Monterohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-21083893197840480432013-09-07T03:21:20.902-07:002013-09-07T03:21:20.902-07:00Sure. It's a bit fitter, and any pheasant or g...Sure. It's a bit fitter, and any pheasant or game suppliers will have them. We go to Gamefayre but Patrick Pinker or Collins Nets sells them too. They come in sizes A B and C, last is largest. Make sure you buy the plastic bits on strips that fit your bit fitter (hey that's almost a tongue twister!) I don't know any US suppliers but MAcFarlane pheasants might know. Hope that helps.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-19980919842828007522013-09-06T08:06:05.602-07:002013-09-06T08:06:05.602-07:00Could you please tell me where I can get one of th...Could you please tell me where I can get one of the tools?strawberryarmy1028https://www.blogger.com/profile/01766953144219594117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-24013136444242774322010-07-05T04:46:08.162-07:002010-07-05T04:46:08.162-07:00Tamar - Vacuuming is a respite in comparison. And ...Tamar - Vacuuming is a respite in comparison. And less poop is involved. Usually.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-21188323896931976922010-07-04T06:12:09.016-07:002010-07-04T06:12:09.016-07:00Sheesh. And I thought vacuuming was a drag. But ...Sheesh. And I thought vacuuming was a drag. But compared to bitting 8 bazillion pheasants (I wheedled the total out of Mike), it's a walk in the park.Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-90317387925321318662010-07-03T09:52:05.331-07:002010-07-03T09:52:05.331-07:00HKS - It's an eye-opener fo me too. I'm on...HKS - It's an eye-opener fo me too. I'm only learning as I go along, and passing on what I observe. But I'm glad you find it interesting.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-50295938688567055492010-07-03T07:51:00.377-07:002010-07-03T07:51:00.377-07:00Wow! What a eye opener! Nice post, I am learning s...Wow! What a eye opener! Nice post, I am learning so much in the pheasant world.<br />LauraHarvest Kitchen Sistershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-46107690892547722292010-07-02T06:08:18.796-07:002010-07-02T06:08:18.796-07:00Kate - Like so many British things, it's a mat...Kate - Like so many British things, it's a matter of tradition. <br /><br />The bosses know at the end of the season how many birds were hatched, how many put to wood, and how many recovered but they're never told before then. Some head keepers never even tell their underkeepers (or their wife!)Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-68467241894246968022010-07-02T03:54:42.128-07:002010-07-02T03:54:42.128-07:00Okay, I won't ask the tally, but you know I...Okay, I won't ask the tally, but you know I'm going to have a (related) question: *Why* is the tally count a secret? What would change or be to your disadvantage if your counts were known? Or is it just some English tradition of reticence? -modesty? -certain subjects being considered bad luck to discuss?<br /><br />I suppose the low value of the game birds after they're killed means that enterprising frugal folk would have access to very cheap game. Sounds like healthier meat than an industrial chicken to me.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-75865369356781826062010-07-02T02:05:18.927-07:002010-07-02T02:05:18.927-07:00Colette - I guess we must really like our jobs to ...Colette - I guess we must really like our jobs to put up with the fallout, as it were!<br /><br />Terry - Blinders are allowed and I think intensive commercial farms may use them but we've never had to (aside from on Myfanwy the egg-eating chicken!) <br /><br />We have fewer birds, lower stocking rates in the pen, and access to large outdoor runs. I watch the youngster in the runs - they spend time darting about and trying out their wings, and catching flies when there's been a hatch. It seems to disperse their energies in the right direction.<br /><br />Paula - I'm not sure about pain, but I know the birds are susceptible to stress. The process of catching them stresses them, and we have to be as quick and quiet as possible. They get multi-vitamins in their water afterwards.<br /><br />The bit sits in the nostrils, like a clip-on earring, so it doesn't hurt like having an ear pierced would. They scratch it for the first few minutes so I imagine it registers as something foreign, maybe irritating. Then they get on with being a pheasant.<br /><br />The bit is in for about 3 weeks. It can be easily flicked out between thumb and forefinger, but we need to catch and handle the birds again. A lot of pheasant management is stress management. They don't domesticate.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-45348547836326197772010-07-01T22:31:50.711-07:002010-07-01T22:31:50.711-07:00I was glad to read that the birds can still eat an...I was glad to read that the birds can still eat and drink with the bits, and even gladder that you remove them eventually. Do you know if the process of bitting them hurts?Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171802310115844104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-50381105484491585962010-07-01T19:14:01.826-07:002010-07-01T19:14:01.826-07:00Jennifer,
Glad to hear you've had a good hatch...Jennifer,<br />Glad to hear you've had a good hatch this season. Also great info about bitting the birds. Do you ever put blinders on the Pheasants? They do that here in the U.S. on the roosters so they don't kill each other in the pens. Perhaps by putting them to wood you are able to forego the blinders. <br />Great post!Terry Scovillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03921175577588776380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-30231062932264233492010-07-01T13:20:21.377-07:002010-07-01T13:20:21.377-07:00I don't know what is more exciting. Providing...I don't know what is more exciting. Providing 'personal' care for the oldies or sitting on a shed floor full of spooked young'ens.<br /><br />End of the day you and I both stand the chance of pooh in our hair!!<br /><br />Lovely thought!!<br /><br />See you soon. Will reply to email in a bit xxColettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05918092647201479349noreply@blogger.com