Dead pheasant

[Hathor]

Whilst walking the dog early this morning, she started barking at some noise behind a neighbour's hedge. I ignored it but a few minutes later a startled male pheasant flew off, Decided to investifate and found another male pheasant, just breathing its last. There were no signs of external injury, i.e. attack by a cat, etc. but there were half a dozen grey, downy type feathers scattered around. I thought it might have fallen off a wall and broken its neck but again there was no indication of that.

Does anyone have any idea what night have caused its death?

Heart attack from the dog barking? But we have disturbed a number of pheasants before.

The other male pheasant? I have seen pheasants fight before to win a mate but never saw an injury result let alone death.

I would be interested to hear ideas.

Thanks

 

[widu13]

My idea? Pick it up and use it for the pot!

 

[Retired Member southey]

Did you check for garot marks around the neck, if the other phes wanted him out of the picture, i wouldnt rule out "FOWL" play

 

[Dave Budd]

could've been attacked during the night and left (eg if fox was disturbed) or fallen out of roost above. could've been old and frail. could've been sick. who knows?

I would probably just eat it and rely on the cooking process killing anything that may have done for the bird (assuming that itwas not just fatally injured)

I saw a road kill pheasent on my way home yesterday, the car in front had hit it I stopped and picked it up, put it in the footwel of the passenger seat and drove on. a few hundred yards later he woke up! Luckily I cold pull over and dispatch it, bt I dread to think what it would've been like had I put the bird in the boot instead

 

[suburban bushwacker]

Good work dave
The problem is roadkill - the solution is culinary.
SBW

 

[Toddy]

Good work dave

The problem is roadkill - the solution is culinary.

SBW

That's a brilliant quote

atb,
Toddy

 

[BIGWOLFY]

my guess tow cock pheasant fighting over territory its about that time of year, It does not happen to the death that often but can. If you don't wont to chance it then diner for dog. lucky dog I say.

 

[harryhawk]

It's that time of the year where the "sap's" rising in the cock birds. They will fight to the death.
When I used to keeper before we put the cocks in with the hens we used to de-spur them for this reason and to stop them over treading the hens.
Just think of olde England and cock fighting, them spurs are sharp, naturally.

 

[Dave Budd]

It's that time of the year where the "sap's" rising in the cock birds. They will fight to the death.
When I used to keeper before we put the cocks in with the hens we used to de-spur them for this reason and to stop them over treading the hens.
Just think of olde England and cock fighting, them spurs are sharp, naturally.

ah, "sap" is that what it's called