WEIGHT, CARCASS COMPOSITION AND REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF PHEASANTS(PHASIANUS-COLCHICUS) FED RESTRICTED OR UNRESTRICTED DIETS

Artificially reared hen pheasants, released in summer, are reported to have little reproductive success in the wild the following spring. On e possible explanation is that such birds are unable to obtain an adeq uate diet after supplementary feeding ceases in February. When captive hen pheasants were fed an unrestricted diet they maintained constant muscle mass and fat reserves throughout the laying period. Hens restri cted to pre-lay maintenance levels of nutrition after photostimulation initially laid good quality eggs at the same rate as the fully fed he ns. However, by the time that they had laid the equivalent of one clut ch of eggs, their energy reserves were approaching exhaustion, suggest ing that they would have been incapable of incubating the eggs success fully. When fully fed hens mere given wheat in place of a breeder diet , they quickly stopped laying but recovered equally quickly when fed a balanced ration again.