Sunday, September 30, 2012

My favorite pheasant picture of all time:

Himalayan Monal, commonly called the Impeyan, performing typical digging behavior. 

Where To Buy Quail and Pheasants

The first thing that someone new to the pastime of raising game birds usually asks me is this: Where can I find pheasants and quail available for sale? Listed here are some tips that may be useful in your search to get quality birds, whether they are pheasants, quail, partridges, or even waterfowl.

1-Join a Local or Regional Club

My local organization, the Utah Pheasant Society, is a group of enthusiasts who meet up to share their experiences raising game birds. They do this through monthly meetings, an annual auction, a Christmas party, as well as a show. If I hadn't had the opportunity to participate in the club before I started raising birds, I wouldn't have experienced nearly the success I did. The truth is, I probably wouldn't have had any success at all.

Not only
is a local club a superb place to meet breeders that you can buy your birds from, they're indispensable when it comes to learning the ins and outs of the hobby. The function of these clubs is to share information, so don't before afraid to ask as many questions as you can. A lot of clubs have monthly newsletters too, loaded with useful information for the beginner and expert alike.

2-Join a National Club
I would recommend a membership to the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society (APWS). They provide an excellent newsletter that is sent nine times yearly, with articles and classified ads. Furthermore, they compile a breeders list of all members along with the birds that they own. This is a good resource for finding quality breeders of all kinds of fowl.

3-Make Connections

If you join any of the local or national clubs, you are sure to make new friends who raise birds. Many of these breeders don't advertise, so be sure to ask around. Some of the highest quality birds I own I would never have found if I didn't build relationships with members of the hobby.

4-Ask for References

Always request references from a few past customers before you purchase birds from anyone. Bigger companies depend on their reputations for success and won't hesitate to provide you with an extensive list of satisfied customers. Smaller sized breeders will also be pleased to provide you with a few names of their past customers. If they don't, that's a red flag to head somewhere else.

5-Take A Look Before You Buy

Whenever possible, see the birds prior to buying them. If you're buying birds from across the country, request pictures. Large companies might not be able to do this, but small-scale breeders can accommodate your request.

Another aspect of “See Before You Buy” is to find out the quality of the facilities where birds are kept. A good breeder might have certain areas that are off-limits to avoid disease transmission, but ask for a tour. Most will be more than happy to oblige. I get a kick out of flaunting my birds to anybody who asks!

If you keep to the five tips given above, I can promise that your experience with raising game birds will be successful and enjoyable. Should you have any questions, please stop by www.pheasantsandquailforsale.com for up to date information on all things game birds.