Pheasant birds are becoming quite popular to raise and if you are a new flock owner it is normal that you might be wondering what things to feed your pheasants.
Pheasants can eat apples and they in fact love the tasty fruit.
If you plan on treating your pheasants then you can give them apples from time to time as not only does it taste great, it has immense health benefits to your pheasants.
Today’s article will explain the health benefits of apples to pheasants, how often you should feed them apples and the different ways you can prepare apples for them.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Apples For Pheasants?
Apart from being delicious apples are very healthy for pheasants and have a wide range of health benefits to them. Some of the nutritional values of apples to pheasants include:
- Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are important to every living being for energy to stay active.
Apples provide simple sugar which are a type of carbs which provide them with energy help your birds stay active all through their day.
- Fibre
We all know fibre is very important for the digestive process in birds.
Due to its rich fiber content which consist of soluble and insoluble sugars, feeding your pheasant apples will not only help to keep the pheasants digestive system on track, it will also control the blood sugar of the pheasants.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on feeding pheasants with chicken feed
- Vitamins
Apples are rich in Vitamins A and C. These Vitamins are important for boosting the pheasant’s immune systems, they also aid the production of collagen which helps them develop strong bones and tissues.
Feeding them apples regularly means they get to have good and quality eggs formed and it also helps the reproductive process.
- Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral that is quite beneficial in the beak and bone formation, strong muscles and feathers and heart health and overall coordination and balance.
Magnesium is not readily found in most pheasant feed however apples are a rich source of magnesium.
- Potassium
Potassium helps to reduce the blood pressure in pheasants and most birds. It also helps their nerve functions and contributes to your birds being active all through the day.
- Calcium
The importance of Calcium to pheasants cannot be overemphasized. Calcium is important in the development of strong bones and muscles and also helps them develop healthier feathers.
Calcium is also quite important in breathing and respiratory functions. A deficiency of calcium can be seen in weak birds and droopy pheasants. This can be avoided by feeding your pheasants apples regularly.
How Often Can I Feed Them Apples?
Apples are a healthy choice of treats for pheasants which they love anyway and as such you can feed apples to them as often as you like.
However, you should have it in mind that apples are treats and you should stay so, you should not feed your pheasants only apples as not only will it not sustain them, they might get too much sugar from eating apples in excess.
This could cause them to be lazy and gain weight readily.
Depending on what you prefer you can feed your pheasant apples about 2 – 3 times a week.
Also to make it better ensure you mix your apples with other fruits when feeding them as this gives them a well rounded treat.
This helps to ensure they are getting all the other nutrients not provided by apples.
Can Pheasants Eat Apple Core?
Pheasants can eat apple cores however it is not recommended that you feed them for the pheasants to digest.
Apple core also has less nutrients than the juicy and fresh parts.
It will not cause any harm to the pheasants but it is best to save them the stress of digesting less nutritious content.
You can simply save them the stress by peeling the apple skin and cutting it into chunks which they can easily gobble up.
This way they don’t have to wrestle with the tough parts.
Can Baby Pheasants Eat Apples?
Baby pheasants can eat apples although when they are much younger you should concentrate on feeding them game bird diet that will help them grow.
Baby pheasants like their adults are curious and will peck at anything that looks tasty to them.
Also it is best to wait till they are about 6 – 8 weeks old. You can mix apples in with a few other fruits and dried nuts to make it more nutritious and provide them the daily nutrients they need.
Can Pheasants Eat Applesauce?
Pheasants can eat applesauce however if it’s store bought ensure it is sugar free or organic as that is healthier for your pheasants.
Applesauce is basically grated apples cooked with cinnamon and you can even make your own homemade applesauce.
This is safer if you have the time as you can make the applesauce to your pheasant’s taste and be sure there are no health threatening additives or preservatives added.
Applesauce is a great and healthy way to treat your pheasants and it is also different from feeding them the apples raw.
You can treat them with applesauce about once a week and always ensure to serve them warm.
Can Pheasants Eat Apple Seeds?
Pheasants should not be given apple seeds as the seeds contain cyanide which when taking in large enough quantities can be poisonous to them.
The seeds contain the chemical amygdalin which when chewed and converted turns to cyanide.
This can induce cardiac arrest in your pheasant if it ingests so much of it.
To be on the safe side, properly peel and deseed the apple before feeding it to the pheasants.
You can even cut it into tiny pieces to make it easy for them to eat and swallow.
Things To Consider When Feeding Pheasants Apples
Apples are absolutely safe and good for your pheasants when you feed it to them the proper way and as a treat not their main diet.
On a rule, fruits should account for about 20- 25% of your pheasants diet daily.
They cannot get this from their game bird diet so you are advised to regularly feed them dried fruits and vegetables.
Apart from apples, you should try to incorporate a few other fruits as their mix daily.
Always give your pheasants apples in moderation as apples have high sugar content and too much sugar is not good for your pheasants.
Ensure you wash the apples properly, then peel and remove the seeds before feeding them to your pheasants.
They will be glad for the juicy treat and will eat it up anytime you decide to treat them with that.
What Are The Ways Of Feeding Apples To Pheasants
The easiest way to feed apples to your pheasants is to wash, peel and then remove the core from your apple.
Cut into cheeks and then place in your pheasant feeders for a less messy treat.
You can also make or buy apple sauce to feed to your pheasants. If you are buying, ensure they are organic and sugar free so your pheasants don’t develop health problems from eating too much sugar.
Apple sauce is also great for inducing pheasants who do not have a healthy appetite.
By spreading it on their feed especially pellets, they are enticed to eat both apple sauce and feed and this has been known to help such birds regain their appetite.
A mix of dried apples and other fruits, vegetables and seeds is also a great way to treat your pheasants.
Mix the dried apples with carrots, potatoes, nuts and sunflower seeds and serve in the bowl for your pheasants.
Conclusion
The saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is not only functional in humans but in pheasants too.
Apples are nutrients packed and there is no reason why your pheasants should be missing out on this great treat.
Apples are relatively safe to feed your pheasants and even if you still have chicks you can also feed it to them.
As a flock owner this information is relatively good to you not only for your personal flock but you can also treat wild birds around you.
