As we all know, gardening can be quite taxing and time-consuming. And having our little feathered friends waltzing in without letting us know their intentions can be frustrating.
Pheasants are beautiful large long-tailed and brightly colored game birds. They are mostly found on the ground and rarely on trees.
This distinct quality makes it easier for them to be found in gardens on the hunt for food.
However, do pheasants ruin the garden? Let’s answer that question.
Do Pheasants Damage Gardens?
Yes, pheasants damage gardens. However, this may not be a regular habit.
Do you have tasty berries and juicy fruits in your garden? Then, it won’t be surprising to find one or two pheasants nearby munching on them.
During the summer, they may wreak havoc on tomatoes in their frantic hunt for moisture as well.
Pheasants do not do this to cause damage to gardens. They have a natural desire to scratch and dig for food. And their good intentions may ruin your garden.
Also, if a pheasant takes a dust bath in your garden, it may uproot some plants and seedlings. Again, they are only following nature’s call.
Do you want to learn more about the effect of pheasants on your garden? Then with all pleasure, be my guest.
Related: Check out this article I wrote on do pheasants carry ticks
Are There Any Benefits To Having A Pheasant In Your Garden?
This colorful feathered bird does, indeed, adorn our garden with unexpected harmful skills.
Surprisingly though, having them around the garden has certain advantages.
As the phrase goes, no matter how awful something is, there is always something good in it. Well, I guess this is the case with pheasants and gardens.
Let’s see what good these birds are to gardens.
Pheasants get rid of farm pests: Pheasants are omnivorous birds. This means that they consume both plants and animals.
Their diet consists of a wide range of foods such as seeds, grains, roots, berries, and leafy greens.
They also like to eat earthworms, snails, and other insects and bugs. These insects and bugs are frequently a source of plant pests. They can also be harmful to our gardens.
Having pheasants eat them is one approach to manage these pests. This is not to imply that pheasants should be kept in the garden to manage pests. There are various techniques to get rid of pests in the garden.
Pheasants retrieve roots and seeds: When looking for food, pheasants may recover roots and seeds from the ground. This is one great benefit of having pheasants in your garden.
Interestingly, when digging, they may reach depths of up to 3 inches below the soil’s surface.
Are Pheasants Invasive?
To many, pheasants are not considered invasive. This is because these birds are so loved by people. Again, they were officially made a state bird by South Dakota.
However, some believe that pheasants are invasive. But, are pheasants invasive? Well, they can be.
But, some common pheasants have been brought into North America and Europe on an international scale. And it now has a vast range all over the planet.
Nonetheless, because they influence native species, some of these birds are considered invasive.
Though, our beloved ring-necked pheasant isn’t considered invasive.
Let’s take a look at some species of these pheasants and where they’re found.
The Rink-Necked Pheasants: They were first seen in the United States in the 1880s, according to research. Although they originated in Asia, they are the most common in North America.
Golden Pheasants: These birds are endemic to China and are also known as Chinese pheasants or Rainbow pheasants. They are frequently seen in zoos and aviaries.
Mikado Pheasants: These species are striking black-bluish color birds. They are natives of Taiwan.
Silver Pheasants: They are one of the most well-known and well-liked species. They are frequently found in forests. They are typically found in Southeast Asia, Eastern Asia, and Southern China’s mountains.
Lady Amherst’s Pheasants: These species are named after Sarah Amherst. She was in charge of bringing the first specimen of the bird to London. They are natives of China.
Reeves’ Pheasants: This species was named after John Reeves. He was the first person to send a live specimen to Europe in 1831. They are large birds who are natives of China.
Also check out this article I wrote on pheasants and having a long tail
How Do I Stop Pheasants From Eating My Plants
Birds are always on the lookout for every homegrown vegetable. These creatures, however, will eventually leave if they don’t get what they want or if they can’t feed.
But, we understand what it means to find your gardens in ruins. So there are a few tricks to keep them from eating up your plants without harming them. Let’s have a look at them.
- You can contact a licensed gamekeeper to handle the issue. Gamekeepers manage situations such as maintaining the population of game birds and protecting them from predators.
- Using man’s best friend is also another effective way to do this. Allowing a dog to run around regularly could effectively keep the birds away. Dogs are usually incredibly energetic. They may spend the entire day hunting pheasants. This can also be used as a dog training activity.
- By employing a scarecrow. Scarecrows are made by stuffing pillowcases with stuffing to construct faces and dressing them in garments.
Birds are smarter than they appear, and a scarecrow would only be effective for a short time. Scarecrows should be moved around regularly for them to work successfully.
- Loud alarming wind chimes will startle the birds and keep them away. Although some birds will become accustomed to the loud noises with time.
- Garden netting can be used to keep pheasants away from your plants. Although pheasants may become entangled in the nets. If you don’t want to spend time untangling them, place a glass cover over the net.
- Bird feeders can also be utilized to divert their attention. Set up a bird feeder in an open area and fill it with a variety of bird food to keep them away from your garden.
Will Pheasants Destroy My Flower Garden?
Yes! They can destroy your flower gardens. Pheasants’ natural tendencies are to feed and feed again. So while you work hard to maintain your flower garden, all they see are tasty seeds and juicy buds.
They have powerful bills that they use to shovel soil and dig deep to find plant seeds and roots.
They have bills that they utilize when pecking about and may take away your newly budding flowers.
Don’t even get me started on the powerful jumpers who can jump incredibly high and pluck the buds off your flowers.
What Garden Plants Do Pheasants Eat?
Who doesn’t love varieties! Pheasants feast on different varieties of diets and they love edible plants.
Examples of some edible plants are dandelions seeds and grains. Dandelions are easily found weeds.
Studies have shown that they may reduce total cholesterol levels. Additionally, they are rich in vitamins A, B, C, and K.
Pheasants eat a variety of fruit-bearing trees such as sweet hog plum, Apricots, peaches, etc.
Typically, they eat a variety of leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, herbs, and many more.
They have bills that are used in pecking at a variety of soft stems and any grass they can find.
Can I Let Pheasants Roam Free In My Garden?
In a perfect world, it is ideal to let these beautiful feathered creatures roam freely and have abundant of what the earth has to offer.
But, there are consequences from letting them move around freely in your garden. Some of which are
- Destroying your garden plants and flowers beds.
- Allowing them to roam freely may leave them vulnerable and easy to prey on. Their biggest predators are raccoons, skunks, and feral cats. Allowing them to roam around may expose them to these predators and more. According to recent research, foxes kill a large number of pheasants. They break into a pheasant’s nest in search of food. This is why you must equip them with the best cage possible.
However, if you are convinced that your surroundings are predator-free. And you’re unconcerned with the state of your garden.
Then, by all means, let our lovely feathered buddies out.
Can I Shoot A Pheasant In My Garden?
Most people breed these birds primarily for hunting purposes. Recent polls with the subject “is it okay to shoot pheasants for fun?” revealed a majority voting yes.
Some people believe that shooting birds is inhumane and harsh. Others believe that it is completely acceptable; the choice is entirely yours.
However, before you decide to shoot a pheasant in your garden or anywhere else, you need to find out if bird shooting is permitted in your area.
Conclusion
Pheasants have an innate tendency to scrape the ground in search of food. If they do this in the garden, they may end up causing damage to it.
Although, their purpose is not to cause harm.
Pheasants should be kept out of your garden. If you keep pheasants as pets or raise them, this will keep them safe from predators.
Pheasants, on the other hand, can restrict the flow of insects in the garden. Pheasants are known to consume insects and other farm pests.
