I bred, hatched, and raised flight pen (100x150 size pens, 60x40 brooder starter pen) pheasants, and supplied 8 week old climatized pheasants for over 20 years for habitat restoration and enhancement projects under contract with private land owners. The ideal age is 6-8 weeks when they are fully climatized and HAVE NOT had blinders used to stem cannibalism. The key begins as they undergo climatization in having thick cover to venture, explore, during the day. Once the brooder house heat is totally off for a week they are suitable for release. Release areas should have amble thick cover, water, natural bug life, and natural feed. That being said the chance for full acclimation into the wild is high. Simply place the transport crate in the cover, open the door, and walk away for 24 hours. Mature pen raised birds that have had blinders on and have lived in well covered flight pens for some time are trickier, the best case survival rate is 40%. The key is again food, cover, and water. We would put each bird to sleep, by tucking the head under the wing while at the same time pulling the legs out to the rear. Once the breathing is relaxed they are asleep and calm, laid down in cover and quickly stepping back. This allows the bird to come to on its own and start exploring its surroundings. To just dump birds will attract every predator in the neighborhood and survival rate crash to 10-12% at best. For reintroduction or enhancement projects we suggested releasing mature birds at the end of the pheasant season or early February. The goal is nesting and rearing young. The release ratio was 1 rooster per 4 hens. Minimum release per location 3 sets, 3 roosters and 12 hens. We have been requested to release 2 to 4, however did not find this as beneficial for one rooster can service 10 hens without a problem. Our contracts called for site review, population density survey, habitat analysis, guzzler location, construction, supervision, and consulting fee. For 8 week birds we charged $10.00 per bird plus tagging and transport. For mature hens $12.00 and $18.00 for roosters, plus transport and hourly rate for stocking. All our clients prohibited hunting for the upcoming season to permit one to two brood seasons. Site preparation is essential, guzzlers, food plots, and cover enhancement is required prior to proceeding further with your project. There are Federal and State funds available for assisting in bird habitat restoration projects. A breeder of pheasants destined for release must have their birds and facilities inspected and obtain a license prior to releasing birds. Can it work, yes, can it be successful, yes. Do not take shortcuts it will simply end in disappointment. Everyone of our clients set aside blocks dedicated for bird rearing, furthermore prohibited hunting in or near these set aside areas. Pheasants will travel well beyond their rearing site provided water, food, and cover are available. Good luck.

How did I miss these, Edward?? Fantastic! I am inspired...maybe I will try again this winter to make something...very simple! That sweater is amazing!! You know, I was reading those Outlander books a while back and I saw where the Scottish men learned to knit growing up...it just something everyone did, had to know. Anyway, wow!

Hi BryAnn Here is a sight that has a chicken hat. It is for a baby, but I'm sure you could resize it. Good luck! http://alohamedia.net/sarah/hats/chicken-viking/

Great socks! Yes the top pair is done with the self striping yarn. She did a great job. I am wearing a pair I made right now, and so is DH! We are in the motor home in New Hampshire right now and it's supposed to be 36 tonight and 30 tomorrow night, I think we are going to be glad I made & brought them! Dee, do a google search for yarn shops in your state. If you can't find one, go to knitpicks.com and you can get some really inexpensive. I have made one pair from thier yarn. DSIL bought some before her stroke and gave it all to me because she can't do it since then. Only stipulation was that I make my brother a pair from it. Big Baby, if you can wait until the begining of Nov, and email me to remind me, I can send you a pattern. Easy. Justlinda, if you can knit, you can knit socks. The simple pattern I use, I can now knit without thinking about, except for at the heel, and that only takes a couple of minutes for me to think about. If I do a more complicated pattern, of course it takes patience. I knit a lot of socks while DH drives. If I can do that, you know it is easy, because if I have to look at someting while riding, I get car sick! Hmmm, maybe Moni and I need to get together and have a sock teaching get together! Moni knits better than I do. But I think she has had more practice, cause she learned before I did. Enjoy your warm new socks! Tami