Really Late Hatch Birds?

J

John Singer

Well-known member
I ran my dog yesterday, for the first time this season, on a WMA not far from town.

She had two solid points. The first one produced a bird that was smaller than my fist and seemed incapable of flight. It simply chirped and stumbled off. I didn't think it could possibly have been a pheasant. I called dog off and moved on.

About 200 yards later she started stalking again and another bird similar in chirping and size flew off. It didn't fly far. Darby then locked up on point and I walked in and flushed a hen pheasant.

Could these tiny birds be late hatch pheasants? I do not recall seeing such small pheasants this late in the summer before.
 
I ran to my storage unit yesterday and had to stop for a hen and chicks crossing the road, the chicks were little fuzz balls yet. There's late hatches deep into summer every year for ducks and pheasants. Whether it's a mallard, pintail, or pheasant, those hens are resilient and will attempt to nest 2, 3, 4 times to hatch a brood.
 
I have California quail go through my yard every night and the littles look are about the size of a 50 cent piece. That said they can fly about 8 feet and are fast as hell running on the ground. Must be a very late hatch. I saw some this size in June.
 
I saw a hen on the the edge of a county black top yesterday, she had at least 2 chicks with her that I saw. Those chicks weren't much bigger than sparrows. I think they will be very lucky to make it through this winter as will that hen.
 
Last edited:
westksbowhunter said:
I saw a pheasant brood yesterday that looked to be 3-4 weeks old. There is no "Second" hatch. A hen doesn't raise 2 broods, but if unsuccessful, a hen will keep renesting.
Click to expand...
You're right, I worded that incorrectly. I should have stated second "attempt."
 
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