Do pheasants die of thirst?

[Crossing shot]

I have enjoyed Kansas hunting for the last four years. Already, I miss the old days. It is difficult to find water when we hunt. This being a dry summer, where do the birds find water to drink.

 

[kansasbrittany]

There is still dew on the grass in the AM, even when you can't find a puddle.

 

[OldDublin]

In their food and environs.

 

[haymaker]

I have enjoyed Kansas hunting for the last four years. Already, I miss the old days. It is difficult to find water when we hunt. This being a dry summer, where do the birds find water to drink.

As long as there is humidity so there can be dew on the grass they are ok. In 1988, the driest year that I can remember, my dad found a hen sitting on her nest dead. In 2006 it was very dry and very hot. We had very few chicks make it that year. We have enough standing water that the older chicks can get to a drink. Any chicks that hatch this week will need dew. It appears that most have hatched. Pheasants need moisture just like every thing else, not floods like we have had the lst couple of years.

 

[FCSpringer]

Yep, rare but can happen. Gotta be awful bad for that to happen. Even insects are water. But if that happens everything is croaking off.

 

[allaboutthedux]

Heat

I'm just an old country boy from Virginia but one would think the 1oo plus degree weather they are having for the next 7 days can not bode well for young chicks. It's supposed to be 109 in Sylvan Grove the next 3 days. sheesh!

 

[kansasbrittany]

I'm just an old country boy from Virginia but one would think the 1oo plus degree weather they are having for the next 7 days can not bode well for young chicks. It's supposed to be 109 in Sylvan Grove the next 3 days. sheesh!

You're right, this heat is NOT good for them. They lack the ability to regulate their own body tempurature early in life (think the first 2 weeks). Good news is, based on what I've heard, many of the chicks are close to or beyond 14 days of age. That being said, 100+probably isn't doing birds of any size any favors These temps aren't close to optimum for any species...including humans

 

[FCSpringer]

Actualy we keep the temp at 100 degrees those first weeks when we raise them. so as long as there is some form of moisture you should be fine.:thumbsup:

 

[1pheas4]

Remember those videos I posted showing wild pheasants thriving in Mexico. Mexico is very HOT. Preston1 tells us how pheasants are doing well in the pan handle of Texas. Pheasants are about as tough as they come. They'll fair through this okay.

There's a lot of water still out there. As other have mentioned insects and dew help. Of course rain would be a great help too about now!

Pheasants can smell water from a long distance away. As long as there's still ponds and slow flowing streams/creeks/rivers they'll be okay.

 

[oldandnew]

The "old timers" recalled the 1930's dust bowl days had heavy populations of pheasants, and legendary dry spells.

 

[Preston1]

In addition to morning dew and fat juicy insects that provide moisture, the wild pheasant and quail have the good sense to avoid direct sun rays in 100 degree weather and find shade from the mid day heat.

Pheasants can take 100 degree weather for a while but they have to have moisture and shade. If you Google Earth to S. W. Kansas or the Texas panhandle pheasant country and zoom down one will notice center pivot irrigation circles everywhere.

The broad leaf crop in those irrigated circles like corn, cotton and sorghum really helps the young pheasants (in the summer time June, July and August) by giving them shade, a drink and insects for lunch.

Natural rain showers form thunder storms full of minerals are alway good for wildlife, because both insects and wild game birds eat the lush green vegetation.