Seen on Better Homes and Gardens Friday 22/11/13

[Diane]

Give it a couple of minutes for the obligatory advert to run through
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-ho ... -22-11-13/

[arthur]

Harry didn't explain why the net was needed, but I daresay that it was because most cock pheasants can be nasty pieces of work and will not hesitate to attack humans (particularly kids)

Back in the 'good ol' days' pheasants were represented in most bird collections, but now pheasant keeping seems to be left for the specialist

[Diane]

cock pheasants can be nasty pieces of work and will not hesitate to attack humans

Bit like chickens.
I used to work as an egg collector in a commercial barn style chicken coop, hundreds of hens and free roaming cock birds. Once they got used to you it wasnt too bad but some males were just trouble covered with feathers!
As I walked around picking eggs some of the cockbirds would launch themselves at me, good job the wellies and overalls were tough! The funny part was you could see the males from a distance stretching their necks to watch your progress through the flock, but after an attack the cockbird would lower their heads and dart through the flock trying to hide.
Only one bird got the best of me, as I bent down to pick an egg from the floor he launched himself at me and caught me full on the face.....I sported a huge scrape from my forehead to my chin for a couple of weeks, guess I was lucky not to damage my eye
You wouldnt think collecting eggs could be such a dangerous job.

[Laurie]

I have kept pheasants for years and although some species are more aggressive than others individual personalities play a big part. Probably the best for pets are Golden, Amherst and Swinhoe. These can be tamed very easily however they will always "do it their way". Generally a net is used to portect the pheasants as they have small bodies and lots of feathers so it is easy to grab a hand full of feathers which will tear out rather than the bird.