[Prod]

My cottage is next to a churchyard and we have seen pheasants, Colin & Norma (don't ask), nesting in the graveyard for the last 3 years. They have sometimes come into our garden mainly to eat the food that drops from the wild bird feeders but they have now started coming into the small field where I keep the chickens which is not a problem but today I saw the hen actually eating from the Grandpa's feeder. I still don't mind but I am surprised that they have obviously learnt what to do by watching the chickens. Has anyone else come across this? The chickens don't seem bothered, should I be??

[Sassy]

There is always the danger of nasties being passed from the wild bird population. However, I personally feel this has to be offset by the quality of life a free ranging chook has!

[8doubles]

Many pheasant shoots have mechanical feeders in the woods to stop the birds straying too far so the pheasants may have been fed by those in the past.
I would not worry too much if your hens are inoculated , a bit more concern if they are home reared and not .
Short of keeping the hens indoors full time they have to take their chances with any wildlife born diseases.

[Prod]

I agree with both the above replies, the majority of my birds free range but I have 2 pens where I keep the cockerels and their little flocks. It is amazing how small a gap some birds can get through. I have a small, 2 bird, ark that my broody is in which has a built on run but each morning I was finding sparrows, robins and finches inside which I obviously let free when I opened the top. I could not work out how they were getting till I saw one fly down and go under the tiny gap beneath the coop, they literally must have crawled through.

[grinling]

They can carry gapeworm..pheasants here won't come into the garden..prob due to the chooks and me.

[joyfull]

Male pheasants can also mate with hens and the offspring are infertile.