How to build a pheasant release pen March 10, 2022 Gamekeeping A pheasant release pen should provide a safe area for poults to get used to life in the wild. In July and August pheasant poults will be released in to a pen for up to six or eight weeks. They will then be allowed out to freely roam the habitat surrounding the pen. Coming and going from the safety of the pen as they please. Building a new pen is a significant investment in time and money, so it is important to get it right. If you can, preparing a new pen earlier in the year is advisable. A gamekeeper will have more time before the rearing season kicks off! Every keeper has their own way. But the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust have more than 50 years of experience. So their guidelines for a pheasant release pen construction should be followed. Here is some of the key advice: Clear a 4 mtr or so wide track for your pen perimeter. Site the fence in the middle, removing any overhanging branches, inside or out. A release pen should ideally have one third sunny area, one third shrubby ground cover and one third roosting trees. Allow 1 hectare for every 1000 poults. Build a fence that is no less than 2.0 mtrs high. 1 foot (30 cm) of wire netting should be buried or laid out and pegged down. Use 1 inch (25mm) wire netting for the bottom 3 ft approx Use 2 inch (50mm) wire or plastic release pen netting for the top Sign up to our email newsletter Why use wire netting for the bottom half of the pen? If you were to go all the way to the ground with plastic release pen mesh then rats would be able to chew through it. Wire netting can be dug in or pegged out to help prevent predators digging in. In the past galvanised wire netting would have been used for the entire pen. But now plastic release pen netting is a very good quality it is commonly used for the top half of the pen. It is also a lot easier to handle than wire netting. Plastic netting also has the advantage of being able to be re-used if the release pen is to be re-sited. It will also out-live wire netting. Therefore the bottom half of the pen can be replaced without the top half needing to be. Recommended fencing materials... £105.60 inc VAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Jumbo Release Pen Netting 4ft x 100mtrs Jumbo Release Pen Netting is also known as Heavy Game Net. It is an excellent alternative to wire netting and is... SHOP NOW £134.40 inc VAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Jumbo Release Pen Netting 5ft x 100mtrs Also known as Heavy Game Net. Jumbo is an excellent alternative to wire netting. It is very easy to handle and to... SHOP NOW From £79.20 £165.60Price range: £79.20 through £165.60 inc VAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Heavy Galvanised Wire Netting – 25mm (1″) Mesh Premium quality mesh for use at the bottom of release pens to keep out vermin. Also suitable for rabbits and chickens.... SHOP NOW From £78.00 £148.80Price range: £78.00 through £148.80 inc VAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Heavy Galvanised Wire Netting – 31mm (1¼”) Mesh 1050mm (3 ½ft) – 1.0mm x 50 metres - 28 rolls per pallet 1050mm (3 ½ft) – 1.2mm x 50 metres... SHOP NOW From £42.00 £82.80Price range: £42.00 through £82.80 inc VAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Heavy Galvanised Wire Netting – 50mm (2″) Mesh 900 mm (3ft) – 1.0mm x 50 mtrs - (46 rolls per pallet) 1200 mm (4ft) – 1.0mm x 50 mtrs... SHOP NOW How to protect the release pen from predators? An electric fence around the perimeter is considered essential by most gamekeepers. It will help to keep the fox at bay. Two strands of electric fence wire about 15 and 30 cm high, and 40 to 50 cm out from the pen seems to deter foxes. To deter mink some keepers will also attach a further strand of electric fence part way up the fence 6-7 inches out on stand-off insulators. An anti-fox re-entry grid every 50 mtrs of netting is recommended. It is also a good idea not to have the top half of the release pen netting fixed too tight. If it is hanging loose and folded out at the top, predators will not be able to climb up and over. A few snares and tunnel traps may also be necessary. Browse the full range here! How to choose or create the ultimate release pen habitat? A pheasant pen should include one third of open ground, shrubby cover and diverse roosting cover. The habitat should extend to outside of the pen into the surrounding woodland. One of the main causes for stress and disease within a release pen is overstocking and unsuitable habitat for the birds to thrive in. Tree felling should be performed before erecting the structure of the pen. For heavily shaded pens, thin the canopy trees to increase light levels. If large trees are being felled, leave the tops where they fall to create brash piles. The straight branches of larch, oak, cherry, and fir trees are favoured spots for roosting pheasants. Be aware that storms have taken out many a section of perimeter fence over the years! What about food and water? Newly released pheasants can easily get lost in a big pen, so make sure it has a good network leading in and out of all corners. A feeder for every 50 birds is a good minimum, but make sure they are well distributed. Automatic water systems are best, but put a few hand filled drinkers in the out-of-the-way places too. Top feeders and drinkers for release pens: Watermaster 2E Drinker King Outdoor Feeder Outdoor 45 Gallon Feed Bin Rain Hat Tripod Drinker 30 ltr Here at Collins Nets we have been specialising in stocking top quality materials for release pens for over 20 years. Browse our one stop shop Heavy Galvanised Wire Netting Jumbo Release Pen Netting, Straining Wire Metal Securing Pins Fox Grid Pop Holes Wire Tensioners 7 Strand Electric Fence Wire Mosquito Fencer Galvanised A18 Hog Rings Galvanised Staples – 25mm or 40mm Bulk quantity discounts are available on many of the release pen essentials in stock. So please give the team a call to discuss your requirements 01308 485422. Further reading « Replace Your Fyke Nets This Spring March 9, 2022 Keeping Chickens Safe from Predators » March 21, 2022
