The first arrivals came to Britain in 1740. In the wild their native habitat is rocky, forested mountain slopes around Mongolia and Northern China.

This is the most commonly kept pheasant in captivity (Chrysolophus pictus).

The first arrivals came to Britain in 1740. In the wild their native habitat is rocky, forested mountain slopes around Mongolia and Northern China. They also live in bamboo thickets, and occasionally tea plantations.

There are 34 sub-species of pheasant, of which about 15 are endangered.

The pheasant most popular in this country is the ring-necked, or common pheasant, which is very easy to breed and rear. A hen lays 10-15 eggs in a clutch. Most are artificially reared for sport shooting.

There are several hundred reared in the neighbouring wood to this farm, which is why there are quite a number seen on the farm. It can cost £20 each to rear pheasants, with a game-keeper, 15p for the cartridge to shoot them, and they are worth £1 to a butcher.