Rearing pheasants for shoots

Extract

The rearing of pheasants for release and the subsequent shooting of them for sport has been much criticized by animal welfarists. Many of the arguments, however, have been made without the non-specialist critics knowing much about the practicalities of the operation. A short booklet published by the Farm Animal Welfare Network (FAWN) - an organization originally set up as Chickens’ Lib - will largely fill this information gap. The publication briefly covers such matters as the number of birds reared to be shot; the method of rearing; the use of ‘bits’ and ‘spectacles’ to control aggression; the health of the birds, and their legal protection. It will be argued by some that the material in this FAWN document is presented in a somewhat one-sided manner but, at least, the booklet does bring many of the practicalities of rearing pheasants for shooting out into the open.