RENSSELAER CO., N.Y. — The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is once again distributing day old pheasant chicks for rearing and releasing as a 4-H project. Participants raise day old chicks until they are mature enough to be released into your community (8 to 12 weeks).
The chicks are hatched and delivered to our 4-H office from the DEC Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. The only cost involved would be feed, time and facility. Members and/or leaders who want to raise pheasants this year need to contact the CCE office by March 20th to place their order. If this is your first time participating, you will need to attend a training on how to properly care and release your birds. This will be held on Thursday, April 9th at 6:30 at the CCE Office. Please reach out to Kayela to RSVP to the training or to schedule a different appointment if you are not able to make it to the set date.
Chicks will be delivered to the CCE office in mid to late May. It is the responsibility of the participants to have chicks picked up by the end of the day when they are delivered. Participants will be notified of the definite delivery date when it is available. This is a wonderful, short-term project that offers an opportunity for members to enhance their community. Raising pheasants is not only enjoyable but also challenging and gives youth the opportunity to be responsible and improve their natural environment.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County
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