Effect of photoperiod on body weight and reproductive performance of ringneck pheasants

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exposing ringneck pheasants to different photoperiods on their body weights and reproductive performance. Ringneck pheasants were obtained from commercial sources for the first experiment and from the Pennsylvania Game Commission for the second. Birds were exposed to different periods of nonstimulatory light (8 hr of constant light and 16 hr of darkness daily) before they received 16 hr of light and 8 hr of darkness daily (stimulatory light). Data on body weight, feed consumption, semen volume, fertility, and egg production were obtained. The results indicated that ringneck pheasants grow faster when exposed to a period of nonstimulatory light. It was concluded that, if pheasant hens are to be raised under confinement and receive stimulatory light at 27 weeks of age, they should be exposed prior to that time to at least 6 weeks of nonstimulatory light.