Terry, Boomer and I walked out to the middle field, to check on how the corn was doing. I lugged along my yellow bucket of soaked corn. We soak up dried corn; making it soft so the pheasants and deer will eat it instead of eating the sprouted seeds.
I missed a couple of days due to the rain and extreme mud. That is all it took…see those holes…that is pheasant beaks pecking into the row looking for just sprouting corn.
This is an up close and personal hole…you can even see the little roots left after those starving pheasant cobbled up the soft corn.
Sigh!
Anyway…I scattered 40 pounds of nice soft corn everywhere I could see pheasant poop. It will keep them busy for two days, after which I will take more up to them. Once the little leaves make it to the surface the pheasants will leave the corn alone.
The next worry won’t occur until the corn starts to grow an ear, then the deer come out in force…nothing yummier to deer than the corn silks.
I saw this delightful little Gambol’s Quail when I was scattering seed. These little birds will enjoy some soft corn also. I love hearing their calls. Go here to hear them for yourself.
The rains are leaving today. The earth is green and rich and lush. The time has come for me to get busy outside again.
I hope your day is a good one!
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
We don’t have a problem with pheasants, but deer love to nibble on roses as much as they love corn silk!
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They nibble to the death of the plant. Bad deer!
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Nasty pheasants! Those holes are not a pleasant sight. But it sounds like you have a fair and very humane strategy. Hope it works. That little fella is darling.
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The holes are a very bad sight. I just have to keep the corn coming!!!
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What a beautiful bird!
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They are. I hear they are good to eat, but we don’t eat them ever.
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Sacraficial plants, or seed in your case ~ got to have them. You’ve got pheasants and deer, we just have the deer – who have been trimming things up for me :::sigh:::
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Not good. They can trim them right up to death!
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The pheasants and deer were there before you so it’s good you share.
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I agree!
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Great solution to the problem of the hungry pheasants. I hope it works….
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They like the spread buffet, instead of working their little beaks to death. Tee Hee
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Oh no! Do you bother trying to replant what they took?
The quail is just gorgeous!
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No, it never seems to work well.
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you are smart to give them an alternative! the quail is gorgeous!
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He is and I adore their calls!
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If we actually get corn this year. Our problem will be raccoons.
Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe we will dump corn around the pasture in an effort to keep the coons out. Or maybe not.
Hope you are all well!
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When is pheasant season! Corn fed pheasant must taste good! Good thing you found a way to keep them happy and that they leave your sprouting seed alone:)
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Pheasant season in for a couple of weeks right around Thanksgiving.
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Interesting. I like the picture of that quail!
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I haven’t seen a Gamble. How pretty. We have bobwhites here and scaled just to the west.
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As far as I know we don’t have Bobwhites. Watching birds are so much fun!
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A good hobby!
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We have Killdeer, though. Do you?
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Yes! One of my favorites! I love the babies especially. My very fav is the western kingbird.
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