Rockport pheasant farm
Be careful driving on rockport rd and hazen. The fences were damaged from snow and many pheasants are out and about in the area.
Verysure OMG! That's terrible for the farm owners, and for the pheasants! Thanks for the heads-up...we live right by them and go that way frequently.
Clawdia i live right next to it and the game farm guys said 20k pheasants are out. we have pheasants EVERYWHERE!!!!
jd4020 The Hackettstown Hatchery staff plus workers from all over North Jersey were there all weekend working very hard to do what they could. There is no worse job than knocking snow of netting in acres of pens onto your head for hours. They are there now trying to drive as many birds back into cleared pens as they can.
fishmaker1 Wondering if pheasants can survive on their own in our climate, and if we'll end up with a thriving population of "feral" pheasants!
Rebecka There are 4 of the fugitives milling around in my yard on rockport 1/2 mile east of the farm.
Mansfield ResOnly 1 male and 3 females. Bright iridescent colors on the male's head and neck. I tried to get a picture but they took off into the wooded area behind the house before I could get a shot.
The pheasant farm is owned by the state they just spend 8 million dollars rebuilding. The birds were all over the road this morning it was hard getting thru. They are not the smartest bird so be careful if you travel down Hazen Road,
Laura Merchak Yes, pheasants can survive in our climate, unless they are shot by hunters. These pheasants in question are raised soley for the purpose of hunting. So, I hope many at least have a head start to become "wild" and evade the oncoming slaughter of otherwise relatively tame birds.
QUINLAN They can survive in the wild in theory but these birds grew up without being taught any survival skills (by their parents). Last year we saw an escapee trying hard to get into a cage so he could eat.
jerseydutchman2 well said! Not much more inhumane than canned hunting, and a lot of money spent maintaining so many animals.
So...does anyone have any good pheasant recipes? I pass that place every morning. Maybe I'll snag dinner on the way home.
emaxxman 
PREDATOR 
There has been a steady stream of the birds through my yard this morning. Here is a shot of a few that were in a group of about 20-25 birds.
if its Against The Law to kill Birds of prey Eagles Falcons Hawks and Owls why is the state aloud to kill them at rockport
oldred ~ Pheasant are not birds of prey. They are more like Quail and Partridge. Just like the state raises trout to stock streams, they raise Pheasant to release for hunting.
Jackie NO KIDING pheasant's are not birds of prey if you can read [i Doubt it] i am saying that the state kills birds of prey at rockport
Wondering if pheasants can survive on their own in our climate, and if we'll end up with a thriving population of "feral" pheasants!
Rebecka
I believe pheasant season starts at the end of this week, so they would be release soon anyways. They are so pretty. The bad part is it will bring a lot more Foxes next year.
Just Asking The state kills birds of prey who prey on the pheasants at rockport. That's what was meant, from my perspective...I think they're asking why can the state kill them if no one else is allowed to.
muffin there are a bunch in mansfield twenshp today. last seen on rt 57 near panera bread/weis market
dora Is it really true that they kill birds of prey at Rockport? I'd be surprised.
I think our climate is okay for pheasants but there is not much suitable habitat for this kind of bird. Remember bob-whites? They have pretty much disappeared.
saw about 50 of them going into the corn maze at Donaldson's yesterday!! Hope they found their way out!!
pmnsk Is it really true that they kill birds of prey at Rockport? yes seen it with my own eyes
I live right down the road from the farm. My yard has been overrun by the pheasants. I built a barricade yesterday to protect them from breaking into my house. Seems like the time is running out before they make their way inside. Infact, I believe I hear one. Holy cow!!! They broke through my window! Someone please help me, they are pecking at my flesh! Please songgrsshkjfcnc ghknxssfjkkc
Charley Darwhen Just researched the pheasant farm, in Nov.10, the director of fish and game said these birds are know as "Rockport Rockets" because of their "fast flight"! Wondering how does one CATCH a Rockport Rocket on the run? Can picture a bunch of people running around with butterfly nets scooping up Rockets in middair! What a laugh! Someone needs to do a video of Rockport Rocket re-capture.
I did hear a helicopter earlier today, no, do you think?
Ashby Pmnsk - rofl !
There are nets over the pheasant pens at the farm (or at least there were) so I have a hard time believing any birds of prey were killed. Besides, the migrating birds act is Federal Law, not State, so it's not like the State of NJ could have issued an exemption for the farm. I don't know what you saw Oldred (your posts are quite vague) but I doubt it was raptors being killed.
And I agree that most of these birds will probably end up as meals for fox, oppossum, raccoon, coyote and raptor... envigorating those populations.
The pheasants have made their way over to Independence today. I had a few in my back yard and into the woods behind the house. They don't seem to be afraid of anything. I worry too that the varmits(fox, etc.) will get them.
joyful There were 3 of them in my back yard today by 7th. St. and E. Baldwin St. in Hackettstown , a long journey from the Game Farm,, They were beautiful, such nice colors,,
BlueFishEd yes it was raptors being killed the birds get caught in the pheasant runs and the state workers kill its not that hard to believe them btw jackie i can spill better then you can read
oldred: I don't want to get into this little feud, but even though you may be able to spill, in this case, you sure can't spell. :)
cbel "yes it was raptors being killed the birds get caught in the pheasant runs and the state workers kill its not that hard to believe them btw jackie i can spill better then you can read"
What is this?? What happened to good grammar? Spelling, coma's, periods...I can hardly make any sense at this post. What does  this mean? Perhaps you didn't attend school in American or just didn't finish. I think you should really practice what you preach. Pad, pen and dictionary!
Nosila These birds were raised to be released for hunting. To show that pheasant hunting wasn't only for the wealthy. Pretty interesting story behind the rockport farm if you google it...as in that tiny town only really exists due to the farm
I have seen a number if raptors and owls at rockport. Don't know about them being killed. Do know that a few years back one of the workers had a dead fox.
oldred ~ otay, i giv up, yur write, yur a beter spiller then me and yur gramer is good to.
Christine Hope a few get further down the road! Great bug catchers! And,,,,,they DO eat ticks! Welcome to our house! Had a couple flocks on property on Long Island for years and years. No pesticides needed. A gardener's dream!
MikeL Learned some interesting facts about this bird yesterday. Search Wikipedia for Common or Ring-necked Pheasant (same bird).
Is anyone out there wondering if there will be long-term ecological effects of the unintended release of tens of thousands of non-native birds? Just wondering out loud myself.
This article is a little more updated.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/index.ssf/2011/11/snowstorm_sets_rockport_pheasa.html
Calico696 Saw one of the escapees this morning, stopped, got out of my car, it simply walked away! Can't imagine how much "sport" there is in hunting these birds. Must be a real challenge for hunters, how do you make a Rockport Rocket fly? Or maybe they don't, sure is easier to shoot'em when they are walking away from you! Hunting season opens Nov.12, this area will be infested with hunters, better put up no hunting signs on your front door!
Pheasants have a very low survival rate in NJ mainly due to the loss of habitat but also due to their vulnerability to predators. (fox, coyotes and dogs)
If hunting is not your cup of tea, so be it. But do not knock the hunters. Every piece of hunting and fishing gear has a federal tax placed on it that comes back to our state. Not only does this tax contribute millions of $ to our economy, hunting also supports our local merchants and creates jobs with the revenue. Also, many hunters volunteer their time for preservation efforts in NJ. Another benefit that comes from hunting is Helping the Hungry project. Many hunters donate deer to feed the hungry in our area.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/hlphngry.htm
real1 real1 Fact: New Jersey's own information states "one out of ten survive, the rest are shot by hunters", sounds like habitat or predators really have no impact on their survival! Hunting is fine, however, seeing these "wild" birds walking around homes, shopping centers, and not fearful of humans, kind of diminishes the "thrill of the hunt" addage often voiced by hunters. If blasting away at these "wild" birds is sport, so be it! Next week you can get your "limit" in the Home Depot's parking lot!
hunting wild animals with a sustainable (or over)population - fine!!
spending money to breed, raise in captivity, then release - wasteful, inhumane, and disruptive to the ecosystem. WORST IDEA. Maybe this is a good opportunity to abolish this backwards practice.
Just saw a male and female bynst Mary's school and a female flew over my car entering Hastings square
Funny they only want to catch them to release them to be hunted!
Saving their lives to kill them!
suzique i work on valentine street next to the train station-just saw about a dozen of them on railroad tracks behind the police station!!!!
Oh my: there are a few birds hanging out here at the drive-through tellers at BOA on Main. And holding up the works! Here I thought people who spend a half hour at the ATM were annoying. Birds with nothing to do and nowhere in particular to be are worse!
This "farm" ought to be shut down. I'm not an animal lover freak, but I am also not one to see things suffer. I live very close to the farm and when the fences broke the netting, with the heavy snow, fell on top of the birds - trapping thousands of them. It was horrible to hear them screaming and clucking as they were crushed to death. Went on for two or three days, slowly becoming less and less. Meanwhile, there was no one there from the state doing a damn thing. In addition, I have had to chase 5 individuals off of my property with shotgun in hand (they had the gun) trying to shoot these things. Just because they escaped, this gives someone the right to discharge a firearm on my property???! I have kids - this is nuts. God forbid one of these nuts hit my kid! I am ok with hunting, but I have to agree, anyone that is going after a pheasant is not looking to hunt, just kill. They have NO defense mechanism's. You want to hunt, I have two bears that frequent my yard all the time - your more than welcome to come go after them with a knife - that should even it up a little. Make it a little more interesting.
to the guy who seen state workers killing birds of pray Did you file a complant withe the proper dept Did you I hope so
and i heard on the radio that the state is not botherig to catch the birds
Caged Animal Snowman, a GREAT post, thank you. If you believe the state, and the "director", he brought in workers from all over to help? Wonder if they will "stock" the wounded and injured birds. What method did they KILL off those not salvageable to be shot later? Maybe it is time for the state cut the BS, and be truthful! Sad comment on "hunters" [subhumanoids] to be there now for the kill! Wonder if the state made any arrests for "out of season" hunting? Are they piling up the dead birds? Maybe a news organization should take a few pictures, ask a few questions!
That whole facilty is a mess, abandoned "homes" falling down near the "office", must be sub-standard structures for pens! A tragedy, the director is stating on their website, don't worry "hunters" we will have enough birds for you to shoot, but, only on Saturdays! Come on "hunters", if you see a Rockport Rocket" limping or it cannot fly, save a shot, run up and beat it to death!
Yesterday, I slowly skinned, sliced, and then pulverized an innocent banana for my shake. It looked up at me with the bewildered yet cute expression. I told it, "sorry, it's either you or the cute cow with feelings."
I can still hear the banana scream.
LOL emaxx. Pheasant is quite tasty. I sure hope the subhumanoid that I married shoots a couple in his small game club this year. I can taste that roasted bird already.
Hey, eman, it is not about you apparently playing with your banana, although one wonders about your mind set, it is about the conditions, the "rescue" efforts, the physical structure etc. Also, possible road accidents,and local impact on this area, already happening. Never heard a banana scream, you must be the first person to admit to this, please describe it, in detail, waiting! Second thought, don't embarrass yourself even more!
Real1: The pheasants were never native to NJ, so they have never experienced a loss of habitat.
Quinlan: I have great respect for your passion, and I can see many of your points. But I also see the other side's (hunter's) points, too. This is why I'm avoiding the topic personally; I kind of agree with both sides. Maybe these birds will provide for some much needed meals for families who have been affected by the rotten economy. But should we really be hunting semi-domesticated birds? That's what they are. They are not classified as "wild." It's just like shooting chickens. But it's a long-standing tradition and sport for many families. See, I just can't make up my mind, so I'm simply choosing not to judge anyone, and let people do what they feel is right.
Snowman: your post about hearing the birds suffer really affected me. I thought they just all escaped. I didn't realize so many suffered a painful end. How awful.
Calico, AGAIN, no problem with hunting for sport, I do hope your husband is successful, I was referring to those "hunters", as reported by snowman, who were already hunting now. Even your husband, I hope, would not condone this alleged hunting incident! Yes, they are breaking law, and hopefully are a small minority of the hunting population.
Yes, terrible about the ones who suffered. No animal should ever have to suffer.
BTW, didn't they just do, or are approved to do a major renovation at Rockport? I remember seeing an article about it somewhere. I'll try to dig it up.
Calico - I thought I read they completed a very expensive renovation, too. Looks like maybe some of the money should have gone towards better fencing.
They did a renovation but it had nothing to do with the pens. It had to do with the hatchery. I was only half,listening to rnj this morning
Here's the article from last year. $1.3 million renovation, financed solely by hunter's fees.
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/11/08/rockport-game-farm-in-warren-county-nj/
Apparently, as Ammoland reported, monies were spent, however, the states response to my inquiry earlier today, indicates the existing pens will be renovated as funding is available, and "even some of the new pens" were damaged. Again, my point being is that if this operation continues, it should be up to standard, and maintained accordingly.
Quinlan - I don't disagree that it should be up to standard at all. You are completely correct there.
Rebecka, My passion stems from what is right, to raise these birds, and release them to a mortality rate of 90%, indicates the ease of which these birds are killed by hunters. As many of us have witnessed these pheasants do not appear to be the least bit wild. I have had groundhogs is my backyard that were far more wild. If the state continues to raise pheasants for our hunters, every effort [and funding] should be made available to have the correct facilities. And as you state, shooting "semi-domesticated" birds, hopefully, might help feed a family. I totally agree.
How do we know it wasn't up to standard? What are the standards?
This was a freakish storm that produced massive damage to many things that were up to standard. I don't like seeing any animal suffer, but where and what are these standards and how do we know if they we not up to par?
Not going to get to involved as I don't know all the answers, but let me straighten a few things out here. There have been quite a few people working their hardest to save as many birds as possible since saturday midday when the heavy snow started weighing the pens down. Wildlife management crews from North, Central, and South Jersey have mixed with employees from the hatcheries, wildlife control, and wildlife to help knock the snow off and erect these pens. I was personally there to check on my crew and there were groups of 20-30 men and women helping with dogs, quads, ATVs, etc... The wildlife folks brought in confusion duck traps yesterday and with bait have been capturing hundreds of birds a day to put back in the pens. Today they brought in a small group of guys and drove a bunch of birds from surrounding fields back into the pen area. Don't kid yourself that the State did not care. I know personally from dealing with a live animal in numbers that you care about them. Alot of hours of hard work went into this group of birds and noone wants to see them loose like this. As far as losses go I have no idea, but my guys said there were very few birds under the netting and snow dead which made them feel better. As far as the screaming at night I don't know, but male pheasants make a cackling noise when they fight, fly, etc... Obviously there are some birds that have gotten quite far and will not be coming back but I know that there will be a continued effort to get as many back as possible.
Fishmaker, quick comment from me, confusion duck traps, driving birds from the surrounding fields, "caring about these birds", your compassion is acknowledged, but, in a few weeks all of your recaptured birds will be shot! Still ponder the bigger question, is there a standard for pens, is funding adequate etc. And from my perspective, these unfortunate birds really are too friendly, seems like they are pretty easy to catch after all! You can "herd" a pheasant back to its pen, guess they don't fly much! So much for their "legendary speed in flight"!
redmink1 the pheasants guys have been working there butts off trying to catch the birds. i live right next to the farm and i would rather have 100 pheasants in my yard everyday then having city people move in and complain. thanks pheasants guys for doing a great job
I was on my way back from Sparta this afternoon and saw three pheasants. They were wandering around on the side of Lenape Road in Andover.
lynnada 
Internet just came back on! Hope it lasts for more than 10 minutes this time. Here is a shot I took of a female or juvenile pheasant. Does anyone know if you can tell the difference?
Thanks fishmaker! I have friends who live across from the farm and they have always heard the "screams". Pheasants don't have the sweetest song/call.
We drove over their yesterday and once you hit donaldsons area, they are everywhere! I and my daughter love seeing them running around.
These little buggers can run. Before this we had only seen them inside the pens when we would go there yearly to watch them, usually in the fall, for pictures (am. Photographer).
There was one guy who refused to exit the road in front of us and we drove for a half mile on airport road following a guy who would dart side to side and not let us pass.
Got some great video and pics on the cell, and we saw the confusion traps, but we're there before five and didn't see anyone working at the time.
dragonfly 
Aleman 
sam Oh geez, Aleman. They are such vulnerable birds. At least roost in a tree or something, guys!
I saw some three or four pheasants on Rt. 57 in Mansfield on Wednesday. And last night I was riding my bicycle through the bank parking lot where the Civil War Memorial is when a pheasant jumped out in front of m.
Erik B. Anderson When we were looking at a fields with hundreds and hundreds of them, my daughter commented how we could see only makes, then looking closer we saw the females. They blend in so well! Stupid boys and their fancy plumage to attack girls, make for easy targets!
Saw a couple in my neighborhood today and a couple dead again on the road...........
Longhorn Rebecka- The males are the pretty colorful once "cock birds" and the the brown ones are the tanish ones.
razz 3 ran across Rt 57 last night just as it was getting dark. Didnt see them until last second.
Glad I did. Wouldnt be surprised if there are a few lying dead in the road. Such a shame!
mona may be some will wander over to mt lake its a safe zone over here till the power comes back
My dog was just outside barking and I went to see why and 2 pheasants are walking thru my yard. They are beautiful!
On the way home yesterday my husband and I saw three female pheasants crossing 46 at Five Corners. They seemed as confused by that intersection as any newcomers, LOL. I do feel sorry for the poor things though, so many of them will end up dead on the road.
Aquarius I've been hearing what sounds like gunshots every now and then for the past week. My guess is illegal pheasant hunting based on some of the comments posted here.
That is just not cool.
Clawdia - I agree that illegal hunting (poaching) is bad news. However, it is small game season right now. Not yet for pheasant (that starts on 11/12), but for other things like rabbit, grouse, opossum, squirrel etc. Hopefully the shots you are hearing are for that.
Looks like CT pheasants are on the loose, too!
http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/hartford_cty/4%2C000-pheasants-move-onto-glastonbury-street?hpt=us_bn4
We drove on Rockport Road from Hackettstown to Mansfield yesterday and could not believe at how many pheasants we saw. Some looked very confused - others look very happy running around! We also saw a lot of dead ones on the road and that broke my heart.
Jules I hit one Friday night and all I saw were feathers everywhere......no way fo r me to stop it just darted out in front of me. Poor thing. Thats #3 foir me...I swear its like playing dodge ball in a car.....crazy
I still haven't seen any. Guess they haven't made it to my neck of the woods yet. Pheasant season started on Saturday.
They appear to be everywhere. I have a flock that has taken up residence in the wooded area behind my house. They come down and eat the seed that the other birds knock to the ground from my bird feeders. There were 12 of them here this morning - 9 males and 3 females.
I first noticed 3 males going up the Mt on rt 46 on Friday and saw a bunch going across donaldsons farm yesterday.
CJ. Is it just me, or does there seem to be many more males than females? It seems I see about 3 to 5 males for every female. I suppose it could be because of what fences collapsed.
More males?
Since my ex did his fair share of hunting, I can say that the answer would be "of course", as they are the desired trophies, and these birds are raised for stocking the hunting grounds.
From the Sussex Herald:
UPDATE
11/13/11
1,500 pheasants die in snowstorm
HACKETTSTOWN — As many as 1,500 pheasants died as a result of the Oct. 29 snowstorm damage to the Rockport Pheasant Farm, the state Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday.
As many as 15,000 additional birds may have escaped from the collapsed pens. Workers continue to recapture escaped birds.
After breeder birds are put aside, the division estimates there are enough pheasants on hand to stock all the days with the number of pheasants listed on the stocking schedule through Dec. 17. As pheasants are stocked and recapture efforts continue, updates on the number of pheasants and potential stocking schedules for the Dec. 18-31 period will be posted on the division's website, www.njfishandwildlife.com.
That makes sense. I was thinking there should be a 50/50 mix at the farm. So I take it they selectively raise males? What happens to the females? I probably don't want to know . . .
I saw a pheasant this morning while I was driving on Rockport so there are some that are still hanging out.
I can't believe those are the numbers the DEP is publishing. They seem VERY "conservative," to say the least.
The pens weren't solid roof structures...they were nets weighed down with snow. Even though they fell, they are not very high and birds could escape. I've seen them many times before and a few times since.
The majority of damage from a person who has assisted with the damage was it was mostly the corners of the pens nets that fell, not like entire roof structures gave way
I heard a rumor that if you catch the escaped pheasants, the farm is giving a reward for each one you catch. Anyone know if this is true?
Hopeful in H-town Dead or alive?
There were a bunch (alive) at the corner of Rockport and Airport roads this afternoon.
maja I'm thinking they'd prefer to give a reward for live ones, maja, lol, but I'm not sure this is a legitimate rumor that I heard. I'm hoping someone will know, as I know some people who are interested in helping out, but they had heard that rumor, too. Just wondering...
I keep seeing a pack of about 8 on the corner of Grand (Rock Port Road) and Airport. Sometimes walking thru Donaldson's farmland there and near the railroad tracks. Also seen some near the auction house by the train station. Hope someone is out there trying to rally them up! good luck!
Found this interesting. I always like to know what groups of different animals are properly called (I know I'm a nerd lol).
A brace is two pheasants, or a pair.
A brood of pheasants is a family group.
A group of pheasants may be known as a flock or a bouquet.
A large group of pheasants is a nye or nide.
Today there seem to suddenly be a lot of females running around. Saw a large group of females on Hazen Road in a front yard, and three females and one male in my yard in College View.
Me and my friends have been walking up and down the rail road tracks with large extedable trying to catch some. The farm is giving $15 per bird returned to them. So far we have returned 15 birds. they are very hard to get tho. They are really fast!!!!!!!!!
Taken this afternoon near the Pheasant Farm. Surprised that so many are still alive. The local foxes must be so fat.
Saw about 6 of them crossing the road over by Donaldson's today, all male. Guess they're here to stay.
AliciaStill we still have about 100 of them that roam our yard everyday. the dogs have gotten so used to them that they dont even bother with them anymore.
They are beautiful! We just moved to the area and get 4-6 of them wander through our yard.
Lucy1215 100 a day?? I can assure you if they crossed my yard there would be 98 a day, then 96 a day, then 94 a day... Pheasant a l'orange, Peking Pheasant, pheasant with cranberry remoulade, curried pheasant, and on and on...
And that's not even what the cats would do. ;-)
GC i kid you not GC, maybe more. also our cats don't even bother with them anymore either.
The day my cats wouldn't bother with them is the day they they're pushing up the daisies... Seriously, send them my way and we'll deal.
We have a few that seem to have taken up residence. My cats, hunters though they are, don't bother them at all. I think maybe it's their size?
awakeagain Why haven't the folks from the pheasant farm come to collect these guys? I see them at the corner of Grand/Airport ALL THE TIME! They fly across the street so low, that I almost hit them. And I feared the guy speeding the other way probably did hit one. It makes me so sad. They're right there for the taking, so collect them up and put them back where they belong.
Petlover, because it would cost the state more in manpower than what the birds are worth.
Metsman Well, it supplies the state with birds to stock on wildlife management areas for Pheasant seasons. In reality, the pheasants are better off. They could have been someone's dinner awhile back. Whatever birds don't get shot, get eaten by foxes and owls and other predators. NJ is not their natural habitat.
One flew into my sisters windshield....the cop said that was about the 6th windshield shattered from a pheasant. I would suggest you check with your insurance to make sure you have comprehensive.......she didn't and it cost her over $300.
I always felt sorry for them penned up at the pheasant farm.....so crowded and I never saw any water in the pens.
Hastings My dad used to chase them into crates when he worked for Fish and Game years ago.
That's kind of crazy they are flying into windshields.
Are there many still around? I haven't driven down the pheasant farm Rd recently. The small flock we had on our property has been fox food, I fear. Haven't seen many dead on Rockport either. Either only the smart look-before-you-cross pheasants are left, or the population has significantly dwindled.
Would like to photograph some in the snow.
Take a ride in the College View section of town. The birds are running in and out of the Hatchery all the time. I think they check out any available bird feeders, then run back to the Hatchery. We still see a lot of them.
USAfirst There are at least 6 that visit the area under my feeders on Rockport, 1/2 mile from the farm. I also saw a large group, 20-25, in Donaldson's fields along Airport road on Sunday morning.
LOL.
I was on Hazen Rd. yesterday and there were 20 or more on/around the road. I beeped the horn and thought they would move. Nope. I had to get out of the car and chase them out of the way, much to my son's entertainment. :-)
Still have 2 living near the stream on the side of my house. Running around the yard, squawking. They seem very happy. Dog likes to sit out on the stoop and watch them.
They are beautiful.
Found this article today going through some old New Jersey Outdoors magazines looking for hatchery stuff. It was in the August 1971 magazine.
Saw a ton of them in one of the feilds on Airport road today along with a ton of Canadian Geese. They seem to be getting along well.
auntiel 
JD4020 After what happened with snow collapsing the fence in the past, I'm quite surprised this has happened again. How could they not correct a structural problem, when it ended in the loss of so many birds -- their revenue stream -- the first time?
That being said, good for the birds. They were destined to be sold to stock hunting lands. Run birdies, run!
MB Kicking them when they're down? No, just questioning why an obvious structural issue was not corrected years ago. It's seriously not rocket science to contain docile birds. I have an enclosed chicken pen -- which I built myself!! and trust me, I'm no structural engineer -- which didn't even bend under almost a foot of snow, let alone collapse. So am I a little surprised that this happens to them again? Yes, yes I am.
It may have been on purpose, the trucks are all over taking them
Out to stock and I think they lay the mesh down to empty the pens.
Jdem A funny story about past escapes. Back around 71 I was in first grade at Hatchery Hill. I attended swimming class in Easton, and so one afternoon my mother, I and some other set out in the old station wagon down Rockport Road to swing over to 57 via Port Murray. (BTW - when we first moved to H-town a few years before my mother used to take me up to the old canal basin there to collect duck eggs). This was early Spring, probably around Easter, and after we passed the farm, about 1/2 a mile later - wham! - one of those birds jumped in front of the car. Bird hit the windshield, flew up on the air, and of course came crashing down in a bundle. My Mom, not missing a beat, slammed on the brakes, runs to the back of the car, grabs an empty Shop-Rite paper bag, runs back, grabs the bird, stuffs in the sack and off we go. She cleaned it at the YMCA in Easton where I had swimming lessons, and that night treated Dad to a nice roast pheasant for dinner.
Stephan Avery Last time they got out we had a male pheasant come to our yard and check out our laying hens (chickens). He was strutting back and forth, checking them out. When I came out for a closer look he ran, those things are fast!
hktownie Maybe I'll round me up some dinner. You can kill them without shooting them. Just grab them by the head and swing them around till the neck snaps. LOL
On the side note, the duck eggs were rather good too. It wasn't that we were poor. After living in France for 5 years, I think my mother felt like moving out to Hackettstown from close in to the city - it was a chance to play "life in Bourdeax." The guy running the place was happy to have us take the eggs since the ducks were a problem, and having new ducks coming along all the time would only make it worse. We'd collect about a dozen every couple of days or so. Ate a lot of omlettes:) Back then the canal basin was in really good shape and stocked with fish. And they had a number of swans as well. We also used to go feed the deer in the pens with dry cat food, the same we used to cheat the State and feed the trout at the hatchery. We did NOT, however, catch the trout or accidently hit them with the car.
I'm not saying you shouldn't be surprised, I'm just saying the polite thing to do would be to keep it to yourself. When you screw up, do you want people to say things to you like "Why didn't you correct it the first time?" and "It's not rocket science"?
Just because it is a business doesn't mean there aren't real people behind it who are trying their hardest to be successful. That's not to say that constructive criticism is a bad thing, but your comment didn't fall into that category IMO.
Keep it to myself? This forum is all about sharing thoughts, as you well know. Saying I was surprised was a POLITE way of expressing my feelings about the situation. Why not post "keep it to yourself" after every thought expressed on this forum which pertains to "real people?" Good luck with that. In the meantime, I will feel perfectly free to express my surprise at the apparent repeated lack of containment of ring-necked pheasants at the pheasant farm. Perhaps more needs to be said about the issue, not less.
MB. Do you know how much state money has been pumped into the pheasant farm? How about millions. We all should be asking questions like this instead of turning our back and keeping it to ourselves.
CraftBeerBob Thanks for the heads up! Last time I think I hit about 4. Unfortunately they are quick and all you see are feathers in the rearview mirror.
From what I understand, and I could be wrong, places like the pheasant farm are funded by revenues from hunting fees. The same as the trout hatcheries are funding by fishing license fees.
raising animals for what amounts to a canned hunt of non native wildlife isn't what I would call successful. How about Fish and Game funds re-establishing and protecting more wilderness habitat to allow game species to flourish naturally? Not pens, fish tanks, and successional growth fields manicured for deer populations. I wish hunters had an option to what their fees supported.
We'll just have to agree to disagree then. I just happen to feel bad for these people and would prefer not to jump to conclusions, but maybe that's just me.
The pens at Rockport used to be covered in thick gauge chicken wire a few years ago they took it down and put up nylon netting it's obvious that the nylon cannot withstand a heavy snow. That is one place I would not want to live by a guy my son knows used to work there for over 30 years told him that Rockport has more rats living on it then birds he said it was not uncommon to see 100 rats a day
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