The Ringneck is the most-stocked game bird in North America. Beautiful iridescent males with white neck rings, copper body, long pointed tail. Native to China; introduced to the US in 1881. Common hunt-preserve and stocking bird. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Ringneck Pheasant as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | China - introduced to US 1881 |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Common |
| Also called | Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus |
| Adult weight | Cocks 2.5-3 lb, Hens 2 lb |
| Size class | Standard game bird |
| Eggs per year | ~50 |
| Egg color | Olive green-brown |
| Egg size | Medium |
| Broodiness | Low (domesticated lost it) |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Quiet (cocks crow in spring) |
| Flight tendency | Strong flier - 50 mph bursts |
| Beginner friendly | No |
Native to China. First released in Oregon's Willamette Valley in 1881 by Judge Owen Denny (US consul to China) - the founding stock for all American populations. By 1895 they were thriving wild in the Midwest. Today the state bird of South Dakota and the most-hunted game bird in 11 states. Hunt preserves stock 30+ million ringnecks per year for put-and-take hunts.
Best for: hunt preserves, stocking, meat
| Indoor coop space | 5 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 25 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 12 in per bird |
Space: Need covered flight pen - 10+ feet high. Cock fights are vicious - separate by week 12.
Feeding: Game bird starter 28-30% protein; grower 24%; finisher 18%.
Health: Susceptible to coccidiosis - medicated starter mandatory.
Climate: Zones 3-9. Tolerates extreme cold with wind protection.
You can request Ringneck Pheasant through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Ringneck Pheasant are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Ringneck Pheasant hen lays roughly 50 eggs a year, and the eggs are medium and olive green-brown. Broodiness is rated low (domesticated lost it). Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
The Ringneck Pheasant is not rated beginner friendly. Temperament: skittish, flighty, wild-natured; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: good; noise level: quiet (cocks crow in spring). It is best for hunt preserves, stocking, and meat. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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