Pheasants:

Pheasants:

PHEASANT - ISN'T IT THE 'NATURAL' ALTERNATIVE TO FACTORY FARMED MEAT?

SORRY, BUT NO !

Every Year, millions of pheasants are reared in the UK tyo provide 'sport' for shooting parties. The vast majority suffer deprivation, distress and pain before they die.

Kept in unnaturally large groups (sometimes thousands together, like broiler chickens) and denied a natural existence, pheasants become aggressive.

THE 'SOLUTION'?

Birds debeaked - When up to a third of the beak is removed.

Bits fitted - Plastic or metal rings are clipped into the birds' nostrils to prevent the beak from closing.

Some birds are forced to wear 'specs' - spectacles, or specs, are blinker-like devices designed to limit vision. The cruellest type are those with pins (see photo).

Pheasant fitted with 'spectacels' kept in place by pin driven throught the bird's nasal septum.

WHAT IF THE BIRDS ATTEMPT TO FLY AWAY FROM THE AREA OF A PROPOSED SHOOT?

Many birds have one wing clipped or brailed. Brailing involves preventing the wing from closing, for weeks on end.

WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE TO INFLICT THESE MUTILATIONS AND CRUELTIES ON A BLACKBIRD, OR A ROBIN ?

OF COURSE NOT !

PHEASANTS NEED YOUR HELP

As recently as 1994 a British company was still marketing 'spectacles' designed to pierce the delicate nasal septum of gamebirds. These instruments of torture have been found in use on one of the Queen's own estates. Following national publicity, royal gamekeepers were instructed to stop fitting the agonising devices, though 'specs' without pins are common where gamebirds are reared for shoots. The question must be asked - are 'specs' with pins still in use on other estates in the UK?

CATTLE