Aysöndü, Mehmet Hanifi; Özbey, Orhan; Esen, Fikret

This study was conducted for the purpose of determining the effects of free range and cage systems on the growth performance of pheasants under intensive conditions. At the end of the 16th week, for mixed gender pheasants bred with free range and cage systems 964.87 g and 998.57 g mean live weights were determined respectively. In terms of mean live weight values, t was determined that cage system had a significant advantage over free range system from week 7 to 16 (P<0.05).The mean live weight values determined for 16 weeks old male and emale pheasants were 1043.74 and 886.39 g in free range system and 1078.36 and 917.83 g in cage system. From the 5th week to the 16th in both of the systems, male pheasants exhibited advantages of varying significance levels over the female pheasants (P<0.05, P<0.01). Cumulative feed consumptions in the 16th week were found out to be 4465.59 g per pheasant in ree range system and 4575.77 g per pheasant in cage system. Feed conversion rates for pheasants bred with free range and cage systems at 16 weeks of age were determined to be espectively 6.38 and 6.53. No significant difference could be found between the two groups in erms of cumulative feed consumption and feed conversion rates.