Report on the visit to GIBIS on Thursday 23 July 2026

On the initiative of our association Petit Gibier 43, some thirty people — the members of the ACCAs taking part in the “Pheasants 2026” operation, the president of FDC 38 and a board member, the president of FDC 43 and 3 board members, the breeder Mr Guillou, as well as two technicians from FDC 38 and one technician from FDC 43 — gathered to visit the GIBIS game farm, located at CHATTE in Isère.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss solutions for maintaining a sufficient stock of game to hunt, in a context where natural game populations can no longer be preserved at a satisfactory level.

A shared observation: the need to innovate

The speakers quickly highlighted a twofold challenge: on the one hand, the impossibility of maintaining natural game populations in sufficient numbers to ensure sustainable hunting, and on the other, hunters' rejection of releases carried out the day before the opening of the season, judged ineffective because the birds have too little ability to defend themselves and seen as harmful to the image of small game hunters. Faced with these challenges, the company GIBIS has developed an original answer: the "FAISAN PUR CHASSE", a registered trademark based on the "De Strauch" species, a historic strain held for decades by an estate in Sologne.

A rearing method designed for the wild

Rearing at GIBIS rests on rigorous principles, designed to guarantee robust and independent birds. From the very first days, the chicks receive a natural diet: live insects are distributed on the ground, which allows accelerated development – their weight doubles by 15 days, a result equivalent to that obtained with industrial feed… but in only half the time. This approach, although it reduces the number of eggs laid (40 / hen), ensures optimal growth and waterproof plumage, essential for withstanding bad weather.

From 8 weeks, the pheasant poults are moved into large aviaries, some fitted with photovoltaic panels providing natural shade, and all planted with a variety of crops. Ground feeding (crushed maize and sunflower, wheat) is maintained so as to instil in the birds a reflex of searching for food in open ground. No artificial conditions are tolerated: no watering of the aviaries, exposure to natural light from the first days, and plenty of perches and cover to encourage behaviour close to that observed in the wild.

To strengthen their wild instinct further, a scaring dog (kept on a long lead) goes through the aviaries twice a week. The value of this practice has yet to be confirmed, but it is part of an approach of preparing the birds for real conditions. Finally, anti-coccidiosis and worming treatments are applied as a preventive measure, with no further intervention needed after the birds are released into the wild.

What sets these birds apart from “classic” pheasants is their pronounced natural behaviour: when we approach the aviaries, these birds show a much more marked flight reflex than classic farmed pheasants, which tend to stay near the edges and watch humans passively. A trait that points to better adaptation in the natural environment and improved survival after the releases.

Practical recommendations for releases

Drawing on their years of experience, FDC38 and GIBIS offer advice suited to the releases. Thus placing the birds in partridge-type pens is not considered necessary: the pheasant poults, already large, would not take full advantage of these structures, because of height and area constraints. Consequently, direct releases into the natural environment are entirely feasible, even recommended. On the other hand, using partridge-type pens as recall pens is an option: leave a pair of pheasant poults in them for a few days to hold the birds in the area.

Another strong recommendation: the birds should be released in groups of about ten individuals, so as to respect their gregarious behaviour and encourage their cohesion once at liberty.

Obviously, the birds must be released near permanent water points. Ground feeding based on crushed maize and sunflower and wheat is indispensable for the first weeks.

FDC38: the pheasant poult scheme from its origins to today…

After a sociological study of the expectations of Isère hunters, the thinking of the Isère federation's leaders brought several priorities to light. First of all, no additional constraint should be imposed on hunters, so as to ensure their support for the project. On the other hand, rigorous monitoring is required: thanks to the rings, it will be essential to measure the recovery rate of the released birds, as well as their dispersal in the environment, in order to assess the effectiveness of the method.

Finally, long-term outreach and communication are indispensable to create collective momentum and rally as many territories as possible to this approach. The stakes are high: if these birds, thanks to the specific features of the rearing, show exceptional quality during hunts, some of them might even breed naturally the following spring, thereby offering a lasting solution to today's challenges.

Promising results: from 37 communes in 2023, there are now 127 taking part in the project in 2026. From 2000 birds in 2023, the figure rises to 5700 this year!

Beyond the figures, there is genuine enthusiasm among Isère hunters and great satisfaction with the sporting qualities of these birds in the field.

Near-natural game is what everyone wishes for! Thank you to our colleagues from Isère for sharing their knowledge and for giving the hunters of Haute-Loire something to dream of!