PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 63 



dom from disease of the surviving birds. Results obtained 

 with pheasants and quail seem to favor the open method, but 

 for wintering the birds do nearly as well in the smaller cages 

 as in the larger enclosures, possibly owing to greater care. The 

 surviving birds in open enclosures, provided they are fed during 

 the winter, seem somewhat hardier, but the average number of 

 eggs is less than \vith birds more closely confined. 



For rearing birds certain localities are more favorable than 

 others, and great judgment is required to place the birds, es- 

 pecially the young, in a territory w r here there is sufficient pro- 

 tective cover, and where the ground will be such as not to 

 render them prone to disease. The two chief drawbacks to the 

 rearing of game birds in large numbers are disease and enemies. 

 The former is prevalent among all birds which are kept in 

 close quarters, owing to lack of vitality, and opportunities are 

 favorable for disease to spread swiftly in segregated flocks. 

 On the other hand, the vermin, such as hawks, owls, crows, 

 weasels and rats, as well as dogs, foxes, raccoons and particu- 

 larly hunting cats, are to be feared in open rearing. Homeless 

 cats, dependent upon their own resources, soon develop the 

 hunting instinct, and are an important factor in game extermi- 

 nation. Efficient legislation backed by public opinion is neces- 

 sary to eliminate this evil. 



The most important factor in the rearing of birds is proper 

 feeding, especially during the breeding season and during the 

 winter. It is pre-eminently important that the birds have suf- 

 ficient food and shelter in winter. Probably the largest per- 

 centage of deaths among young birds is due to dietary indis- 

 cretions. A variety of foods should be used in raising young 

 birds, and beginners in bird culture are especially warned 

 against the danger of overfeeding, which renders both young 

 and old susceptible to serious diseases. Activity is indispensa- 

 ble for the well-being of the birds, and forcing them to work 

 for their food in any way is of advantage inasmuch as it pro- 

 vides the requisite normal amount of exercise. In feeding 

 young birds, the food should be given in small quantities and 

 be absolutely fresh, so that the birds may not receive any- 

 thing sour and decaying. 



At the hatcheries various experiments have been conducted 



