ORIENTATION 449 



The slogan then coined, "Never let their feet touch the ground, " proved valid at least to the 

 extent of preventing epizootics of blackhead among old and young alike. 



Real strides were made in learning how to render impotent other limiting factors. The 

 years from 1931 through 1937 were largely spent in learning how to raise and maintain 

 healthy grouse on commercially obtainable feeds and in testing out a host of jnomising incu- 

 bation, brooding, breeding and disease prevention practices. 



The artificial incubation of grouse eggs presented few serious problems although exten- 

 sive tests both at the Research Center and at Cornell"'' were conducted to determine the proper 

 technique. 



Precedent was shattered by substituting for the tinic-hDiiorcd chick did of hard-boiled eggs, 

 clabber, and fly larvae or ant egg, an easily purchased game bird feed to which was added 

 white fishmeal and milk, liver and brewers yeast all carefully dried. Subsequentlv. equally 

 satisfactory results were secured by utilizing a connncrcial turkey mash supplemented by grains 

 and green food. 



Brooding, too, was much simplified. The small hovers and wire runs used in 1931 were soon 

 superseded by a large, all-purpose pen with an enclosed eleclricalh heated hover in one cor- 

 ner. Since this was not altogether satisfactory, it was soon abandoned in favor of colony 

 brooder houses. Several types and sizes were tested. As starting units, baltcrv brooders 

 ada])ted for grouse were develo|)cd to facilitate raising the birds during the first 12 days 

 following hatching. 



The inventive genius of hover manufacturers was then at its In-sl and dav-old grouse chicks 

 were carefully exposed to all commoid\ used types, sizes and shapes of hovers with c<]ual 

 impartiality. A low, rectangular box-type "still air" hover proved most adaptable though the 

 difference between it and others was not great. 



Birds were brooded in groups of from six to o\er IIM) uilli ImsI n>iill> nlilaiiicd from small 

 groups of not t)ver 25. 



It has alwavs been common practice to shift the young birds at about six weeks from 

 brooders to rearing pens. Of tiicsc. many sizes and designs were tried out and the mini- 

 mum requirements for rearing and caring for vnung birds, while thus confined, wi're 

 determined. 



The opinion that adult grouse should be overwintered, full-winged in large pens under 

 natural lover conditions, has liecii held by manv who have attempted to rear this bird. This 

 method was given an extensive trial over a two-year period. Some trouble \\\\.h disease was 

 experienced but losses from predation. accident and escape were prohibitixc. Nor were more 

 eggs produced bv this group than h\ their close-penned companions. 



Other pens, including those of the all-purpose t\pe. so constructed as to facilitate holding 

 the breeders in large groups on wire, were also gi\en thorough tests. Eventually an efficient 

 overwintering pen. accommodating up to 300 breeders, was constructed. Because the birds 

 could fly back and forth it was appropriately named the "flying pen." 



Throughout all the years much eflort was concentrated on the difficult problem of securing 

 large numbers of fertile eggs. Breeders, breeding pens, combinations of breeding birds, food 

 and care, all play a part in this problem. 



It was determined earlv that wild birds when reduced to captivitv were usuallv poor 



