PRACTICABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL GROUSE PRODUCTION 497 



a critical stage completely upsetting the social balance. The weaker individuals, bullied into 

 attempts to escape, may be forced to spend most of their time on pen roosts or in the shelter 

 of the pines placed in the pens for this purpose. Failing to reach such haven, they are occa- 

 sionally severely scalped either by flying against the wire or by being viciously head-picked. 



As soon as trouble begins, the coniferous cover in the pen should be increased. Low corner 

 roosts to which birds attempting to escape may fly, are also effective. By dividing the pen 

 into several sections set apart by 10-inch base-boards placed on edge, the territory of the 

 aggressive individual may be limited considerably, thus also assisting in reducing chasing. 



Occasionally the situation may be solved by segregating especially vicious birds for several 

 days or by placing them in other pens where their dominant attitude tends to be neutralized by 

 the resultant difficulties of establishing themselves in a new territory already occupied by 

 strangers. 



Exposed to the proper brooding and rearing conditions, little difficulty should be expe- 

 rienced with feather picking or cannibalism until the fail moult when the juvenile tail feathers 

 are lost and the adult rectrices first make their appearance. Encouraged by the nervousness 

 characteristic of the season, these, as well as the upper tail coverts, are often so severely picked 

 as to cause considerable temporary injury. The prompt removal of both the offending and 

 the injured bird for a period of a few days has already been suggested. To leave them apart 

 for a longer period is, however, to run the risk of increasing difficulties in adjusting them- 

 selves to their companions upon their return. 



Young grouse, to be kept as breeding stock, may be overwintered* in their rearing pens, 

 particularly if two of these can be placed end to end to provide adequate flying space. Less 

 labor and chance of accident are involved, however, if the grouse are brought together in 

 large groups. A separate structure has proven most satisfactory at the Center for this pur- 

 pose. Birds may be concentrated in winter quarters at any time after the first heavy frosts 

 of fall have reduced the danger of a serious outbreak of ulcerative enteritis. In fact, provided 

 quarters are larger, less trouble during the adjustment period will be experienced if this is 

 done. 



PRACTICABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL GROUSE PRODUCTION 



Few will read this chapter without realizing that there are still several major difficulties to 

 be overcome before the average game breeder can produce grouse in substantial numbers at 

 a price within the reach of most individuals interested in restocking their coverts. A little 

 time, however, may well be spent in analyzing production possibilities and limitations. 



The science of artificial grouse propagation is still too immature to permit an adequate 

 evaluation of eventual possibilities. Sufficient progress has been made, however, to indicate 

 that grouse properly handled in captivity will more than reproduce their numbers year by 

 year. In 1940, at the Research Center, 65 hand-raised breeders laid 851 eggs, from which 

 502 youngsters were hatched. Of these 224 were reared to maturity (September 1). All but 

 37 of the latter were placed in breeding pens the following spring. 



It should be recognized that it has not as yet been found possible to maintain this pace 

 each year. The care of the breeders, the incubation of the eggs and the rearing of the young 

 all represent specialized problems, the successful handling of which requires experts with 

 initiative, enthusiasm for the work, a flair for details and what is colloquially known as 

 "grouse sense". Given all these, one still encounters "breaks", the reasons for which are not 



* See p. 459 for detailed description of overwintering. 



