PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



be substituted, only all the meals must be scalded before 

 mixing with the egg food, but must never be made into 

 a paste, the best form to give it being in a finely divided 

 granulous state, to obtain which some Pheasant-rearers pass 

 it through a sieve. 



The egg food should be given in the proportions of one 

 to six of the meal. 



The author considers that a most valuable adjunct to 

 a Pheasant chick's food is chopped-up lettuces, dandelion 

 leaves or onions, but only a small proportion of green food, 

 certainly not more than one part to every twenty, ought 

 to be allowed, otherwise the chicks will be affected with scour. 

 The green food contains large proportions of water, so that 

 very little water will be required beyond that contained in 

 the food. 



Earlier on in this chapter the author recommended that 

 the chicks be fed four times per day, but where trouble and 

 additional expense have not to be troubled about, it will be 

 found advantageous to feed the chicks every two hours for 

 the first fortnight. A few split groats added to the food 

 will be found beneficial, or crushed hemp-seed can be 

 substituted. Up to the period named, there need be no 

 alteration, either in the composition of the food or the 

 frequency of the feeding, the only matter being to increase 

 the quantities of food. Immediately after the chicks are 

 fed, any food that remains behind should be removed, and 

 make a practice not to prepare more food than is neces- 

 sary each time. Whatever surplus there is let the broody 

 hens clear it off. Scald the dishes each time before they 

 are used again. 



A supply of grit and water should be allowed, and if the 

 water is not absolutely necessary, finely divided grit is, 

 and the older the chicks become the more the necessity 



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