=^^= 



15 



bisects the frame and serves also as a brace. The four corners of the 

 frame are braced with soUd, triangular pieces of wood or gussets. If it is 

 desired to have the frame underground as a protection from vermin, it can 

 be made 7 feet high, the extra foot being buried. The frames are lashed to 

 stakes driven in the ground and they permit of the construction of a pen 

 or pens of practically any size and shape. The pen constructed with them 

 should be covered with 2-inch mesh poultry wire or fish netting, prefer- 

 ably the latter, which is much more easily handled in moving the pen and 

 which requires no bracing across the middle as the wire netting does. 

 Adult birds confined in pens of this type should be given a minimum of 40 

 square feet a bird and the pen should be moved monthly, particularly if the 

 ground has been used the previous season for penning birds. The hurdle is 

 not recommended where birds are reared in numbers, but it has the recom- 

 mendation of economy and mobility when employed with a few breeders. 



REQUISITES FOR PENS FOR ADULT BIRDS.— Summing up, 

 pens for adult birds of whatever type should contain : cover for hiding and 

 laying ; roosts 2 or 3 feet from the ground which should be removed in 

 laying season, as some birds will drop eggs from them which will cause 

 egg-eating in the pen; a simple shelter open in front with back to pre- 

 vailing winds, which will keep rain from the dust baths which are 

 absolutely necessary, (in movable pens this consists of an overhung 

 board attached to the end and slightly sloping) ; doors with lower edges 10 

 or 12 inches above ground to prevent ingress by dogs or vermin. 



On large operations a separate pen is prepared in March for the 

 breeders as explained in page 45, but the small operator can use his 

 winter pen for breeding. 



ELABORATE PEN NOT NECESSARY.— Finally, any sort of sta- 

 tionary pen will answer the purpose of the small breeder if it affords a mini- 

 mum space of 75 square feet to each bird, and the soil be kept fresh from 

 year to year by spading, liming and the sowing of rye, clover or other 

 purifying crops, though, even with this precaution, the location should 

 be changed from time to time. 



LOCATING THE PEN.— A pen is best located when placed on well 

 drained, sloping soil, the south side of a hill being preferred. In small 

 breeding operations it is well to have it located as near to the house as 

 possible, as this reduces the danger from marauders of all kinds. 



Pheasants need grit (sharp-surfaced mica) ; and charcoal must always be 

 on hand. A good supply of pure water is absolutely necessary. It is im- 

 portant to bear in mind that the pheasant can stand a great deal more cold 

 than domestic fowl and consequently needs, and will thrive better with, much 

 less shelter; a few evergreens being really all that is absolutely necessary. 



