74 



.5^^ 



CHAPTER XIV 



Breeding of Pheasants other than the Ringneck and 



Chinese 



With such species as the Mongohan, versicolor and Reeves, the 

 methods employed in breeding differ in no respect from those used with 

 the ringneck. Even in the case of the fancier species, the more or less typi- 

 cally aviary birds, there is small difference. In the case of the latter it is 

 probably best to rear them by themselves and the adults are usually con- 

 fined in a combination coop and covered run of the type shown in Figure 

 12, which is from a photograph taken at the New Jersey State Game Farm. 



DESCRIPTION OF COOP.— The coop is 5 feet wide, 6 feet deep and 

 5 feet high, the roof, which slants two ways, rising at its greatest elevation 

 to a height of 6 feet 4 inches. Two doors, 2 feet wide and 3 feet 8 inches 

 long, are placed front and rear. They are hinged at the top and open 

 upward, being supported by a stake driven in the ground when they are 

 open. It is often desirable to move the pen without moving the heavy 

 coop and the provision of a door at both the front and rear makes this 

 possible. The pen should be moved every month or two and, when this 

 is done, a fresh layer of gravel should be spread over the bottom of the 

 coop. The latter should be moved at least once a year. 



Above the front door there is a ventilation aperture 4 feet long x 1 

 foot wide, covered with wire cloth. The framing used is 2 x 3 stufl' to 

 which is nailed J^-inch tongue and groove boards. The roof is composed 

 of 10-inch boards covered with roofing paper. A round roost, 2 inches in 



diameter and 16 

 inches from the 

 ground is placed 

 across the center of 

 the coop so that 

 long -tailed species 

 will not injure their 

 plumes. 



On one side of 

 the coop there is a 

 door for the use of 



Figure 12. — Typo of 

 pi>n and cooji iisod for 

 coiifinins iuliilt fancy 

 pheasants, 



