THIRTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 49 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF GAME FARMS 



By August Bade, in charge 



There is little difference between game bird propagation and the 

 proper handling of domestic poultry, except in the equipment used 

 and the product turned out. The same laws of cleanliness and sanita- 

 tion prevail and the general rules of reproduction hold true. 



It is not enough to hold these creatures wdthin certain defined 

 limits but rather more important to cause them to lay fertile eggs in 

 sufficient quantities to make it worth w^hile. Environment or pen 

 conditions play an important part in this phase of the work. If these 

 birds of the open spaces are to remain healthy and reproduce it is essen- 

 tial that their domestic quarters conform as nearly as possible to their 

 natural habitat. If these conditions are understood and met, much 

 better results will be had. 



The question is often asked why this or that species of bird is not 

 bred in numbers on game farms instead of some of the more common 

 ones such as the ring-necked pheasant. The answer is obvious when 

 all the facts are known. Many types of birds, because of their natural 

 temperaments, will not respond when subjected to domestic conditions. 

 If they do respond it will be only in a limited way and not at all 

 dependable. Experience has taught the game breeder which species 

 can be relied upon and has automatically eliminated those types that 

 are unfitted. 



As a usual thing game birds may be said to belong to one of two 

 types. They are either aggressive, or retiring, in their general charac- 

 teristics. If they are aggressive and have that spirit of do or die it 

 will help them when they are confronted with domestic surroundings. 

 If they are timid and easily discouraged they will not respond to con- 

 finement and are automatically relegated to the background so far as 

 their value to the program of the sportsmen is concerned. 



Most of the pheasants such as the ring-neck, Mongolian, English 

 black-neck. Reeves, and a few others, possess the traits of character 

 that make them great game birds and also cause them to be very 

 dependable in their reproduction under all circumstances. In the 

 partridge family we have found that the valley quail and the Chukor 

 partridge have these traits of aggressiveness and will give a good 

 account of themselves when confined under domestic conditions. 



There is another factor of importanoe in the selection of birds 

 suited to game farming and that is the matter of egg production. Some 

 birds at their best will produce but a limited number of eggs for a 

 season. All of this type are at once disqualified as it is expensive and 

 unprofitable to handle them. The pheasant and partridge family 

 seem to have egg production capacity beyond all others and that is 

 one of the reasons why they are to be found on all well-regulated game 

 farms. 



From its native habitat in Asia the pheasant has been introduced 

 in all parts of the world where man has made his home and has now 



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