68 Aviary Pheasants. 



In large establishments, the birds are never left 

 night or day, a keeper sleeping in a hut on the ground, 

 so as to be prepared for poachers, or any vermin. 

 Some shepherd-dogs are very destructive, and as they 

 are constantly about the farm, can work great mischief 

 in a very quiet way. If anything goes wrong, these 

 dogs should be carefully watched. 



Food is the same as mentioned in previous chapters. 

 Perhaps it will be well not to tempt the young from 

 under their mother before the dew is off the grass in 

 the morning. Get the birds off luxuries as soon as 

 you can, inducing them to eat wheat, hemp, canary, 

 or any whole corn. Let them have plenty of onions; 

 there is no food better for, or more liked by, young 

 birds ; they are even preferred to lettuce. 



Many keepers throw food broadcast ; but although 

 it is well to do so with a little, so as to teach the 

 young to forage, perhaps it is best to put the principal 

 part on little trays or saucers of tin or wood, kept 

 very clean ; the saving in food will pay for cleaning. 



As the birds grow, they get more independent, 

 and the coops will have to be moved towards the 

 coverts, into which the young will gradually work. 

 The birds are still to be fed round the coops, and by 

 degrees will stray away, and no longer come in to 

 roost; when this is the case the hen can be removed. 



The vexed question of water being given or withheld 

 is left to the reader. I strongly advocate plenty of 

 clean, spring water, taken away, at first, after each 

 feeding, lest the birds stand in it and get cramp. 



