PHEASANT REARING (PART IV) 77 



SETTING THE EGGS UNDER THE HENS 



There are two methods of setting pheasant eggs : 

 In nesting boxes. 

 In coops.* 



If the eggs are set in. nesting boxes, these are 

 employed for hatching only. 



If they are set in coops, the same coops may 

 afterwards be used for rearing the young birds, and 

 thus much expense is saved. 



In my experience pheasant eggs always hatch out 

 best in coops, as the hens and eggs are not then 

 confined in small, close spaces as when boxes are 

 used ; and from not being, as a result, so troubled by 

 insects, the hens sit steadier and hatch better. 



If nesting boxes without runs are used, they 

 should be given plenty of ventilation (fig. 12). 



There is no object in making a nesting box air- 

 tight, which implies that it is stuffy and unhealthy. 

 A hen would bring out her chicks just as well under 

 a hedge or bush as in a box, probably better, if she 

 could do so with safety ; but of course a nesting box 

 or coop is indispensable to shelter her from disturb- 

 ance, and from foxes or cats. 



* I do not allude to artificial hatching in incubators, as I have 

 not much experience in this line ; but I will point out that if a hen 

 ' goes wrong ' she but spoils her one sitting of some fourteen eggs, 

 whilst if an incubator fails or its attendant mismanages it, 100 or 

 more eggs may be rendered worthless in a few minutes ! 



