vii. PHEASANT REARING (PART F7) 103 



one side of the coops and then to the other, and a 

 little farther away also, so as to tempt the birds by 

 degrees to wander over fresh ground. 



As the chicks gain strength and courage, scatter 

 the food broadcast and farther from the coops ; 

 exercise in searching for their food is very beneficial 

 to the young birds, and teaches them to seek all kinds 

 of insects and seeds good for their health. 



Carefully protect your birds from cold ; should a 

 wind or rain drive direct into the coops, turn them 

 round without delay, so as to face in an opposite 

 direction to the rough weather. A broiling sun is as 

 bad as a high wind or rain for very young birds ; they 

 should, however, find shade from being scorched under 

 the shelters of boughs, which, in the case of small 

 chicks, may be It-id over the runs, if these are still in 

 use, or, if discarded, just outside the coops. I find 

 old sacks cut into square pieces and placed against 

 the bough shelters are invaluable in a rearing field 

 for warding off a burning sun, or cold winds, or wet, 

 from young pheasants. Sleeping, or even running 

 about, on damp soil, produces half the ailments young 

 pheasants suffer from ; if his birds are old enough to 

 roost a keeper may indeed be thankful. Eails raised 

 off the ground, as in fig. 20, are most useful in a 



