CHAPTEE VI. 



MANAGEMENT OF PHEASANTS IN CONFINEMENT. 



FORMATION OF PENS AND COVERTS. 



.AVING- treated of pheasants as wild birds, their 

 rearing and management in enclosed pens and 

 aviaries have next to be considered. When 

 pheasants are bred for turning out into the 

 coverts, and noc as merely ornamental aviary birds, 

 the system of movable enclosures, constructed of rough 

 hurdles, will be found far superior to any more elaborate 

 contrivances, for, when the breeding birds are kept in the 

 same place year after year, the ground becomes, in spite of 

 all the care that may be bestowed on it, foul and tainted, 

 disease breaks out even amongst the old birds, and the 

 successful rearing of young ones is hopeless. 



The pens should be situated in a dry situation, sandy or 

 chalky if possible, but any soil not retentive of wet will answer. 

 If the surface is sloping it is to be preferred, as the rain is less 

 likely to render the ground permanently damp. Although 

 cold is not injurious to the mature birds, and they require no 

 special shelter, the south side of a hill or rising ground is to 

 be chosen in preference, as the young stock are delicate. 

 Common wattled hurdles, made seven feet long, and set up 

 on end, make as good pens as can be desired ; they should 

 be supported by posts or fir poles driven firmly into the 

 ground, with a horizontal pole at the top, to which the 

 hurdles are bound by tarred cord, or, still better, very stout 



