PREVENTION OF EGG EATING - /\ 101 



standing on the edge, and throwing the leaves over her back. 

 The same hen sat again in 1854." 



Mr. G. F. Woodrow (Keeper to the Earl of Denbigh, 

 Newnham Paddox, Lutterworth), writing on the subject, 

 stated : " I have half an acre of young plantation inclosed for 

 a pheasantry and open at the top, so that the wild cock 

 birds can go in and out. I had over thirty hen pheasants 

 and three cocks, all with their wings cut. About ten weeks 

 ago a hen pheasant wanted to sit on the last egg that she 

 laid ; I took it from her, and disturbed her every day, but she 

 persisted in sitting without an egg for more than a week ; at lasD 

 I took pity on her. One evening when I had gathered the eggs 

 I put sixteen under her, and she sat and hatched thirteen birds. 

 She allowed me to lift her off the nest, and I took her and her 

 young and put them in a hen coop, and she has reared them 

 well, and, quite as tame as any of my hens that I have 

 rearing pheasants, allows me to drag the coop on to fresh 

 ground, and never flutters. As soon as I throw the food in 

 front of the coop she commences calling her young. They 

 are now about the size of landrails, and the whole of them 

 living." 



To prevent the fatal habit of eating the eggs, no care 

 should be spared, as it is entirely subversive of any hope of 

 success in rearing. As before stated, it may be in great part 

 prevented by the frequent collection of the eggs. Mr. F. 

 Crook truly remarks : " The male bird in confinement 

 frequently takes to pecking the eggs, at first only for want of 

 something more natural to do. Having no space, no fields 

 and copses to roam about and amuse himself in, he pecks and 

 pushes the egg about. At last it gets chipped, and he tastes 

 of its contents, and he will not then leave it until consumed, 

 and the abominable habit is confirmed in him. As it is 

 usually the male bird that commits these vexing faults, a 

 loose hurdle forming a corner pen, into which he can be 

 driven, will be found most useful, as he should only be 

 allowed amongst the hens after they have laid their eggs fur 



