Pheasants Diseases. 



sure to be the foremost victims. The chief causes of 

 most pheasants' ailments is wet, either in the form of 

 continued humid weather or dampness of the ground. 

 The former, unfortunately, we are unable to control, 

 but the latter is always preventable, and therefore to 

 stand coops in damp places is an unpardonable mistake, 

 which is sure to bring about its own punishment sooner 

 or later. 



The malady which most often arises from the cause just 

 mentioned is cramp, which usually affects young birds in 

 cold, damp seasons. As its name implies, it is a drawing 

 up of the legs, rendering the bird powerless to move. 

 Generally we have found one leg affected before the other. 

 Prevention is effected by keeping the birds well sheltered 

 in their coops from rain and cold winds, and by taking 

 care that the ground inside is dry. If this cannot be kept 

 free of humidity, then it is best to board across the bottom 

 of the coop an inch or so from the ground, fixing the 

 boarding so that it can be v easily removed for cleaning 

 daily. This is best effected by nailing two strips of wood 

 about i inch thick along the bottom of the sides of the coop, 

 and then laying some properly cut pieces of board across. 

 The birds, during the weather which may cause cramp, must 

 be liberally fed, and the addition of a little warm broth 

 and rice, boiled daily, will help them along. When the birds 

 are touched with cramp it is best to remove them to a warm 

 place. For instance, put a piece of sacking that has been 

 well warmed at the fire, in a basket ; place your chicks in 

 this, and keep them in a warm room for a few hours, giving 

 them the above food. When they are recovered, put them 



