44 PRACTICAL PHEASANT REARING. 



to rest on the front of the coop, and its lower edge 

 on the run ; this shelters them from driving rain and 

 keeps the run dry. It is advisable to keep an old 

 sack always on the coop, turned back about two feet 

 by day, and thrown over the front at night. In very 

 hot weather I water it to keep the coop cool for the 

 hen, as I have no shelter in my garden. Never forget 

 to shut the coop up at night. It is only necessary to 

 push the run close to it, the projections at its sides 

 will clip the coop and keep all safe, and no birds can 

 get out or vermin get in. Put in a little food at the 

 same time ; the hens will call the chicks and you 

 can count them, and you should also count them when 

 let out in the morning. Valuable birds disappear in 

 strange ways. The food for the hen should be put in 

 a back corner of the coop, and a little of the young 

 birds' -food on the board in front, within her reach, so 

 that she may break it and show them how to feed. 



" Should any bird be disposed to diarrhoea, wash 

 the vent and clip the feathers round it, the dirt being 

 apt to clog and form a hard mass there : you will save 

 many a life by this. Soon they will know their 

 feeder, and go towards him if he tap the side of the 

 basin of food with the spoon, and, rushing round 

 him, will, long ere he can raise the wire frame to put 

 in the food, have jumped on the basin and begun to 

 eat. Nothing can be prettier than the bright-eyed 

 little fellows. Nothing can escape them, they will 

 soon clear your kitchen garden of slugs, &c., and 



