276 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



a month, and he can turn out his penned birds by the 

 middle of June. By that time he will have his foster- 

 mothers ready. Game-hens are the best, and of these the 

 black-red game-hen is to be preferred above others. If 

 these are not to be obtained, small hens should be selected, 

 of which buff Orpingtons are probably the best mothers. 

 They should all be strong birds, absolutely free from 

 disease. He should carefully retain the eggs of these 

 hens for some eight or ten weeks before the pheasant 

 hatching season, for the purposes of food for the 

 pheasant chicks. The roosting of the game-hens is of 

 importance, care being taken of them as consistently as 

 of the pheasants. The sitting hens must be allowed an 

 early morning run on the wet grass, so that they may 

 damp their breast feathers. This markedly assists in 

 the hatching process. Some authorities recommend 

 that where the hens are kept in closed yards the eggs 

 should be sprinkled with tepid water at the time of the 

 morning meal. 



In collecting the eggs it is wise for the keeper to mix 

 some "wild" eggs, and some purchased or exchanged 

 eggs, with the ones collected in the pens. All nests that 

 have been built in exposed or dangerous places should 

 be denuded of all their eggs except one or two. Leav- 

 ing the latter is a stimulus to the wild bird to go on 

 laying. Otherwise she would as a rule desert her nest. 

 Of course when the nests are left they should be care- 

 fully watched. 



Suitable ground for the coops having been selected, 



