CHAPTER VI 



MANAGEMENT OF PHEASANTS IN CONFINEMENT. 

 FORMATION OF PENS AND COVERTS. 



.)a a','_^,'.., Br 



-r'l" '^iili/, A V I N Gr tre:ited of pheasants as wild Lirds, tlieir 

 ~,iiMfllis reariuo- and manaii-enient in enclosed pens and 



I,]i~° aviaiies have next to be considered. When 



'■'!-' t^ 



rjd plieasants are bred IVir tnrnini'- out into the 

 'j^ . . 



■; coverts, and iKJt as merely ornamental aviary birds,, 



the system of movable enchjsures, ctmstrueted of I'ong'h 



hurdles, wdl be found far superior to any jnore elaborate 



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



same place year after year, the gronnd becomes, in sjiite cif 



all the care that may be bestowed on it, fonl 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 drv sitnation, sandv or 



chalk\' if possible, but any soil not I'etentive of wet will answer. 



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



likely to render the ground permanently dam]i. Although 



cold is not injurious to the matnre 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 b}' posts or iir pcjh's driven hindy into the 



o-round, with a horizontal ])ole at the to]i, to which the 



hurdles are bound by taried ccird, oi-, still bettor, very stout 



G 



