134 Rearing the Young Birds. 



It may be added, finally, that Dr. Hammond Smith, who 

 writes with authority on any question connected with the 

 health of game birds, gives it as his opinion that water should 

 certainly be given to j^oung pheasants — " it is most cruel 

 not to do so, and quite against the laws of nature, whatever 

 some keepers may say." He adds : " The water should be 

 given regular^ and be alwaj'S available, for if the birds are 

 allowed constant access to it they will drink far less than when 

 given water only at intervals. If the latter plan be adopted 

 they may drink such quantities when allowed to do so as to 

 produce diarrhcea. All water-pans should be kept clean and 

 frequently scoured." 



The removal of pheasants from the rearing-field to the 

 covert which is to be their home is a matter which demands 

 some care. It is a process which should not be delayed too 

 long, for when the birds are getting big — say, when they are 

 nine or ten weeks old— they may not go into the coop at night 

 to sleep, and it is when they are shut up for the night that the 

 keeper will wish to remove them to the selected ride in the 

 covert. This is a simple process if the coops are provided 

 with wooden bottoms, for all that will then be necessary is 

 to lift the coop bodily into the cart which is to take the birds 

 to covert ; but if the coops have no bottoms, sacking should 

 be quietly drawn underneath, giving the birds plentj' of time 

 to get their footing, and the sacking is then nailed to the sides 

 of the coop. The coops are then taken to the ride, and in 

 the morning should be opened gently and food should be 

 given at once, so that the hens may call their chicks, and all 

 of them may become used to their new surroundings. Later 

 on, when the birds begin to go up to roost, some of the hens 

 may be taken awaj-. Needless to say, a careful watch snould 

 be kept in regard to foxes, and the young birds should be 

 encouraged to roost as soon as possible. A very good plan 

 is to make use of elevated coops as shown in the accompanying 

 illustration. This system is not only a protection against 

 foxes, bi;t induces the young birds to fly up from the ground. 



