PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



In the pens they may not begin to sit thus early, because 

 their systems have been fed up to withstand a greater strain 

 of laying, and if this feeding is judiciously continued they go 

 on laying with renewed vigour after a short pause. 



" Late eggs are of little value to anyone except he has had 

 the ill-luck with the hatching of the first, so it is advisable to 

 begin to check the birds directly the required number is being 

 approached. What I do is as follows : If I consider that by 

 the end of the week I shall have in hand as many eggs as I 

 need, all stimulating food is stopped, and the birds are fed on 

 little else than dry corn and green food ; in about ten days 

 they have nearly ceased egg-production and are released, in 

 all likelihood to lay the last few in a nest and hatch out the 

 chicks. 



" As the laying period advances some of the birds are certain 

 to show signs of broodiness, and great care should be observed 

 to collect the eggs frequently at this time ; especially those 

 which lie together, as the sight of a number of eggs, I am sure, 

 often induces broodiness. I have proved this with reference 

 to ordinary fowls, for when I want them to become broody 

 for placing on Pheasants' eggs the simple device of not remov- 

 ing their own eggs from the nests generally exercises good 

 effect, and they come on to sit much more rapidly than they 

 otherwise would. 



" The broodiness of hen Pheasants confined in aviaries 

 seldom continues long, for the birds cannot get away from the 

 rest, and the cock has a decided objection to a broody hen in 

 his presence. He generally worries the bird till she resumes 

 her ordinary condition, and then the good food soon starts 

 the bird on to lay once more. When broody birds are noticed 

 in a pen very close attention must be paid to collecting the 

 eggs, in case they do get sat upon and started on the way 

 towards hatching. 



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