REMOVING YOUNG PHEASANTS TO COVERT 



is sure to be an agreement that it shall be vacated by a certain 

 date, and however much the rearer may wish to keep birds 

 out of covert, he has to leave the ground on that arranged 

 date and take all risk. Then the birds themselves have 

 a pleasant way of determining the end of their stay on the 

 rearing-field, by displaying symptoms of refusing to enter 

 the coops at night, and the keeper who would take all to 

 covert knows that removal must not be longer delayed. 

 The only person who is in a position to take advantage of 

 the rearing-field as long as he likes is he who raises his 

 birds close to the coverts to which they gradually find their 

 way, but ground close to woods which have been stocked 

 season after season cannot be very fresh, and therefore there 

 can be no advantage in retaining the broods thereon. 



The health of young Pheasants may be improved by 

 keeping them off the rearing-field as long as possible, but 

 that entirely depends upon circumstances. Should the field 

 be stale and the coverts fresh, the sooner they are shifted the 

 better ; and when July turns out hot and dry, and the rearing- 

 ground is much exposed to the sun, it is advantageous to 

 take the broods where they can obtain shelter and coolness. 



Should a wet period set in about the time the young 

 Pheasants ought to be removed to covert, it is the wiser 

 course to let them remain on the field. Wet drip from the 

 trees is certain to prove deadly to some, and probably to 

 a lot. Removal to covert can easily be effected at a much 

 later date than usual, if the rain continues, as it forces the 

 birds to seek the shelter of the coops long after they would 

 were it warm and dry. 



I would like those who are my readers just to consider 

 what I now have to say, and if possible state their opinions 

 concerning my contentions. I have noticed that young 

 Pheasants kept on the open rearing-field long after they have 



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