CHAPTER XXXII 

 The Disinfection and Cleansing of the Aviary, Coops, 



AND OTHER APPLIANCES OF THE PhEASANTRY 



In the rearing of Pheasants it matters not how skilful and 

 how experienced a man may be, if he neglects the periodical 

 cleansing of both the fixed and portable portion of the plant, 

 disaster must inevitably occur sooner or later. Every 

 Pheasant-rearer knows perfectly well that one of the chief 

 causes operative in the production of the enormous losses 

 that sometimes occur amongst Pheasants is mainly ascribable 

 to infection, and that such sources of infection commonly 

 arise through appliances, such as coops, feeding vessels, 

 etc., having been fouled with the disease. The author 

 does not mean to say that all diseases of a communicable 

 nature can be controlled by disinfection, etc., because such 

 a view would be incorrect ; but it stands as a well-established 

 dictum that infectious diseases are more likely to make their 

 appearance in the rearing-field, aviary, etc., where the keeper 

 has not exercised sufficient care as to cleanliness, than 

 amongst birds in which a thorough system of cleansing 

 the coops and all feeding appliances has been rigidly 

 adhered to. 



The rearing of game under artificial conditions is one 

 that calls for the exercise of a high degree of intelligence, 

 patience, perseverance, observance, resourcefulness, and 

 other qualifications of more or less importance. When 



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