W. COOKS TURKEY, GOOSE, AND PHEASANT BOOK. 45 



way of running up the wire, as they can get foothold so 

 much better than they can if there were straight battens, 

 but the great advantage is in the cocks being able to see 

 each other right through the pens. When the male birds 

 can see each other with the hens the eggs are in almost 

 every case more fertile, as it stimulates them when they can 

 see each other with their hens. I prefer the pens being 

 long and not square, then they can be covered over the top 

 so much easier. 



If the runs are only 6ft. wide they are easily covered, 

 whereas if they are square the top is such a long way across, 

 and there has to be something in the way of a post and 

 quartering right across the pen to keep the netting up. 

 One advantage in having the hurdles is they can be shifted 

 from one place to the other. 



When the pens are going to be made permanent, as some 

 people have them, and only used in the breeding season, 

 that is between February and June, it is best to have 

 6ft. wire, two-inch mesh, then nail boards round the 

 outside of the pens, up to the wire, two or three feet high. 

 One plank sawn through eight times, which makes nine 

 boards (this must be done by a steam saw), will do nicely 

 in 12 or 14ft. lengths. It not only comes inexpensive but 

 makes a good shelter for the birds. It is best to use string 

 netting to go over the top, as when wire netting is used the 

 pheasants cut themselves when they fly up, but the string 

 does not hurt them. 



If pheasant breeders make their runs long instead 

 of square, say about 4ft. to 6ft. wide, it is much 

 better, as the netting is not so liable to get broken 



