46 W. cook's TURKEY, GOOSE, AND PHEASANT BOOK. 



down by the snow, that is, of course supposing the birds 

 are kept in the run altogether. 



When the pens are only used in the breeding season, 

 the string netting should be taken off and put by in the dry 

 during the winter months. 



Those young pheasants which are kept altogether in one 

 large pen until it is time to mate them should be provided 

 with two long pens side by side, one for the cocks and the 

 other for the hens. If they are not separated the young 

 cocks begin to pull the hens about very much in December 

 and January. Of course the length of the pen should 

 usually depend upon the number of birds it is required to 

 put in them. If a pen is two yards wide and 50 yards long, 

 fifty pheasants could be put in very easily and they will get 

 plenty of exercise to keep them healthy and vigorous. 



One of these pens the size I have mentioned will do well 

 for thirty hens and five cocks for breeding purposes, and if 

 there are any shrubs and little trees in the run the male birds 

 -will not fight to hurt as they can get out of each other's way. 



Where such pens are provided there should always be a 

 gate at each end for the attendant to go in to collect the 

 eggs, if not he will have to pass the birds twice. By having 

 a gate at each end he can collect the eggs at one end, then 

 walk round the outside of the pen and collect them from 

 the other end. The birds will then gradually draw off to 

 the end opposite to which the eggs are being collected from, 

 and do not become frightened at all. 



Pheasants are birds which keep themselves wonderfully 

 clean, and when running about in their natural state they 

 (Just themselves on sunny banks in dry earth. 



