w. cook's turkey, goose, and pheasant book. 49 



eating the eggs and when they once begin that practice it 

 is difficult to break them off, it also teaches the hens to do 

 it as well. 



It is always well to throw a few cinder ashes and some 

 oyster shells in the breeding pens, as this helps to form the 

 hard shell upon the eggs. 



In my travels I occasionally come across those who keep 

 four or five hen pheasants and one male bird closed up in 

 one small yard, say two yards by three, where they have 

 not a particle of green-stuff on the ground. In this case 

 they should have cabbage leaves cut up and thrown into 

 them, lettuce also can be thrown into them whole, as they 

 are tender, and the birds can pick them to pieces. 

 Pheasants eat more green-stuff in proportion to the size 

 than ordinary laying hens do. 



Where a large number of pens of pheasants are kept in 

 the way I have described in the earlier part of this chapter, 

 there is sure to be one or two get out occasionally. To be 

 ready for this, it is well to form a little shed at one corner 

 of the run outside, which can be done by leaning one of 

 the six feet hurdles against the other, then stop it up at 

 one end. The pheasants will then run round the outside of 

 the pen, and if the attendant walks round very steadily 

 they will go in the open shed. 



Some breeders use string netting outside for them to go 

 in which is very convenient, but it is far better not to hurry 

 the birds or hunt them round, if so, they are liable to run 

 away, but they seldom go far, if they do they will come 

 back unless they are frightened or shot at. 



