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THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



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prevent the birds from dropping their eggs while upon the perch, in 

 which case the eggs would be broken and soon eaten. For the beginner 

 with a few birds I should recommend pens sixteen by thirty-two feet 

 described above and the changing from one division to another every 

 month or so. 



THE EGG-EATING HABIT 



The habit of egg-eating is always a source of great annoyanee to 

 the pheasant raiser and no sure method of prevention or cure is known. 

 The best method to combat the evil so far discovered is to place several 

 cast iron nest eggs, painted as near the color of pheasant eggs as 

 possible, around in the breeding pen. The iron eggs are far superior 

 to the wooden or porcelain eggs, but after all, it is best to remove the 

 temptation by gathering the eggs several times a day. 



Nests for the setting hens are placed in yards twelve by sixteen 

 feet, two sections of nests each, or twelve nests to the yard, and 

 numbered consecutively from one to twelve. These yards are con- 

 structed in a double row with an alley way between, from which a gate 

 opens into each yard. The nests should be made about fourteen inches 

 square placed flat upon the ground without a bottom. A slight depression 

 should be made in the ground, in which arrange a small quantity of soft 

 straw or grass hay as you would for chickens. Peed, fresh water and a 

 place for dusting are first provided in each yard, then at a regular 

 hour each morning, beginning at yard No. 1, all hens in that yard are 

 let out to eat, drink, and take a dust bath, by simply dropping the hinged 

 door in front of each nest. Regularity is very essential, since the hens 

 soon learn just when to expect their liberty and if not let out on time 

 will often become so restless as to foul their nests or break an egg or 

 two. While the hens are eating, the yards should be inspected carefully 

 and a note made of any nest found in bad order or containing a broken 

 or dirty egg. After the hens have all returned to their nests and the 

 doors in front fastened securely, a clean rag and a bucket of luke warm 

 water is used in washing the eggs in any nest of which a note has been 

 made. When possible all the hens in one yard are set at the same time. 

 When each yard has hatched, the unhatched eggs are buried, the egg shells 

 and straw taken out and burned and new nests made before nesting again. 

 During excessively hot weather the ground around the nests should be 

 thoroughly sprinkled with water to provide the necessary amount of 

 moisture for the eggs. 



THE IDEAL MOTHER. 



For the purpose of perfecting an ideal hen for hatching pheasants, 

 buff and white cochin bantams were first crossed, producing a slightly larger 

 chicken, about evenly divided in color between buff, white and black with 

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