35 



Pheasants. 



ground at selected intervals without the necessity of 

 taking it to pieces. The advantages of this plan are 

 chiefly apparent when the soil is of such character as to 

 wear or to sicken quickly. Upon really sound and suitable 

 ground I do not see that there is very much to be gained 

 by its adoption. 



Upon the whole, I am of opinion that there is little 

 improvement capable of being made upon this class of 

 pen, though where expense is not a serious consideration, 

 the nature and quality of the materials may be improved 

 upon, but the principle remains the same. 



The pheasants for laying should be caught up and 

 turned into these pens early in February, although were 

 it not for certain disadvantages attaching to the alternative 

 I should recommend the catching up of birds immediately 

 before shooting commences. This, however, means keep- 

 ing the hens in captivity all through the winter months. 

 The main disadvantage accruing to the practice of employ- 

 ing February-caught birds is that many hen pheasants have 

 their fertility destroyed or impaired by shot or accident 

 during the shooting season, which imperfections only 

 become apparent when the laying season commences, or 

 even when hatching is in progress. To counteract this 

 probability it is to be recommended that 10 per cent, more 

 hens be caught up than it is intended to draw eggs from, so 

 as to have a reserve of penned birds to replace the produce 

 of any unfertile hens, and so keep up the supply of early 

 eggs, because, after all, it is the advantage in this latter 

 respect which penned birds possess over wild ones that 

 adds so considerably to the merits of the practice. 



The hens penned should be second-year birds, strong, 

 healthy, and chosen upon exactly the same lines which 

 weigh with the poultry -keeper in selecting his pullets for 

 laying. See that the breasts are straight and true, the 



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