CHAPTER VIIL 



PHEASANTS : Water-Supply. 



THE matter of water-supply for pheasants, whether the 

 birds be hand-reared or birds in covert, is one which 

 must always demand the close attention of the preserver. 

 Of course, opinions differ widely upon the advisability of 

 even giving young pheasants water at all, but it is more 

 than probable that whatever may be the conditions prevail - 

 ing in individual instances, a well -protected and carefully- 

 arranged supply of water from deep well or spring is far 

 more trustworthy than that obtainable by the chicks or 

 poults from dew, drains, or small streamlets, and is vastly 

 preferable. It must be remembered in this respect that 

 it is the object of the preserver to prevent, as far as 

 possible, his young birds from being exposed to heavy dews 

 or rain, and that in providing them with the necessary drink 

 from this source he is needlessly exposing them. There 

 is further the fact that much of the disease to which 

 young pheasants are liable is assisted by varying condi- 

 tions of dew-fall, and that while it is in his power to 

 control the purity of the water-supply he provides, he is 

 not able to deal with that obtainable from such and other 

 natural sources. 



It is, therefore, infinitely to be preferred that the water- 

 supply for young birds should be in the hands of the 

 keepers, and be properly provided for. In the chapter on 

 feeding I made passing reference to this subject, but it 



