414 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May '27, 1905. 
Pheasant Breeding. 
A VERY serious question is confronting our American 
sportsmen. How to eliminate this question is another 
perplexing one. In the course of a few years what shall 
we do in order that we may replace our fast disappear- 
ing game, such as the ruffed grouse or pheasant, the quail, 
etc. In a short time, a very short time, indeed, we must 
speak of them as game birds that have been but are now 
extinct. 
"Have we any substitutes for our pheasants?" To this 
I will answer yes. The English pheasant is next nearest 
in my estimation. This bird is quite well known and 
hardly needs any special description. It is not so fleet 
on wing, but in weight the English ringneck far exceeds 
the ruffed grouse. It takes an exceptionally large grouse 
to weigh two pounds. An ordinary English bird will' 
weigh to 3^/2 pounds. It is a very difficult matter to 
rear ruffed grouse. I have raised them to maturity and 
find that they become very tame. The young birds will 
eat and drink from my hand. 
The English pheasant is much more easily reared and 
appears to be better adapted to confinement than the 
ruffed grouse. In my estim.ation there appears to be 
something supplied by nature that has not yet been dis- 
covered for the ruft'ed grouse. We can form certain 
opinions but not absolute facts. We are well aware of 
•the fact that the mother grouse is very persistent in her 
efforts to scratch a living for herself and brood. She 
allows nothing to remain undone in the manner of pro- 
tecting her brood. I have noticed in the rearing of these 
birds that, in confinement, they always seek animal mat- 
ter rather than vegetable, such as worms, insects, etc. 
The pheasant,- that multiplies probably faster than any 
other, is the so-called Mongolian, properly called Chinese 
ringneck or torquatus. Eighteen torquatus pheasants 
were turned loose in Oregon in 1884, and there are prob- 
ably more now in Oregon than in China. Fifty thousand 
were killed in one day during the year of 1904 in Oregon. 
Please note that in the short space of twenty years these 
birds multiplied to such enormous numbers. 
What is known as our English ringneck is a hybrid 
between the China ringneck or torquatus and the com- 
mon English blackneck. There is very little difference in 
plumage of the Mongolian, English blackneck, Chinese, 
Japanese and English ringneck. 
According to- Davenport, the Mongolian pheasant has 
never reached this country alive. Their native home is 
in the valley of the Syr-Daryr as far east as Lake Saisan, 
and the valley of the Black Irtish. It Is characterized by 
a broad white ring around the neck. The coverts of the 
wing white, the mantle, chest and breast bronze orange 
red. The rump feathers are of a very dark green color. 
This bird measures thirty-six inches from tip to tip. It 
is a cold climate bird and suffers more from heat than 
cold. 
This bird is not as handsonie as some of the other 
species, such as the golden Amherst, Reeves, silyer, etc. 
In my estimation, the golden or Reeves is 'rthe most 
beautiful, especially during the season of laying. The 
golden male bird will run toward the female bird with 
head downward to such an extent that an observer would 
naturally think the bird would fall headlong over a 
pretty display of feathers colored with a mixture of yel- 
low and black over the top of his head. At the same 
time the full expansion of the collar takes place, the bird 
utters a snake-like hiss which, according to our notions, 
would not be very fascinating as a love song.' ' v ■■ 
The home of the Reeve's pheasant is on the mountains 
of China. Their tail feathers frequently reach the enor- 
mous length of six feet. While in flight their tail opens 
like a fan and presents many colors. They are rugged 
birds, being able to withstand almost any winter weather 
or any degree of heat. They, however, never become 
quite so tame as some of the other species. The male 
bird also displays his enormous tail in a circular form 
around the female bird, the 'feathers being held straight 
up. 
The silver pheasant is not as beatuiful as the golden 
pheasant, although a more gamy bird. Its home was first 
definitely ascertained to be on the wooded hills of south- 
ern China. From the large size, commanding appearance 
and the beauty of the markings, silver pheasants have 
long been a favorite of Americans interested in pheasant 
breeding. These birds could be easily domesticated if it 
were thought desirable to do so. I have heard of several 
instances where they have been allowed to run at full 
liberty and have become sufficiently tame to come and 
stand before a window, waiting for members of the 
family to feed them. The hens hatch their own eggs and 
attend upon their brood with all the care of common 
fowls. I do not consider them a desirable addition to our 
limited stock of game birds, because they are continually 
waging war upon other members of the poultry yard. 
They do not hesitate to attack dogs and children and even 
adults during the breeding season. 
The bird that interests me the most is the English 
pheasant. I have raised them for a number of years and 
find them best adapted to the coverts of the United States. 
These birds were formerly reared in Europe, and there 
was but one distinct species known in Europe, namely, 
Phasianus colchicus. They were first raised along the ■ 
banks of the River Colchis, in Asia Minor. Their name 
originated from the name of the river. This species was 
soon followed by the ringnecked torquatus from China. 
These two were subsequently followed by the versicolor 
species from Japan. These were originally regarded by 
naturalists as perfectly distinct species, but it is now 
Imown that they breed freely with one another, and that 
.the offspring is perfectly fertile, however closely they are 
interbred. 
Henry Seebohm, in his account of birds, says that all 
true pheasants are interbred freely with each other and 
produce fertile offspring. This may be accepted as ab- 
solute proof that they are only sub-specifically distinct. 
The local races appear to be distinct enough, but they 
only retain a portion of their distinctive character if not 
separated from each other. I have been informed that 
the instant the various species of English pheasants are 
brought in contact with each other they begin to- inter- 
breed, and in a comparatively short time the several spe- 
cies through interbreeding reduce the various local races, 
which have been brought into contact to a single and 
uniform race. Througli this interbreeding the two dis- 
tinct and very different looking races, which were intro- 
duced into the various parts of the British Isles, namely, 
Phasianus colchicus, from Asia Minor, and Phasiamis 
torquatus from China have been practically stamped out 
of existence. The English pheasant of the British Isles 
is, with a very, rare exception, a mongrel between these 
two races. 
I shall now discuss the management of two species, 
(he golden and English. I have spent hours observing 
their dift'erent habits and modes of living, and I have ex- 
perimented on different aviaries. I feel tnat my time has 
been well spent and I shall be glad to- invite correspon- 
dence on any part that may not be definitely explained. 
As stated, I intend to dwell wholly on the management 
of the English ringneck, or the cross between the Eng- 
lish blackneck and torquatus. This bird, I think, is the 
proper one for a temperate climate naturalization, for 
game preserves and for confinement. In order to obtain 
the best results in the rearing certain conditions must be 
taken into consideration. 
To develop this subject systematically I must begin 
with the egg, which is the basis O'f success to a great ex- 
tent. The egg should never come in contact with saw- 
dust or excelsior, because a certain amount of oil, which 
is contained in the wood of the sawdust or excelsior is 
apt to be absorbed by the shell of the eggs, consequently 
the pores of the eggs become closed and what eggs are 
hatched will be weaklings. 
The proper way to ship eggs is to procure pasteboard 
sections of a common egg-crate, such as are used in 
shipping hens' eggs. Then place in the bottom of the 
basket some excelsior, covering the top of the excelsior 
with paper. Put the pasteboard sections in the basket 
and, after wrapping each egg in cotton, place the egg in 
one of the sections. After a layer, or rather a section, 
has been filled with eggs, spread a piece of paper over it. 
Thus proceed until your basket has been filled. Spread 
excelsior over the top of the basket and cover with a 
thin board. Baskets are preferable to boxes because the 
express companies are more careful in handling them. 
When eggs are received they should remain undis- 
turbed for at least twenty-four hours, because the parts 
of the eggs are apt to become disturbed during shipment, 
although eggs will resist a vast amount of jarring before 
the parts will become disturbed and mix with each other. 
Should this occur the eggs will be defective. 
I have shipped the eggs of the English ringneck to the 
extreme part pf the Continent with exceedingly good re- 
sults. This iS:, not true of golden pheasant eggs; I find 
them to be m^uch more sensitive than the English pheas- 
ant's eggs, and. they will not stand shipment as well as 
the other breeds. I would therefore not advise a very 
long journey for the shipment of golden pheasant eggs. 
The late Dr. J. B. Shaw (a personal friend of mine) 
was an exceptionally successful breeder of both golden 
and English pheasants. He invariably would receive re- 
plies from persons to whom., golden pheasant eggs were 
shipped, stating that the eggs were not fertile or had 
been molested before shipment. I can truthfully and em- 
phatically say that the eggs were shipped in excellent 
condition, but owing to the distance they were shipped, 
the yolk and germ were destroyed when they reached 
their destination. Very often, to preserve peace and har- 
mony, other .eggs were sent gratis to replace them. 
The egg of an English pheasant blends from a pale to 
a dark blue in color, while that of the golden is of a 
whitish semi-transparent color. The egg of an English 
pheasant is somewhat larger than that of the golden. 
The golden pheasant will lay from fifteen to twenty-five 
eggs per season. The English ringneck will lay from 
forty to fifty-five eggs per season. 
When the birds begin to lay their eggs, which will be 
about the middle of April, the eggs should be gathered 
every day and, if possible, oftener, because eggs that are 
left lying around in the aviaries become a temptation to 
the male birds. They will roll them over, pick at them, 
and finally break them in order to satisfy their curiosity. 
The final result of this will be the learning of egg-eating. 
When this habit is once formed it is very difficult to 
check. 
About the time the female bird begins to lay I place 
a few wooden eggs about the -size of a pheasant's egg in 
the aviaries. I also fill a few eggs with plaster paris 
and, if they are put at various places in the aviaries the 
male birds will become tired of picking at this hard sub- 
stance and finally refrain from the habit of eating eggs. 
Another remedy with which I have been successful is to 
fill an egg with a mixture of cayenne pepper, ginger and 
vinegar mixed to a paste. When the eggs are stuffed with 
this mixture they should be placed at conspicuous points 
in the aviaries. " One dose is sufficient. When the eggs 
are gathered they should be placed in cornmeal and bran 
with end downward and reversed each day. This will 
prevent the yolk from settling in the ends and adhering 
to the sides of the shell. 
I prefer a bantam to hatch the eggs, but before I trust 
to place pheasant's eggs underneath her I allow her to 
sit on ordinary chicken eggs for probably a week, at any 
rate long enough until I am convinced that she will hatch 
the pheasant's eggs that I am about to place under her. 
I find that a bantam will cover fifteen to eighteen eggs 
very satisfactorily, and in about twenty-three to twenty- 
four days the young birds should begin to come out. 
Do not attempt to feed or disturb the birds for at least 
twenty-four hours after they are hatched. This is a very 
critical part of the bird's life. The first bill of fare should 
be arranged as follows : Prepare a thick custard with 
milk and eggs. Feed this three and four limes per day. 
This diet should be continued for at least two weeks. 
I can especially recommend Spratt's game meal for 
young pheasants. The young birds become attached to 
this meal very readily. In connection with the custard 
and eggs and meal I feed maggots, which can be pro- 
cured in the following manner : Secure a sugar barrel, 
knock out the head, and suspend across the top a sheep's 
pluck (viz., lungs, liver, etc.). Cover the top of the bar- 
rel with burlap or a board with holes bored in it, in order 
that flies may enter. In the course of a few days the 
pluck will be full of maggots. They will feed ( n the 
pluck and soon will become fat and drop down in the 
barrel. It is advisable to have cornmeal and beef scraps 
under the barrel so that the maggots will live after they 
have fallen into the barrel. The young birds will relish 
this food and soon l:)ecome strong and healthy. They 
should be fed twice a day on maggots. 
Some people engaged in the business do not care to 
feed them on this food; others may have no way to se- 
cure this particular sort of animal matter. To these I 
would suggest that you can purchase through some poul- 
try dealer or supply houses dried ant eggs and maggot 
meats which I have found very beneficial for young 
birds. 
The young birds should have but very little water un- 
less extremely hot Weather prevails. 
The houses for the birds can be made of a box three 
feet square. Cover the top with a one inch mesh wire 
(bottom out). Place this against a triangular shaped 
coop with slats on the front, so that the young birds can 
go in and out at random, also be closed up at night. 
The young birds should not be allowed to go out of the 
triangular shaped box in the morning until the dew is 
practically all off the ground. I attribute- tO' a certain 
degree that this neglect is an instigator of the most de- 
spised disease that can attack our young birds, namely, 
the gape-worm. After the birds are about two weeks 
old they may be allowed to roam at large, but it is ad- 
visable to- keep the female bird at home until the young 
birds will respond to her calling. After the birds have 
reached this age feed them boiled rice and boiled eggs, 
chopped fine. Take great care not to- allow any of the 
feed to lie around the aviaries uneaten, as this will soon 
become sour, the stomach of the bird will become rancid 
and indigestion will be the result. 
The birds at this age begin to get their larger feathers. 
It is very essential that the position of the coops be 
changed every day, especially when the young birds are 
still confined. 
Gapes, the most dangerous of all maladies, you un- 
doubtedly will discover as your next opponent. This can 
be avoided to a certain degree by keeping- the birds in a 
good healthy condition and, as I have before related, keep 
them off of the grass until the dew is all gone. 
When the gapes are first noticed, water containing sev- 
eral drops of turpentine may be given. I find this to be 
effective in some cases of a mild form. The last resort is 
to extract the worms or worm with a gape-worm ex- 
tractor or horse hair dipped in turpentine and olive oil. 
I have had birds die in my hands while undergoing this 
operation, which is a critical one. The old saying that 
"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," is 
very well applied in this case. 
Tegetmeier, in his treatise on the "Management of 
Pheasants," claim^s to have a very effective cure for gapes 
by fumigation with carbolic acid. He places the birds in 
a box with an opening of' four inches in the bottom, and 
in a saucer places from four to^ six drops of carbolic acid. 
By holding a lamp under the saucer the acid becomes 
evaporated in the box and this is inhaled by the bird. 
Great care should be taken in order that the bird does . 
not suffer death from suffocation. When symptoms of 
suffocation appear the bird should be immediately re- 
moved and the operation repeated the next day, providing 
the bird does not appear to be relieved. 
Another disease that is quite prevalent among young 
birds is diarrhea. I have found that powdered chalk 
mixed with a mash is a very good diet and proves ef- 
fective to check the disease. Very little should be fed at 
one meal. The vent of the bird becomes closed, caused 
by the passage adhering to the sides of the vent. This 
should be washed off and vaseline applied on the irritated , 
part. 
Birds when about half grown will sometimes form the 
habit of picking their feathers to such an extent that the 
bird will die frona loss of blood. They oftimes continue 
this habit until they have the rump and vent almost com- 
pletely picked out of their body. This can be remedied 
by using tar on the affected part. I have been told by ex- 
perienced bird fanciers that this is an indication that the ' 
bird does not get enough animal matter to eat. I find 
this statement to be perfectly correct. Feeding ground 
beef cut about the size of peas will assist greatly toward 
abandoning this fatal habit. As soon as I discover that ■ 
a bird is forming this habit I separate it from the rest; 
otherwise it invariably proves to be a competent in- 
structor for the other birds. 
The hen with her brood should have a place where they 
may get to dust. It is very amusing to watch them dust 
themselves. They turn completely over on the back and , 
roll in the dust. This also gives the birds a chance to rid 
themselves of lice. I can recommend Lambert's Death to 
Lice, and consider it superior to any other preparation. 
It is quite harmless to birds. Drooping wings and sleep- 
lessness are indicative of lice. Get rid ol them as soon 
as possible or you will lose all your young birds very 
quickly. A very good plan is to dust the hen three or 
