PHEASANT REARING 
if contaminated, it may easily disseminate internal parasites and other 
diseases. There are various patterns of self-filling water-troughs on the 
market, between whose merits there is little to choose, the essential 
points being that whatever the form of reservoir it should be so 
covered in as to be completely germ -proof, the drinking vessels 
attached being so constructed that little water is contained in them at 
a time, needing constant replenishment, whilst the trough is so narrow 
that the chance of its being fouled by the birds themselves is reduced to 
a minimum. Another point is that if the heat of the soil beneath the vessel 
is prevented from ascending there will be greater condensation of 
moisture at night, and less evaporation in the daytime, and even when 
the surrounding atmosphere on a clear night may be above freezing point, 
in the vessel itself the water may show a film of ice. This is effected by 
excavating not less than two feet of soil, then laying six inches of puddled 
clay at the bottom, and over this straw to the depth of quite a foot. 
Another layer of clay should be placed over the straw to keep out the 
wet, and prevent it from rotting, and a broad flag-stone should be laid 
on the top of the clay, to make a platform for the water -fountain. It may 
be observed on a winter’s night how the moisture on a flagged foot- 
path begins to freeze earlier than the puddles in the adjoining soil, de- 
monstrating the faculty of the stone for inducing cold under favourable 
circumstances. 
Rearing , — When the eggs have come from some distance, and had a railway 
journey, there is some displacement of the yolk, and to allow this to become 
settled it is advisable to place them on end for two days, reversing them at 
the end of the flrst twenty -four hours, before putting them under a hen. 
Pheasants begin to lay about April 15. The nesting boxes should be placed 
on the ground if possible, and should never be in more than a single tier. 
If the hens are set in coops they should be sheltered from the sun. When 
set in a house a thick sod of earth should be placed at the bottom of each 
box, not too dry but slightly damp, with the grass clipped closely down. 
An excellent method is to lay the sod with the grass downwards, and 
then scoop out a hollow from the back nearly half way through, not quite 
the full size of the nest. The sod should then be reversed, and placed in 
position, and the grass side should be pressed down with the closed fist, 
making a very natural hollow for the eggs to rest in, the tendency then 
being for the eggs to keep rolling inwards. Before placing the eggs in 
the nest a light covering of wheat chaff, a good handful will do, should be 
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