Pheasants at Low Rail, Kirby Moorside, Yorkshire



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be found possible to keep and breed these charming Pheasants in this

country. They are certainly the prettiest of the Peacock Pheasants.

Many kinds of Pheasants can be bought quite cheaply and anyone

desiring to start this fascinating hobby should begin with a pair each

of Golden, Silver, Lady Amherst, and Peeves. A cheque for from £10

to £12 would buy you a pair of each of these Pheasants, providing you

do not buy them from dealers. There are none more beautiful than

these four species, they are very hardy and easy to breed, and they

are moreover easy to sell. When keeping the Lady Amherst it is always

advisable to give the male bird at least two hens and preferably three,

as he is a very pugnacious gentleman when spring-time comes round.

Some Amherst cocks will kill nearly every hen given to them, whilst

others are just as docile. Don’t let this deter anyone from keeping

these birds as, in my opinion, they are the most beautiful and graceful

of all Pheasants. I always endeavour to keep a good selection of

them, but beware of hybrids ! I should think that 85 per cent of

Amhersts in this country have Golden blood in them. It is surprising

how many people have shown me what they really thought were pure

Amhersts, when they were very far from pure. When I started keeping

Pheasants I was 4 4 had ” in the same way !


You are safe with the Golden, Silver, and Reeves. To the beginner

who is ready to put his hand a little deeper in his pocket I would

recommend the Swinhoe, about £12 a pair, very beautiful and hardy.

The pure Mongolian is a fine bird, and difficult to beat for colour

and is quite cheap. The Monaul or Impeyan Pheasant is a magnificent

bird and is always popular and very striking. To see this bird with

the sun shining on his back is a wonderful sight. He is very hardy,

and his price should be £20 to £22 a pair.


I have three species of Tragopans—Satyr, Cabots, and Temmincks.

The Tragopan Pheasant is my favourite. The male bird is superb.

These Pheasants have one great attraction to me, and that is that they

become remarkably tame in a very short time, especially the Satyr.

Unfortunately they are not easy to breed, as I have found it very

difficult to get fertile eggs. The price of these Pheasants should be

about £25 a pair.


Freshly imported birds can be bought for about £6 apiece, and this



