44



Y. Malisoux—Must Pheasants Roost ?



were fertile, the chicks were perfect. The 1934-5 winter was again very

cold, but we had not the slightest trouble. In the following spring we

had forty-one eggs, Nos. 3 and 4 were infertile owing to a late and

untimely frost. All the chicks were perfect.


Such have been our experiences with delicate Pheasants in cold

weather. But one must not believe that hardier species do not suffer

from the cold. We noticed it again last spring. Out of Edwards and

Elliotts eggs laid during the late frosts some chicks hatched with crooked

toes, others were faultless. I may add that the parent birds were in no

way related, so we cannot say that the crooked toes were due to breeding

from related stock. My Elliot cock, indeed, is an imported and very

beautiful bird. It is never safe to generalize but in such a climate as

that of my valley (damp, bitter winds in winter, frost holding for weeks,

clay soil, etc.), I conclude as follows. If your Pheasants are long-tailed

and “ cheap ” then let them roost. If they are hardy and valuable,

force them to sleep on the ground. At this level, amongst grass tufts

and shrubs, there is very little wind and, moreover, the irradiation of

the night will make itself felt only on the upper parts of the birds.

But specimens either delicate or very valuable must not only be

prevented from roosting, they must also be compelled to squat on their

toes and bellies on a dry litter and shut box, and this every night through¬

out the winter. In this way you will get better results from delicate

species than from hardier ones that are allowed to roost. You will get

more eggs and a high rate of fertility. The chicks will seldom hatch with

faulty toes, and will be easier to rear. Our experience is conclusive.

The Firebacks we so love on account of their beauty and because of

the ease with which they can be tamed thrive in this way as well

as any, if not better. Sometimes, indeed, we are afraid we shall lose

the hens as they are so wonderfully prolific.


To sum up. Delicate Pheasants must not be dealt with as game

but as the barnyard fowl, whose laying power is hindered by cold. I

can guarantee that greenhouses, roomy premises, and heating devices

are absolutely useless as far as aviary bred Vieilotts, Siamese, and

Bornean Firebacks and probably as far as Argus are concerned. A good

shut box with an ordinary door suffices. With it I am quite positive

of complete success. But this does not mean that good results could



