46



Y . Malisoux—Must Pheasants Roost ?



Theoretically a third classification might be made according to the

hardiness of the various species, but as it is practically of no use to the

average breeder we will discard it.


Here we must again repeat what was said about the adult Pheasants :

Pheasant chicks must also be dealt with as 'poultry rather than game.

No matter if the warmth is given by the hen or by a lamp (we use this

last system) the chicks must be able to warm themselves at leisure

until they are two months old, or three, according to development.

During all that period our lamp is burning day and night. When the

days are quite hot in summer we turn the lamp out for a few hours.

But we light it again if the weather freshens and in any case at sunset.

If the Pheasants belong to the quick-growing species and are already

three months old on 15th July, they will require no more extra heat for

the rest of their lives. But from the beginning of September onwards

we strongly advise a shut box with a good litter, this applies to slow-

growing species and even for a second brood of quick-growing chicks.

In September the nights can still be mild, but they cease to be warm.

Chicks hatched at the end of August or after must be heated all the

autumn and winter by artificial means.


We use an ordinary electric lamp, the sort with a charcoal thread

that does not give much light but is not fragile. I do not know the name

for it in English—[I am afraid I do not know the lamp to which

M. Malisoux refers.—P. J. Lambert.] 1 —but it is just what is required.

This lamp is fixed in an open box. These late chicks must be brought

indoors every night. They must also be kept inside if it is freezing

hard. A well-lighted attic or even a stable is quite sufficient for this

purpose. But they need their box and lighted lamp day and night.


As I write these notes it has been freezing hard for a month,

save perhaps for an odd day or two. It is 3 p.m. and in spite of this

4 Vieillot chicks, hatched on 18th August, are playing about as usual

in their small movable aviary in front of my window. When the grass

thawed this morning, about 10 a.m., they were brought down from

their attic. Their small box, which measures 30 by 40 cm., was fitted

to the aviary, its shutter lifted, and the lamp lighted. The birds are



Perhaps a carbon filament lamp ?—Ed.



