Dr. G. Steinhacher—On the Keeping of Capercaillie 27


ON THE KEEPING OF CAPERCAILLIE, BLACK

COCKS, AND GROUSE


By Dr. G. Steinbacher


The European Capercaillie, Black Cock, Grouse, and Hazel Grouse

are very seldom found in captivity. It is very difficult to keep them.

Our Zoological Gardens of Berlin show them nearly continually, and

I am certain many amateurs will be interested in how they are kept

•and bred here.


The difficulties of keeping these interesting birds already begin with

getting them. Eggs or youngsters of wild birds are seldom found,

and even then the young ones are very delicate. It is hard work to

rear them. During the first week they thrive comparatively well,

but afterwards they cease growing, sicken, and soon die. Their food

;seems to lack an essential substance. But there are also great difficulties

in catching the wild birds and accustoming them to being kept in

cages. Their wings must be clipped, otherwise, if frightened, they will

dash themselves to death. And their cages must be closely planted

in order to give them enough cover. Moreover, they most probably

can only get accustomed to being kept in captivity by being given

for a long time the same food they found in freedom. But the catching

■of these birds is chiefly prevented by the fact that they are only frequent

enough in a few districts in Scandinavia and the south-east of Europe,

and even there it is often forbidden to catch them.


But even when possible to get some of these birds, which are accus¬

tomed to being caged, it will pay to clip their wings. For in the new

surroundings they at first are easily frightened and then are liable

to hurt themselves. The birds are put into large cages with boughs of

fir and pine laid out with fresh forest soil. This soil is cut in the forest

and brought into the cages with all its animals and plants, especially

bilberries and wortleberries. The birds will eat much of these herbs

and be busy picking about in the soil. Though the cages are placed

in sunshine, they provide their inhabitants with cool and shady nooks

in great heat. There are also indoor pens, in which the birds are some¬

times fed, and into which they are put while their cages are cleaned

•and the soil is renewed.



