April, i 9 i 6 
45 
When pheasants are fully 
grown they are perfectly 
hardy. This one is a male 
Reeves; in winter 
Swans there should he if a 
good-sized pond is available. 
They are too large to look 
well in ordinary pools 
If pheasants are to be given some 
measure of liberty, they must be pin¬ 
ioned, which means taking off one 
wing at the middle joint, or else the 
wings must be clipped at intervals. 
It is better, though, to keep them 
confined except on large estates, 
where they can have wide range. The 
yards must be covered with wire, but 
the houses need not be large, as most 
of the time, day and night, will be 
spent in the open air; and there is 
no need of windows, although large 
openings may be cut in the front 
wall. High houses are not to be rec¬ 
ommended, for the pheasants may 
be injured by flying against the top. 
Pheasant Yards and Houses 
The model house is 6' high in front 
and 4' at the rear. It is 18' long and 
6' deep and is divided into two pens. A 
double yard with a partition down the mid¬ 
dle is 18' x 20' and 10' high. The house is 
made of single boards, but is covered on 
the back and sides as well as on the roof 
with a pebbled roofing paper that never has 
to be painted. There are no fixtures in the 
house except a high perch, but the bottom 
is covered with sand several inches deep, 
which is renewed about once a month. The 
feeding dishes, as well as the water foun¬ 
tain, are placed in the yard, where there are 
also several perches. Pheasants will roost 
in the open, even during the coldest nights, 
unless a high wind is blowing or a severe 
storm is in progress. 
This house, as well as the yards, is port¬ 
Indian runners are among the easiest ducks to 
raise. They combine utility and ornamental value 
able, roof and walls being put together with 
bolts, and it costs $150. It will accommo¬ 
date thirty birds in winter, but of course 
only one mating can be kept in each side 
during the breeding season, as two cocks 
would fight if penned together. The house 
is quite as large as the average amateur 
needs. Of course a very satisfactory struc¬ 
ture of the same size could be built at a 
much lower cost, but this building looks 
well enough for any estate, while it is not 
too elaborate for a suburban back yard. 
It is always best to have an aviary on 
high, well drained ground and facing the 
south. If the ground is at all damp or there 
is danger from rats, it is well to have a 
cement foundation extending well below 
the frost line. Sometimes cement 
floors are used, but they are satisfac¬ 
tory only when a deep layer of cin¬ 
ders under them provides good drain¬ 
age. Even a cement floor must be 
covered with sand; better still, soft 
coal ashes. In localities where high 
winds are frequent, or where many 
people are moving about, it is well 
to board up the yards 14" or 15", 
and for convenience it is desirable 
to have a gate in each yard, as well 
as in the end of the house. About 
the only furnishings required, apart 
from the perches, are water foun¬ 
tains and feed dishes, but the latter 
should include hoppers for grit, oys¬ 
ter shell or charcoal, all of which it 
is wise to have before the pheasants 
at all times. The yards are usually 
covered with wire, having a 2" mesh. 
But there is one distinct advantage in 
using a 1" mesh, even though it costs 
a little more—it keeps out the sparrows. 
In mating, silvers are commonly paired, 
while goldens are mated in trios, and three 
to four ring-neck hens are used with one 
male. Silver males are likely to develop 
an exceedingly ugly disposition at breeding 
time and fight among themselves or with 
other birds, if allowed any degree of lib¬ 
erty. One cock to two hens is the propor¬ 
tion when mating Reeves pheasants, but 
three hens may be used in a Lady Amherst 
breeding pen. 
Raising Pheasants and Peafowl 
As a rule, pheasant eggs are laid be¬ 
tween three and six o’clock in the after- 
(Continued on page 74.) 
