Pheasant Farming

8/14/2019 Pheasant Farming

1/56

PheasantMINOBY 'GENE M. SIMPSONSUPERINTENDENT STATE GAME FARMCORVALUS, OREGON

CiT^


2/56


3/56

(^^ 9'^A. **** n.^fO V

Pheasant FarmingBY

'Gene M. SnipsoxSuperintendent State Game Farm

With illustrations fromPlioloKiapIis l>y Wm. L. Finley and C. F. Hodge

andDrawings by R. Bruce Horsfall ^

//

Bulletin No. 2

Published under the direction ofWilliam L. FixleyOREGON FISH AND GAME COMMISSION


4/56

Copyrislit, 1914, by William K Finley

Salem, Oregon :State Printing Department

1914


5/56


6/56

PHEASANT FARMING

California or ValleyQuail


7/56


8/56

if il|vr ^il^Z-'

Male and Female Chinese or Denny Pheasants


9/56

PHEASANT FARMING

INTEODICTIONl)()U'r e'i


10/56


11/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Half Grown Pheasants

CHAPTEE Iri'()i)ai>*ati()ii of (iaiiip Birds

-V AMEKICA we have been very wasteful ofour natural resources. This is especially thecase in the destruction of our game birds. Theexperience of the continental countries hasgone unheeded. In earlier years our virginpastures furnished game in such numbers thatit seemed impossible for it ever to disappear,but tlie rai)idlv increasing population and west-ward movement of civilization has brought our

people to a realization tliat the game can disappear, and unless itsslaughter is checked it will soon l)e l)ut a memory. Though thespirit of protecting the game has come late, it is not too late.

'i'he true sportsman does not object to being limited in theamount of game he may kill in a season, or to being taxed for the])rivilege. Laws for game protection are necessary, but the time hascome in America when game propagation is also necessary. Tlieproper expenditure of tlie funds derived from hunters' licenses willprovide means to secure both.

Game bird propagation, while a well estal)lished business inEuro])e, is in its infancy in this country. That we must produce,if wo would desti'oy, has dawned ujjon us. Propagation is the onlysolution of the future game supply problem. That we must sooner

7


12/56

PHEASANT FARMINGor later accept the idea of ])i-ivate or |)ul)lic piiiie propaofation isbrought out very forcibly by Henry liiclimond Coyle, in "OutdoorWorld and Keereation" for October, 11)13, in the following words:

"Without doubt orquestion we citizens ofthe United States are onthe border line betweentwo widely differenteras of our growth. Thisis true in all phases ofour social and businesslife, and not less of ourlife in the outdoorworld. Little by littlewe have become used tosmaller bags of game,little by little we havetraveled farther andl)aid more for sport. Inmany futile ways, found-ed on hope and desirerather than on commonsense, we have tried toarrest the hand whichwrites upon the wall.None the less, and wemust admit it, all at-tempts to keep the oldAmerica have failed. Wemust pass not only fromold days to new, butfrom old ways to new."

Siiiallrr (f(nnr Hdt/s Kach Year

The l)rcedino- of ])heasants and other game birds in captivity forsale, under certain well defined regulations, either for eating or for

breeding purposes, is just as legitimate as the breedingliaising (tf any of our domestic birds oi- animals. Every gamethe Market ^^''^-^ raised and sold in ca})tivity helps to protect tlie

state's supply of wild game.The growing need of special ]irovisions governing the sale of

game birds and animals raised in captivity is receiving recognition


13/56

PHEASANT FARMINGby the Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture atWasliington, D. C, whose attitude on the subject is stated asfollows

"The raising of game for profit not onlj' need notjeopardize the safety and abundance of our wild game,but, under proper state license laws and a system oftagging game for shipment or sale, is likely to increasethe quantity of wild game."

The growth of the industry of raising game for the market, ascattle and i)oultry are raised, is manifested in legislation in manystates during the last few years. A dozen states now have suchprovisions in their laws, and the production and marketing of do-mesticated game seems destined to become an industry that will de-mand more and more recognition in future legislation. With propermeans of identification provided, so as to prevent evasion of the lawsprohibiting traffic in wild game, there would seem to be no reason

whv this industry should not be encouraged in every pos-Attitude gji^jg ^^..^y_ Qng of the great reasons for non-observancesLte^ of game laws is the ever-])resent desire of the generalpublic to eat game. :\Iake it possible for the generalpublic to purchase game food during a legal season, and the in-centive to evade the laws would be minimized. In all game legisla-tion the general or non-sportsman public must be reckoned with.To ignore this factor invites violation of game and fish laws.A few states yet hold it a crime for any one to increase the sup-ply of game by breeding the same in captivity. Dillon Wallace, inOuting ]\Iagazine, says

"As a result of this method of protection our gameis surely and rapidly diminishing in numbers, and thecomplete extinction of some species seems not fardistant, unless some new tack is taken, and it wouldseem that the most reasonable solution of the problemwould be to turn the animals to i)rofit through domes-tication, and at the same time by this method insureperpetuation of rapidly disappearing species."We are suffering from conservatism gone to seed.Because our native mammals and birds were originallydiscovered in a wild state we have, unconsciously per-haps, conceived the notion that they must of neces-sity continue in the wild state. Wild they are andwild they must remain. To domesticate them would beto change the existing order of things, and that wouldbe a sacrilege on Nature. We forget that our domesticcattle, our sheep, our horses, and our fowls were once


14/56

PHEASANT FARMINGwild. We do not consider that our prehistoric ances-tors, who were in this respect, at least, more progres-sive than ourselves, captured, tamed and domesticatedthe iJrogenitors of our domestic live stock, and by sodoing added greatly to the wealth, comfort and hap-piness of themselves and those who followed them."

In my opinion, tlie State of Oregon lias the most progressivegame laws of any state in the Union. While providing ampleclosed seasons and a license that insures enforcement, encourage-ment is given to the breeding of game in captivity, and its saleunder sufficient restrictions.

Henry Chase, in "Game Protection and Propagation inAmerica,'' says:

"But necessity absolutely demands that the oc-cupation of the marlvet hunter, who supplies city snobsand hostelries from the public game domains, be de-

stroyed by law forthwith. In the place of theDeiiujiid for market hunter, cold-storage produce dealersGame Raised should look to the private game farms andin Captivity breeders' camps for their future supply ofgame. There is no question but that there

exists a legitimate demand for game for food, but thatdemand has no right to expect that it will be suppliedat the expense of the public welfare."

Under date of November 28, 1913, Mr. William P. Gates, theState Game, Fish and Forestry Warden of Michigan, writes:

"We are writing to advise you that this departmentis doing all it can to encourage the propagation ofgame animals and believes that they ought to be soldand transported under such regulations as will pro-tect the wild game of the state. We believe that allanimals and birds of this kind that are reared incaptivity will have a tendency to save the wild game ofthe state. There are people who are determined tosecure wild game even though they have to takechances on being prosecuted under our criminal lawsfor obtaining it in an illegal manner. Where there is alegal way provided by which wild game can be secured,we believe it will be one of the best means of conserv-ing our wild game."

From the twenty-first biennial report of the State Fish andGame Commissioner of the state of \'orniont is quoted the fol-lowing :

"Under the present restrictive laws it is impossiblefor a person who does not hunt to obtain wild gamebirds for his table unless he happens to have a

10


15/56

PHEASANT FARMINGfriend who is kind enough and fortunate enough tosecure a few for him. There is no reason why pheas-ants and wild ducks may not be successfully raised inVermont for the table, and in such manner as to pro-duce birds having the flavor of the strictly wild fowl.The raising of game birds for the market is coming tobe an industry in some parts of the country and itshould be encouraged in Vermont, whether for themarket or for use on the home table. The more wildbirds which can be raised in domesticity, the less de-mand there will be for the native wild fowl."

Again, in the California Fish and Game Commission's reportof 1912, is the following:

"As it becomes more and more necessary to removeall the wild game from the markets, the public de-mands something to take its place. This can well besupplied from that raised in captivity. A law allowingthe sale of deer would not make it any more difficultto protect the wild animals; on the other hand it wouldsupply the demand for venison and would remove thereason for violating the law that sometimes existsunder our present system We recommend thatpheasants raised in captivity be sold in the markets.This has a two-fold advantage. First, it would meana source of revenue to people of small holding, itwould provide a delicious game bird for the table ofhotels and restaurants, and proportionally reduce thedrain on wild game in the fields."

In a letter dated Xovember 2T, 1913, A. Brvaii Williain?, pro-vincial game warden, Tanconver, B. C, says

"With regard to the sale of game birds we aregradually doing away with the sale of game in thisprovince; in fact, it is cut down to a minimum now.By encouraging private game farms I am of the opin-ion that more wild birds would be sold than thoseraised in captivity."

In Mr. Williams' report of 1912, in the paragraph pertaining tothe illegal sale of game, is the following:

"There are, however, a few wealthy people, whoshould set a good example, who regularly buy game atany time they can get it. Not only do these peoplebreak the law themselves, but they encourage othersto do it also."

This emphasizes my contention. Had there been a provinciallaw permitting the sale of game reared in captivity to be sold inthe market, I know of several pheasant breeders on Vancouver

11


16/56

PHEASANT FARMINGIsland who i-onld and would have su||ilic(| this dciiiaud. 'I'hc wildgame woiUd Iiave been i)roteeted. the teiii])tati()n to viohite thegame laws removed, and a i)rofitahle and legitimate enterprise havebeen encouraged.

Xo one will bny a wihl game bird sold and bouglit in violationof the law when he can lawfully buy the same bird reared in cap-tivity, and in the case of pheasants T believe the bird so reared issuperior in quality of flesh to the wild bird. This for the reasonthat the wild bird is constantly on the go and his muscles becometoughened, while the bird in ea])tivity is tender and of eq\ially asfine flavor.

Cliinti,v J'hi iLsant Mother

12


17/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Male Reeves J'liedsctnt

l?lr*Kj-A^'

CHAPTEE IIVarieties of Pheasants

HEEE are many varieties of pheasants, butfor practical purposes they may be dividedinto two general classes, (1) those used aseame, and (2) those used exclusively forshow and ornamentation. In the first classthere are three principal varieties: TheChinese {Phasianus torquatus) , common orEnglish Black-neck {Phasianus colchicus)and the English Eing-neck (Phasianus col-

chicus-torquatus). Other varieties closely allied to these are theJapanese (Phasianus versicolor). ^longolian {Phasianus mon-golicus), Eeeves (Phasianus reevesii), Ilagenbeck (Phasianus ha-genbechi), Prince of Wales (Phasianus principalis) and Soem-merring's (Phasianus soemnierringii) ; but the three kinds firstnamed are by far the most ])rominent game varieties. The latternamed ])lK'asants are reared for their beautiful plumage, the Jap-anese and Eeeves being the most common. The Mongolian comesfrom the interior of China and there are very few true ^Mongolianpheasants in America. All of the above named birds are true pheas-ants of which the generic scientific name is Phasianus. The Golden(Chrysolophus pictus), the Amherst (Chrysolophus amherstii) and

13


18/56

PHEASANT FARMINGthe Silver {(jchikicii.'^ in/ctliemcnif^) pheasants are all of a differentgenus, but tliev arc almost identical in nature and recjuire tlic sametreatment in rearing. 'J'hese three are favorite birds of the aviary.

'J'he Chinese or liiiig-iicck plicasaiii ami the t-omnion or Eng-lish Black-neck ])heasant ;iii' each sej)arate and distinct varietiesof pheasants, while the English King-neck is a hybrid of the two.This latter bird, the English Eing-neck is tlie connnon pheasant ofEngland today. It is frequently confounded with the Chinese. TheEnglish Black-neck j)heasant is in general nature and form thesame as the Chinese, differing in this, that the English Black-neckis of a general mahogany red cast and has no ring around the neck,while the Chinese is lighter and brighter in color and has a silkywhite ring or band around the neck. The English Eing-neck retainsthe mahogany red cast, though not so pronounced as the EnglishBlack-neck, and has the white collar of the Chinese, hence the name,English Eing-neck, indicating the combination of these two dif-ferences.

The old English Black-neck was probably introduced into Eng-land before the Norman Conquest, or it may have been native to allthe northern countries from China to England. There is a recordof the birds being served as early as A. D. 1059, but now they haveso interbred with the Chinese that it is difficult to find a purespecimen.

Of all attempts to raise game lii'(ls in cajjtivity, greater successhas been achieved with pheasants than with any other. In Englandpheasants have been raised in ca])tivity from the time of the Xorman

Conquest. With all this private breeding, the pheasantBreedi sr '^^^ never lost his wild nature, but methods of feedingand care have been improved until the breeding ofpheasants in captivity is well understood and certain in results. Atthis time there are practically no pheasantries in America where thebirds are raised for the table, and yet there is no reason why pheas-ants may not be raised profitably as an article of diet. I do notwish to be understood as saying that they can be raised in compe-tition with chickens, but there is a constant demand among theWTalthy ])ersons of all cities for the luxuries, and the breeder of])heasants should cater to this demand. There is nothing that soreconunends itself to the suburban resident who has an acre or twoof ground as pheasant breeding, not only as a source of ]"leasure,but of profit as well.

14


19/56

PHEASANT FARMINGThe Chinese, Uing-neek or Denny pheasant is the game bird

par excellence. Taken all in all, it is a serious question whether ornot he has any superior as an all-around game bird. It is uttevfolly to hunt him without a dog. His ability to conceal himself evenin the scantiest cover, is wonderful. Without a dog, it is not un-common to pass within a few feet of one hidden in the grass, with-out his rising. W'licn running in cover he moves very swiftly withthe body close to the ground, and possesses the ability to pass

through grass, short or tall, without disturbingChinese,^

^-^^^ surface. When overtaken l)y the dog, he willDenny Pheasant ^^ v,'el\, and this fact, combined with the furtherfact that he is always found in the open, makespheasant shooting the cleanest bird shooting in the world.

Possessed of remarkable vitality, he does not succumb to slightgunshot wounds. Being clean-limbed, with powerful thighs, he isexceptionally fleet on foot, and if winged only, the pheasant fallsrunning, and here the dog is put to his severest test. Very fewdogs can track a crippled "Chinaman" their first season, but an ex-perienced setter or pointer learns to recognize the wounded birdand endeavors to be as near him as possible when he touches theground.

Besides his gameness and delicate flesh, he is unquestionablyone of the most ornamental of the game birds. He is a native ofthe northern part of China, being found as far north as the AmourEiver and as far south as Shanghai. The question is often asked itthe Chinese pheasant can stand the heat and cold. A reference tothe map of China will answer the question. The pheasant has suc-ceeded over the larger part of Europe, even as far north as Sweden.On this continent it does well in Canada and Nova Scotia, but no-where has its introduction been attended with such prolific resultsas in the Willamette Valley in the State of Oregon. I do not knowwhich is to be congratulated more, the Willamette Valley for hav-ing the beautiful and garaey pheasants, or the pheasants for havingbeen so fortunate as to find so delightful a valley.

15


20/56

PHEASANT FARMING

L'iiAi'TL:if ill

l'^^^ m^

The Cliiupse Plieasaiit in OregonWAS stated by an oniincnt authority onpheasants that in IS'.),", ihcri' were moreChinese plieasants in Oregon than in thewliole Chinese Empire. Credence is lentthis statement when it is remembered thatit is ivliably estimated that in one yearod.OOO were killed in one county in thisState alone, and the same year 1,200 dozenwere shipjied to the San Francisco market.

There could Ije no Ijetter testimonial of the adajjtability of the Chin-ese pheasant as a bird for restocking a state with game than this laststatement, which comes from no less an authority than Judge Denny,the man who intiniliuc(l the ]i]icasant into Oregon, and after whomthe bird is often call"d. For some time Judge Denny had beenIgnited States Consul General at Shanghai and it was from therethat he sent the birds to Oregon. The rapidity with which the birdsincreased in tliis State is made more marvelous when it is remem-bered that they were not introduced until 1S80 and 1882, and thenless than fifty birds were liberated. They were protected absolutelyfor ten years, and thereafter an open season of six weeks was provid-ed, which was later lengthened to two months, but shortened againin 1909 to thirty days on males only. The i-apidity of their increaseis doubtless due to the large egg production. It is held by those mostfamiliar with the birds that under ordinary conditions the hen willraise two broods, and in favoi-able seasons she will care for threebroods.

16


21/56

)^ PHEASANT FARMING 5>V(bllow little the efforts of Judge Denny to introduce the Chinese

pheasant were appi'eciated. and how California missed the oppor-tunity of licini:' stocked with this grandest of all game birds is toldby ^Ir. Fred jjockle}- in a recent newspaper interview with Mrs.Denny, who is at this time a resident of Portland. Oregon.

"When we returned from China," said Mrs.Denny, "we brought with us ninety more pheasants,embracing several additional varieties, including theGolden, Silver and Copjjer jjheasants, as well as theChefoo quail. These cost us from five to nine dollarsa pair. Judge Denny planned to distribute themthroughout the western part of the State under hisown supervision. Unfortunately, he went to Mexicoon business and turned the birds over to the PortlandRod and Gun Club, believing that they would havethe greatest interest in their care, preservation anddistribution throughout the State. The Rod and GunClub sent them to Protection Island, hiring the ownerof the island to care for the birds and agreeing to payhim $25 a month to see that they were properly fedand protected from pot-hunters. Shortly after this,one of the officials of the Rod and Gun Club em-bezzled the funds of the club, amounting to about$1,500, and this resulted in the disbandment of theclub. The club failed to make any payment to theowner of the island, who, in consequence, claimed thebirds. A few of the birds were sold to individuals, butnone of them were liberated. And so my husband'spublic-spirited, patriotic efforts toward the introduc-tion of these additional varieties of game birds toOregon came to naught.

"Before returning to the United States, my husbandcommunicated with Mr. Redding of San Francisco, ask-ing him if he would like to have a shipment of gamebirds sent to California. Mr. Redding was very en-thusiastic and made all arrangements to take care ofthem on their arrival. He arranged with the SpringValley Water Company of California, who were also insympathy with the movement, and who arranged tohave the birds turned out upon their grounds. Theysowed buckwheat seed in different places and promisedthat every facility for the feeding and comfort of thebirds would be attended to. Between eighty andninety birds were shipped, extreme care being takenso that they would reach San Francisco in good con-dition. The ship arrived at the wharf as the funeralI)rocession of Mr. Redding was taking place. He haddied suddenly and no arrangements had been made toreceive the birds. In fact, no one knew anything about

17


22/56

PHEASANT FARMING

IM

Habits

it. The birds, of course, had to be taken from theboat, and, no one seeming to know anything aboutthem, the sailors finally gave them away along thewaterfront and some of them were sold to the citymarkets. California never knew of my husband'ssplendid gift, and the state received no benefitfrom it."

ProT. W. 'I\ Sliaw, in liL-^ .^u[)cib InnAi, "The Cliiiia. orasaiit ill Orcizoii." says

:

"To know the pheasant well, one must live withhim throughout the year. He is a bird of moods, in-fluenced by shifting conditions and passing seasons,in which there are for him, in reality, but twotheopen and closed. Within a few days after the law saysno more shooting, he becomes bold and fearless, evento the extent of sharing the food of the barnyard fowls

in winter, though always reserved and suspicious. Inthe brush of the lowlands or from the open meadow,

comes his two-syllabled call in the stillness of theevening twilight. From his roost among the grass orsedge tussocks, or the great moss-covered branchesof an oak, he springs away into the gloom with astartled cry. Throughout the longdry summer the young are reared bythe female, until the days of autumncome, the male meanwhile frequent-ly greeting you by the roadside witha glance of curiosity mingled withreserve, standing a moment, erect,in all his brightness of coloration,ducking an instant later to stealsilently away among the grass."

What is said of the Chinese pheasant willapply equally to the English Eing-neck andEnglish pheasant, excepting that the Chinesepheasant is more wild than the other pheasantsnamed, more heautil'ul and gamey, thereforebest adaj)tc'd to restocking depleted game fields.Thousands have been liberated throughout theUnited States during the past five or six years,and in every instance they have become so suc-cessfully acclimatized as to stand the most vig-orous annual onslaughts, retarded only by thepot-hunter who "bags every last thing thatcomes in his way, from English sparrows togame wardens."

18

L)eiiny

MalepheasantII fircedingtreasonWattlesDistended


23/56

PHEASANT FARMINGA corrcspoiKU'iit in a ivceiit s])()itiii,a- magazine says:

"A mistake v\'as made with the first attempts toraise pheasants in captivity in supposing them polyg-amous, but the failure which resulted of groupingseven hens to a cock soon taught a lesson. Even onthe trial of two hens to a cock, the eggs lacked vitality,and of the chicks hatched many died. A breeder inOregon uses but one hen to a cock, and this is said tobe the habit of their wild state."

XotJiing could he iiioi'c misleading than thi.^. ('a))tivity seemsto change the hahits of the hi id entirely. The hen rarely over makesa pretense at laying in a nest, much less set and hatch a hrood ofyoung pheasants. The cock becomes decidedly polygamous. Hewill instantly kill a young bird, if placed in the same enclosure. Thepercentage of fertility of all pheasant eggs is remarkably great. Itis not at all uncommon for every egg to hatch, and the writer has formany years mated from four to six hens with one cock, the latternumber invariably when the yard is sufficiently large.

In ca])tivity, a single Chinese pheasant hen has been known tolay 104 eggs in one season, extending from April 1st to September1st, but sixty eggs is perhaps a fair average. In the wild state, thepheasant seldom roosts in a tree, and then only in one that is open,so it is in confinement. While they may stay in the shedded part oftheir pen in the daytime, just at dusk they select a place with anopen sky above them in which to pass the night, and this, too, re-gardless of the inclemency of the weather. They seem to be indif-ferent to snow and rain and after a night out in the rain, appearnone the worse for the drenching. They coininonly roost on theground with feathers drawn down tight to the body.

The charge is occasionally made in opposition to stocking withChinese pheasants that the pheasant kills off and drives away the

native game birds. 1 have made many inquiriesextending' over a c-onsiderable period of time, of menNative Game , \ i ^ x- ^i j \ j; i.^. , who would be m a ])osition to know, and the tactsas 1 find them dispiove this charge, except to a

very limited extent.

Effect on

I recently received a letter from a lawyer friend who has madea study of Chinese pheasants and who. 1 feel, has the situation sizedup correctly. Jn speaking of the indictment against the pheasantas being responsible for the death of the quail, the native pheasant

19


24/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Uujfcd Grouse Strutting and Showing Raff of Ulosaii Black Feathersand Fan-Shaped Tail

and grouse, he says that in his ()|)ini(ni the Chinese pheasant isheiiiii" made the scapegoat and that tlie real euli)rit is civilization.In his letter he says:

"In the Willamette Valley quail and grouse wereplentiful before the arrival of the Chinese i)heasant,and I enjoyed in full measure the i)leasure of huntingthem then and after the advent of the Chinese pheas-ant, so that I feel I may testify from personal expe-rience. It is true that in later years these native birdshave become very scarce, and the foreigner plentiful.Deep down in my heart there has always been a tenderspot for the native game birds. The sport of huntingthese birds, though now rarely enjoyed, is the keenestI ever had. I am not so sure, after all, but that muchof this pleasure is due to the boyhood memory it re-calls, and yet some of the grandest hunting I have everhad was the Chinese pheasant.

"I have heard before the suggestion that the Chi-nese pheasant had driven out the native i)heasant,grouse and the quail, but I have never taken any stockin this indictment. As every hunter knows, the threenative birds are modest and retiring. The Chinese

20


25/56

PHEASANT FARMINGpheasant is bold and audacious. The former spendtheir time in the deepest thickets, only venturing forthin search of food; the latter chooses the open fieldsand pastures; the native birds depend for escai)e onflight and hiding in deepest vk'oods; the Chinese pheas-ant is strong of wing and expert in hiding in thescantiest cover, his chief reliance for escai)e being hislong, swift legs. A first shot at one of the native birds

Ruffed Grouse or "Native Pheasant," generally found in damp thickets in mid-day or at the edge of a field iji the early morning or late afternoon.and he is helpless, but you are never really sure of theChinese pheasant until you have broken both legs andboth wings. These qualities of the native birds havemade them an easy prey to the dog and the modernshotgun. This, combined with their timidity, to mymind, solves the mystery and accounts for their grad-ual disappearance. I do not deny that possibly a fewnative birds have been killed by the Chinese pheasants,but I most seriously question if this has been a con-trolling factor. 1 have never heard of any actualcases.

"I am satisfied that even had the Chinese pheasantnever been introduced, the native grouse and quailwould have been just as scarce in the Willamette Val-

21


26/56

PHEASANT FARMINGley as they are today. In fact, I am very positive theywould have been more scarce because the hunterwould have confined his attention to them and theirextermination, for they cannot withstand the traineddog and pump and automatic gun, as the Chinesepheasant can. No one more sincerely deplores thepassing of the native game birds than 1, but I regard itas a most fortunate thing that the Chinese pheasantshould come to take their place. Without him, therewould not have been any game birds worth mention-ing. No one has ever followed a setter or a i)ointerafter Chinese pheasants without being enthusiastic intheir favor. Though I feel uni)atrlotic in saying it,yet for clean, unadulterated sport, the Chinese pheas-ant has everything in his favor. Then the fact that thepheasant produces two and sometimes three broods ayear, is the strongest argument for their desirabilityas a permanent game bird over the native birds withtheir one brood. An unfavorable season may ma-terially reduce the broods of the native birds, but thepheasant has two or three chances in the season."A few years ago, as a source of pleasure, I raised afew pheasants, and, encouraged by the success of thefirst season, the next year reared one hundred pairs.I have studied the birds both in the field and in cap-tivity. As to their hardiness, there is no question.People seem to have the idea, because of their gor-geous color, that they are tropical birds, but it shouldbe remembered that they are natives of a cold part ofChina, and the fact that they are ready to eat prac-tically anything, assists them in securing sustenanceat all times."

Ruffed Gi-ouse Drummiuff on Log

22


27/56

PHEASANT FARMING

General Vhir nf rindstmi )'


28/56

PHEASANT FARMINGfor a )i(iiii(iii lu'iiiL; slicildcd. 'This a|i|)lii's oiil}' to localities wherethere is considfiaMc lainfall. in diici- sections of the country,this shed niiirlii l)c sii|i|ilaiilc(| liy ;i small cvcr.iz'i'ocn tree oi- two inthe pen.

Tlie larger the pens in which your pheasants are kept the better.They are polygamous, and foui' lu'us aiul a cock may be kept in apen sixteen feet square. 'This is a veiT convenient size, hut in anyevent the birds should each have at least fifty stjuare feet of ground.It is of advantage to have the pens so arranged that the i)heasantsmay be changed from one pen to the otlici- occasionally. This per-mits the ground to freshen and it is a good plan to spade up theground frequently. A very satisfactory permanent pen for a trio(two hens and a cock) would he sixteen feet by thirty-two feet,divided lengthwise with a partition and shedded for eight feet alongone end, the slicddcd end being ai-rauged to ward off as much of thestorm as possible. Convenient entrances may be arranged and pro-vision should be made that the birds may pass from one pen to an-other at the keeper's pleasure. For the beginner with a few birds,I should recommend this pen, and (be changing fi-om one division tothe other every month or so.

Where it is desirable to raise full-winged birds under coveredpens, twine netting, similar to fish netting, possesses advantages

over wire netting for overhead covering. Aside fromi/*!*!"'!'." 1 bein^- imu-h cheaper, the twine netting requires fewerFiill-\> inj>e(l ' ' '^ .j}j,,(jg ])osts and braces and can be put up m much less

time and taken down and stored away when not inuse. Wire covered pens, especially if the wire be of one inch mesh,in a locality subject to snow storms, is always a source of annoy-

ance and fiHMjuently much damage maybe done. Its advantage is its durability.But perhaps the greatest advantage inusing twine netting will be found inthe fact that birds cannot injure them-selves by flying against tlie netting, asis fi'tMiuentlv the case with wii'e covered

ir you cover your ])ens with wirenetting, stretch it loosely. It nujy notlook so well, but it will save the birds.

Tt is much easier to raise ])inionedbirds for mai'ket ])urposes than to raise

24J\f'rrrs J'lird.sdHt Cliicl;


29/56

PHEASANT FARMINGI'll I l-wi lilted birds for stocking- the fields. The pinioning is clonewhen tlie ])lieasant chick is about three clays old b}^ clipping thelast joint of one wing with shar]) scissors. At this age there ispractically no blood in the tip of the wing and it heals over imme-diately, 'ibis prevents the pheasant from ever flying and it canalways be kt'pt in an ojjcn pen where a fence is six or seven feet high.

J'drtitions in Brrrdino Pens S(t Aside sn as to I'luw (nul Cnltiratr th< Yards

BreedinYards

The breeding yai'ds with I'eniovable partitions, for pinionedbirds, are a great improvement over the old-style stationary pens.

These yards aix- twenty-four feet square, have no(o\ei'ing and aecoinniodate six hens and one cockduiing tbe laying season, immediately after which

the birds are turiu'd out into a large open field adjoin-ing. At this season the cocks will not fight, and but littletime is consumed each day in caring for several hundre


30/56

PHEASANT FARMINGJ liavc li'icd l;irp' Ki'ciMliiii;- viirds lull with vri'v jjoor success.

The iiK'thod is (luitc ((iiiiiiKHi in En


31/56

PHEASANT FARMINGgrouiul. in wliiili aii-aii.i;e a small (juantity of soft straw or grasshay, as you would for c-liiekens. Food, fresh water and a place fordusting are first provided in each yard, tlien, at a regular hour eachnioi'ning. beginning at yard miinln'r one, all hens in that yard arelet out 10 I'at, drink, lake a dust bath, by siin])ly dropping thehinged door in fi-ont of each nest. Regularity is very essential,since the hens soon learn just when to expect their liberty and if notlet out on tinu^ will often become so restless as to foul their nestsor break an vgii or two. While the hens are eating the yards shouldbe inspected carefully and a note made of any nest found in badorder or containing a broken or dirty e^^g. After the. hens have allreturned to tlieir nests and ihe doors in front fastened securely, aclean rag and a bucket of lukewarm water is used in cleaning theeggs in any nest a note of which has been made. When ])ossible,all the hens in one yard are set at the same time. Wien each yardhas hatched, the unhatched eggs are buried, the egg shells andstraw taken out and burned, and new nests made before settingagain. During excessively hot weather, the ground around the nestsshould be thoroughly sprinkled with water to provide the nec(>.ssarvamount of moisture for the eggs.A record of each nest and its contents should be kept in a bookspecially ruled for the puri)ose. The author uses the form shown

in cut. 'J'his record shows the date the eggs were set.NestRecords ^'^'^^^^^ they are due to hatch, the number of the yard andnest in which they were set. number of eggs and va-riety, and the number of young birds hatched. In the columnsmarked "Dusted" are the dates upon which every hen must bedusted with insect ])owder. Tliis operation takes place Just before

SETTING HENNEST RECORDDate


32/56

PHEASANT FARMINGthe hen is set upon tlie pheasant eggs, and every six days tliere-aftei-. Do not (hist tlic hen diii'ing tlie three days before the eggsare (hie to lialdi. A -Liinr ;ii this record shows the date of thenext hatch, ihc cxaci luimhci' of eggs set, birds hatched, of wliatvariety, iiuiiihci- of v^fi^^is still imhatehed. and just where to find llienests; also liow many and wliat hens must he dusted with insectpowder tliat day. As the hens ai-c ihisti'd. a check mark is (h-awnllvrougli tlie date.

A\'hile cleaidiness is essential to liealthy pheasants, vigihmcemust be exorcised to prevent lice, rrevention is far l)Ctter thancure, and tliis is the object of ihe dusting process. Tlie powderused is common pyrethi'um. i)uy it at a reliable drug store andinsist on having the pure stuff, and he sure that it is frosh.

A drinking fountain, as shown in illustration, should he pro-vided for all young birds, and in wai'm weather the water slujuldbe changed daily and the fountain washed clean. Xeglect of thismeans disease.

Water Can

28


33/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Mot'her With Young Pheasants

OHAPTEE VTlie Ideal Motlier for ]^lieasaiits

PHtHAPS no l)etter hen can be foundfor rearing pheasants than theCochin bantam. However, Japanesesilkies are very much in favor forthis purpose among ])licasant breed-ers in Enghmd. Silkies are in aclass by themselves, possessing pecu-liarities found in no other variety ofchickens, such as black skin, purple

combs and webless feathers of a silky texture, rendering them unableto fly. They are purt' white in plumage, most excellent layers andeasily confined. While the pure silky makes a good mother foryoung pheasants, when crossed with Cochin bantam, the result isvery unsatisfactory. Such crosses are wild and nervous, of indis-criminate color, and showing tendencies of reverting back to theirevident ancestor, the jungle fowl.

For the purpose of pei-fecting an ideal hen for hatching pheas-ants, buff and white Cochin bantams were first crossed, producinga slightly larger chicken, about evenly divided in color between buff,white and black, with striped hackles. The largest of these femaleswere selected and mated with a short, chunky Rhode Island redmale, producing a hen considerably larger than the Cochin bantam,one that could cover more eggs but retain the excellent broodyqualities of the bantam. By further selection, the objectionable

29


34/56

PHEASANT FARMINGfeatiii'i'. in ;i wet cliiiuitc at least, (if lica\ily fcatlici-iMl Ic^xs. waseliiniiiati'd. and the si/A' and nest."

Ihns on Pheasant Ef/os

Ineuhatoi's ai'e found most \alualile when used in connectionwith setting hens. When a numher of large hens are set at onetime, all of the pheasant eggs may 1)(^ removed when just beginning._^.. . , to pip and i)laced in an iiu-uhator that has iire\i-Artificial 11Incubatiii"' "usly been heated to about lO;} degrees. The liensfrom which the eggs have been removed may bere-set immediately. 'I'be smaller and moi'e motherly hens shouldbe left on their nests and not disturbed. The removal of all ofthe eggs but one or two from a hen is a mistake, since,

30


35/56

PHEASANT FARMINGin tlie absence of the usual nunil)ei' ol' eggs in the nest,the hen is most likely to set so heavily on the remaining oneor two as to mash them at hatching time. After these hens havebeen removed to the brood coop with their individual hatch andgiven food and watei'. and allowed ample time in which to hovertheir chicks, other young pheasants nuiy be added from the in-cubator, providing they are of the same age and variety as those tliatshe has hatched. A hen will invariably kill instantly any youngpheasant given her of a variety other than that which she hashatched. For instance, a hen that has hatched silver ])heasants willnot claim goldens, or Chinese, and vice versa. A hen can properlyhover and care for more young pheasants than she can hatch outwithout entailing considerable loss before they leave the nest, hencethe use of the incubator.

Pheasant eggs will, beyond a doul)t. liatch as well in an incu-bator as will chicken eggs, but I will have to admit that so far Ihave been unable to successfully brood young j^heasants artificially,though the incubator has ])r()ven a great helj) when used as de-scribed above.

For some time I experienced difficulty in getting the hen tohover the pheasants when they were first taken from the nest ; thepheasants, being foster children of the hen, do imi uiulerstand hercall or her manner. They do not seem to understand that she willhover them. They do not recognize that she is "home and mother."The hen is perfectly willing to receive the pheasants, but her call tothem is not the natural call of the pheasant, hence it means nothingto them. Some plan must be devised to bring the pheasants underthe hen. Eecently I have adopted this plan with good success: Abasket is prepared with a Iir>t wat"r bag filled with tepid water and

placed in the bottomof the basket, overM'hich is placed a cloth.When the pheasantsare first taken offfrom the nest, theyare placed in thisbasket and a cloththrown over the top.Enough air mil passthrough the sides of

i:rood Coop for Younff Pheasants the basket SO they will31


36/56

/' // /; .1 .S .1 A' r F A R M I .V Gnot siiidtlici'. Tlic liinod cool) is llicii |)i'c|t;ii'c(l ])\ coveringllu' Itoitiiiii with s:)ii(l. I''(io(l ;ni(l watt'i' arc placed in theco()|) and then the hen is h'ft in the hi-o(d co()|) for a!out twentyminutes. iMiriiii;- this twenty minutes the lieii has luul an op|)or-tunity to feecl and p't ac(|naint('d witli lier new (|uai'ters and isI'eady to setth' down and ix'ceive the youni;- pheasants. The plieas-ants are then placi-d in tlie coop with iiei-. and. havin*; notliinfj elseto attract her attention, tlie lien will see to it that the plieasants are]io\('i-e(l. It is advisahU' to take the hen off in the forenoon so thatyou may \i\\v the chicks more oi' less attention to see that they arepro])erly hovered. If the day is wai'ni. the plan of using the hotwater bag need not he followed, and if the day is cloudy or cold,of coui-se one will necessarily have to give the ])heasants moreattention tiian on a bright, warm ilay.

The number of young pheasants that may safely be given to onehen varies from about twelve to sixteen, according to the weather

and the size of the ln-n. A common mistake is to set^ " ,^ , too many eggs under one hen. or to give one hen toothe Brood -' ^*^ *=many young pheasants. Late one summer I gave alai-ge i'lymouth Ifock hen twenty-five little pheasants, of which sheraised to mntui-ity twenty-four, 'idiis. however, was an exceptionalcase.

Pheasants will hatch about the twenty-third day anil theirnatural disposition is to leave the nest immediately, hence the addedadvantage of having the hens locked \\\^. Wlien the young pheasantsare about twenty-four hours old, remove, with the mother hen. to acoop, where they should be kept until three days old. The trap doorat the bottom may then be raised, giving the little birds their free-dom, but resti'aining the hen. Before libeiating the young l)i-oodof pheasants, have the grass cut short, allowing it to grow u]) withthe young bii-ds. I'ldess the yard is covered overhead with wirenetting, the young birds should be pinioned to ju-event tbi'ir flyingover tlie fence and straying away.

The young plieasants all have the same plumage until abouttwo months oldtliat of a grayish bi-own. When a month old itwill \)v noted that the feathers on the back of the neck near thebody on some of the young birds will show slightly lighter in colorwith a salmon colored cast. These are the bens, the correspondingfeathers on the cocks remaining darker and near the color of theremainder of the jilumage. When two months old, splotches of

32


37/56

PHEASANT FARMINGchestnut red will hcuiii to ;ippear on the breasts of the cocks. Thehens undergo small changes in plumage, and while of a general fawn_, color, some of the tints sliown on their necks are very

lic;iu(irul ;uid possessed of remarkable protective col-oration. The cocks continue to change color rapidly until at fivemonths they will l)e in lull plumage. Their wealtli of color, sur-passing the rainbow in variety, gorgeou? but delicately blended,beggars descrijMion. The artist's brush lias never reproduced it,much less can the pen portray the idea of its beauty. Graceful inform, with his si)lendid robes, the cock Chinese pheasant is one ofthe most beautiful birds in existence. It has trutli fully been saidthat the Chinese pheasant cock does not possess a homely feather.The eye never tires of admiring his plumage. TTo is a source ofcontinuous deliffht to the breeder.

33


38/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Voitiit/ Chinese or Ring-Neck I'he(is


39/56

PHEASANT FARMINGof the fly prefer fresh to decaying meat. Professor McGillivray,of Queen's University, Toronto, wlio lias successfully raisedEnglish King-7icck pheasants, says:

"Our investigation and study of entomology prove tous that maggots, separated from their usual surround-ings, are just as clean and odorless as young chickens.Flies do not lay their eggs on tainted meat when freshmeat can be found, and maggots are clean feedersfrom choice and thrive best on fresh meat."

If the following method is employed, there will be little or noodor. Secure a quantity of green bone and meat trimmings coarselyground together. Take a tin pan with straight sides at least three

inches deep and cover bottom with shorts, bran or fineBreeding ^|-j.^_^ preferably bran, as the shorts have a tendency toLarvae pack. On this place the bone and meat mixture and

leave where the flies may have access to it. Inwarm weather the fly eggs will hatch in about two days' time andthe bone mixture will be partially dried up. The larvae are adverseto strong light and will be found to have gone to the bran. Theymust now have something to feed upon. Eemove the bone mixtureand place thin slices of fresh liver on the bran. Turn the bone mix-ture back on top of the slices of liver. In a few hours the larvaewill all leave the bone mixture and be under and feeding upon theliver. After this the bone mixture should be thrown away.

In a day's time the liver will be eaten to shreds and must be re-placed with a fresh supply of thinly sliced liver of fresh meat, andso on each day until the larvae are practically full grown. This willtake nearly a week's time and they may then be fed to the youngpheasants. The larvae must be fed on liver or meat as long as theyare on hand. As soon as they are matured they will descend intothe bran or dirt and change into the pupa state. In feeding theliver or meat, feed only enough to be consumed in twenty-fourhours' time. "The assimilating power of the larvae is so greatthat it can change every particle of meat or liver (except fibre) tolarvae, consequently there can be no smell." The object in cuttingthe liver or meat thin is that it may all be consumed before havingtime to become tainted. Keep an extra supply of liver in a coolplace, and a little charcoal, such as is used to feed chickens,sprinkled over and under it will tend to keep it fresh.

In order to keep a supply of larvae, it will be necessary to putout new pans of bone every few days, depending on quantity, the

35


40/56

PHEASANT FARMINGmimljer of iilicnsaiils you have and the state of the weathtM'. Thewai'iner the weathei- the more rapid the develo|)iHent ol' the hirvac.If you eonteiii|)hite usinij: hirvae. you sliould start with the bonemixture a week piior to the date of first hatehiug.

Tlie advanta>ie of this food is that you need not hesitate to feedyounii- hirds all they will eat. They are wild for it and will fre-

quently cidwd their crops and throats to overflowing. t \antage ^^.j^^j^ ^^^^ apparent had results. Thev thrive better onoi Larvae i ,. t i ,i i ,^\i ^ ^as a Food ^'"^ ^*'"^^ inun on anything else. Other methods may

be employed to produce the larvae, but it should beremembered that but fifteen days' time elapses from the laying oftlie fly egg until it has successfully become larvae, entered the pupastate and turned into a fly again. The larvae are clean feeders andthey must have a medium (shorts, bran or r-lean fine dirt pref-erably) in whicli to bury tliemselves. A\'licii about ten days' oldthey pass into the jnipa state, in which foi'm they may be kept ifstored at a low temperature. (40 degrees F.) The low tempera-ture stops the development.

livery one is familiar with the history of the butterfly: how aworm apparently dries up in the fall of the year and in springtimebreaks open to release a beautiful butterfly. This dried worm isthe pupa, and just as the butterfly's egg develops a worm and laterproduces a perfect insect, so the larvae of the common fly. whengrown, dries up and later produces a fly again, only tlie change tothe fly is accomplished in a few days instead of months.

Should the pan of shorts, bran or dirt become heated, it meansthat the larvae are too crowded and will leave, if possible. A partshould be removed to another ])an or given a larger proportion ofshorts, bran or dirt.

With the facts above, your own ingenuity and some experiencewill suggest convenient methods for producing larvae, Init rememberthat the pheasant is ])rimarily an insect eating bird, and the larvae isa natural food. As stated, custards, eggs, etc., may be used suc-cessfully, but they are substitutes. ^Mien the bii-ds are two weeksold, chopped meat may be gradually substituted foi' the larvae until.when a month old. the lai-vae may be discontinued altogether. Agood way to ju'cpar^' the meat is to chop it fine with a sharp choppci-ami then iiii\ shorts witli it. i-olling it between the hands until itcrumbles. After the birds are a month old, they may be fedcracked wheat (soft wheat is best) with a little charcoal or grit al-

36


41/56

o)ab Gfo^ternating with the meat diet. The meat may be discontinued aftertwo months, except that it is not a bad pUiii to give them a little ofit once or twdce a week for another month. From this time on,they may be fed the same as chickens, except tliat their nature de-mands more insects, and if these are not supplied naturally, theywill do better if given a feed of the chopped meat and shorts everyweek or ten days until they are grown.

For the purpose of furnishing a cheap supply of fresh meat tobe fed to the young birds direct, and for material for the propaga-tion of fly larvae, New Zealand hares may be used. They are some-what larger than the common Belgian hare, not so quarrelsomewhen many are yarded together, and are easier to breed to a uni-form color. They are very prolific and can be propagated duringthe fall and winter months, at which time good use may be made ofthe same brood coops in which pheasants were reared during thesummer.

Several pounds of fresh meat may be obtained from one animal,run through a small meat grinder and fed direct to the youngpheasants, taking the place of other chopped meat. The remainderof the carcass, excepting the skin, w^hich has a commercial value, isconsigned to the "bug house" for the flies to work upon. By propa-gating hares for this purpose, one not only has a supply of freshmeat when he w^ants it, and in just the quantity desired, but he issure of its being fresh.

Nothing is more fatal to young pheasants than putrid meat andmeat that has been treated with a preservative, such as sodium

sul-phite. These preservatives appear under various trade names on

the market. These trade names also cause the purchaser^^^^^ to think that he is getting something different than heMeat ^^^^ before. Some of the samples are colored with a coal

tar dye. These preservatives are often used in makinghamburg steak. This can be readily detected by noticing the colorof the meat as the butcher breaks it from the pile on the counter.Meat preserved with it shows a bright red color, but the portion notin contact with the air is much darker as a rule. After it has beenin contact with the air for a few minutes, it will also assume thesame bright color. Sodium sulphite is sold under such names as"Freezum," "Preservaline" and "Freezine," also sometimes as an"Anti Ferment."

37


42/56

^Ag PHEASANT FARMING g^Green grass is essenti;il in I'very breeding pen. The birds re-

quire a certain amount to keep tliem in good laying condition. Theegg-eating liabit is not so apt to be contracted as where the pens areabsolutely bare. In the absence of grass, green stuff may best beprovided by spading up, sod and all, suitable turf from the outsideand giving the birds a fresh shovelful every day. They will takedelight in picking it apart. Lawn clippings are not very good asthey soon wilt and will scarcely be touched.

Until the pheasants are six weeks old, they should be fed threetimes a day, then twice a day until grown, and after tliat once a day.

JIalJ-f'i'own ISilver Pheasant

38


43/56

PHEASANT FARMING

Coops at State Game Farm

CHAPTER VIIEnemies of the Game Breeder

H K enumics of the chicken yard are likewisethe enemies of the pheasantn'. A shotgunis a vahiable implement in pheasant farm-inu". but keep it where you can get it(|uickly.Wage continuous war on rats. Of all

tlie predatory animals the game breederlias to contend with, he will find the ratthe hardest to combat, for, like the poor,

we liave them with us always. Eats are more apt to be foundaround a pheasant yard than a chicken yard. It is easy toregulate the amount of food given common poultry, conse-quently noni' need he left on the ground to attract rats. Somepheasants, however, are so shy they will not eat until the attendanthas scattered the f*md and tr^ne awav. Therefore, it is necossarv for

Rat Eating Young Pheasant39


44/56

PHEASANT FARMINGthe pheasant breeder to I'i^^ht rats coiiiiiniiilly and hy every methodpossible, and even tlien he will have some rals. 1 liave tried steeltraps, wire cage traps, j)oison, carbon bisulphide, gopher extermin-ators and various other remedies, but find notliing so effective as agood "varmint" dog. It is useless to put out poison as long as therats have access to other food. Gopher exterminators or explosivecartridges placed in rat holes and ignited fill the passage withsmoke and gas. By using these we have killed some rats, but thismethod is uncertain, likewise the carbon bisulphide.

Cats are an abomination. Government statistics tell us that nottwo per cent of the eats are ratters, and no cat ever lived that wouldnot kill a young pheasant, if given an o])i)(it unity. One-inch meshwire netting sunk two feet into the ground around a pen will keepout rats for two or three seasons, or until the wire begins to corrode.The sides and top of pen must also be of one-inch mesh wire, other-wise the rats will get in over the top.

If all buildings are up from the grouiul high enough to permita dog to have full access, and you have the right kind of a dog, hewill tak(^ can^ of tlu' rats as fast as thcv couu'. WIumu'vim- a rat hole

Airedale, the Pheasant Breeder's Dog40


45/56

PHEASANT FARMINGis found in any part of tiic yards, no time should be lost in diggingit out. With the lielp of a good dog, a rat will rarely ever get away.

In niv many years of experience in raising pheasants, compara-tively few hiids have been lost through rats. 1 attribute this mainlyto the presence of one or more Airedale dogs. These dogs take tothe hunting and killing of i-ats naturally and willingly, without

guidance or training. With persistence and un-The Pheasant i ^ i i. ,- \ i. i 4-1 ^ , Tk ( auntcM courage, vet quiet and even-tempered, tlieBreeder's Dog, ; 1 7 1 i rAircchih' is the pheasant breeders dog. He com-

bines, more than any other breed, everything tliat is useful for the])lieasant farm. R. ^I. l^ilmer, in his book '"All About Airedales,"says

:

"Airedales were seemingly created to fill a welldefined want and need for just such a dog as theyare."

Pheasants soon l)ecome accustomed to one dog around theiryards, but become greatly alarmed upon the approach of a strangeone. At the present time I have a pair of Airedales that have thefull run of the farm. With many visitors during the day time theyare always quiet and agi'ceable. yet at niglit ihey never permit astranger to enter the place.

Of the various members of the hawk family that i)rey upon gamebirds, perhaps the western red-tailed hawk, because of his abund-ance, is the most difficult to control, notwithstanding the nice

things said of him by our leading ornithologists. TheCooper hawk is another offender. When it comes to(lest roving both game and other birds' nests, the eom-leads the list. The Department of Agriculture has

classed the crow as a desirablecitizen. Since the crow liim-self is a great destroyer of birdlife, by his persistent huntingfor and destruction of nests,it is hard for those actuallyfamilial- with the subject toj)lace him in the beneficialcolumn. The examination ofany number of crow stomachs(hiring the year does not provethe crow beneficial to thefarmer, the poultry raiser or

41

PredatoryBirdsmon crow

Crotv Eat ina Pheasant Egg


46/56

PHEASANT FARMINGthe experienced sportsman. The birds killed may liavo liad very dif-ferent meals on consecutivx' days. It is such reports as this thatcause the general publicat least that portion that resides in thecountryto lose faith in ornithological lore in general. Certain itis tliat just as sure as a ci-ow finds a breeding pen of jihoasants inan open yard, lie will gel almost every egg it' you (lou't get him.You can usually fool the pheasant hen with a cast iron e^^^^ paintedas nearly the color of the real v^^g as possible, but you can't fool Mr.Crow. To get within gunshot of a crow is not an easy task, but hew'ill partake of a pheasant (}^^}i; that has been carefully dosed withstrychnine. AMien one crow has been poisoned, the balance of theflock will fly high over youi' |>i'emises for some time.

J'roivling CatThe Enemy of Game Birds42


47/56

PHEASANT FARMING(Idiiicsticated cat is the greatest destroyer of

Kill theStray Cat

The prowling, semigame birds among our I'our-i'ooted animals. In this, perhaps the

greatest Chinese pheasant country in the UnitedStates, the marauding cat kills more pheasants thanall llic illegal hnnters. He is afield three hnndi-od

and sixty-five days iu the year. Having been raised in domestica-tion, perhaps on your own premises, he knows your habits and takesadvantage of you only under cover of darkness. He takes not onlyyoung birds duiiug the breeding 'season- but full-grown Cliiuesepheasant hens as well. Only in one instance have I known a cat toattack a full-grown ])heasant cock. Aside from the loss of a liandfulof feathers, the cock was unharmed. The next night this same catcaught a full-grown Chinese pheasant hen am! carried her over asix-foot wire netting fence before a load of number four shot stoppedher. Occasionally a cat will take strychnine when placed on freshmeat, but in doing so may carry the poison where it nuiy do greatharm. We have caught several exceedingly wild aiul vicious tomcatsby baiting with a i)iece of fresh meat a trap similar in constructionto an early day grizzly bear trap, but of course on a much smallerscale. The trap is made of a coal-oil case, one end of which is atrap door which di'ops behind the cat after it has gone in andsprung the trigger, arranged on top, by ]ndling the bait fi-om theend of a nail in the rear end of the trap. I have found no bettcM-means of ridding my premises of cats than the presence of one ormore g-ood Airedale doos, with wdiich a cat has no chance whatever.

Airedales at State Game Farm After Hats43


48/56

PHEASANT FARMINGTlic first cdilioii of 'IMicasaiit l'"aniiiiig'' was criticised hv a

lady in Kentucky as follows: "Tlic subjects treated are admirablyliamllcd and Icaxc no doubt in the mind of tlie^ot Suh.UM't , ^ , , ,

.

,1 ,.to Disi'ase nniateur how to proceed, but you mention nothino; or

the ailments of pheasants and necessary treatment."'Indcr natui-al conditions pheasants are not subject to disease. Weknow tliey have no diseases in tiieir wild state. Ninety per cent ofthe so-called diseases of common poidtry is the result of unsanitary(piartei's. im|u-opci- feediiii^- and lice both on younir and old birds.

Bear in mind that stale and decaying food and unclean di-inkingwater in unclean drinking fountains are just the causes that breeddisease germs. Pens in which birds have been kept for long periodsof tinu^ also invite disease germs. Vou cannot successfully keepfull gidwn biids in a small ])en for a yeai- at a time. Even thoughthey do not suci'umb to disease, they will not l>e in vigorous con-dition and the best i-esults will not follow. This applies with greaterforce to young birds: and in the matter of feeding greater care isnecessary, if you feed custard and similar foods. All such food notconsumed should be I'emoved fi'om the pens each day. Whethei-you have many or \\'\\ bii-ds. arrange youi" ])ens so that the birds uuiyhave fresh ground to run on occasionallv. The pen sixteen bythirty-two feet, with ])artition lengthwise through the center, assuggested in tlu' preceding pages, will accomplish this end. Keepth(^ ]iens. coops, and evei-ything else connected with the pheasants.(/('(III. Then, if you use care to keep the food and di'inking waterclean, you will ha\'e no li'ouble with disease or lice.

All l)irds in their natural stale fre(|uently indulge in a dust bath.Lice and dust cannot exist togethei'. The phyrethrum powder sug-gested is pai-ticularly disastrous to lice. Common road dust worksin much the same way. though ])erhaps less effectively: but theuse of pyrethi'um is impi'actical except in the case of the settinghens. It is an excellent plan from time to time to place a quan-tity of road dust in a dry portion of the piMi. The pheasants willa\ail themselves of its use. Even the vei'y snuill birds delight towallow in this dust, it will be a good plan if. in the fall of theyeai', you will stoi-e away in a di'v place a few bai'rels of dust to usethe next spring befoi'e dust is obtainable from tiie roads.

44


49/56

PHEASANT FARMING

-*fcl^s'. -.."JSJf.

^V*^^5*,.

^WW,i liners

X TiLE foi'oii-oiii.u- pa.uvs I Icivo tn'att'


50/56

PHEASANT FARMINGchase you I' hii-ds in the I'iill (if llic ynw in onlci' thai llir\ may be-come iic|iiiiiiil('il wiih liicir i|iiaMci'> ami !'


51/56

PHEASANT FARMINGhe does it will not liuil liiiii. 'I'lie sides of tlie sliallow pic tin beingperpendieular, the larvae will he unable to erawl out of tlie panunless there is too ]imch dirt.

Aftei' the ])heasants are a month old, feed the chopped meatrolled with shorts, as I have described, and gi-adually change to awheat diet. \tmv plieasants, like chickens, will enjoy a change ofdiet. A stalk of lettuce bung in tlie pen so that they can reach itwill be relislied. A tuft of grass sod will be a pleasing variety. Afew fish worms oi' grasshoppers thrown into the pen will be eagerlydevoured. Pheasants, like chickens, require grit. It is also a goodplan to give tliem a little charcoal occasionally, in short, the grownpheasant may be fed the same as a chicken, but, being insectivorous,meat, insects and worms given occasionally arc desii'able additionsto his menu.

After the first year's experience, }'ou will be encouraged tobranch out and rear pheasants on a larger scale; and if you haveany love for birds, and particularly if there is any blood of thesportsman in your veins, you will surely enjoy raising pheasants.It is a most interesting occupation and the little time you will giveto it will amply repay you in the pleasure you receive.

JI


52/56

NOTES

48


53/56

NOTES

49


54/56

NOTES

50


55/56


56/56

3 9088 00083 4663

Pheasant Farming

Documents