** When we have in America 100,000 game keepers, game
will be far more plentiful and the game laws far better
observed.” — Edward Howe Forbush.
STTTUTUULNMMIAATLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLCCLLUALECLLULLLLLLELLLLLOLLCLLOOAEULLLLCLLLELLLLLUCLCOCOGEOOLPLULLLUULLLLLOLUOLUGOTOOLEPLLLPLULLLUULUUCUUOOOOTOULLIPLULCLOOULOOOUOMA UA LLUAPLULUOGGLOMAOAULLLLULLLLLUGLOGOO A LULLLELLLLLLLLLUCLOCeos cc i
Ringneck cock pheasants photo-
graphed on New York State
Game Farm at Sherburne.
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ELUTVHTUVUUUHHATLULUOUUUHHALUULUUHALUUOHIULIUUUUOHAULLUUUGHAULULUUILULOOOCOTLLULUUCALLLUCUHAULLOCOOALLULULCOAELLCOCEELLULOCGELLORLOOAILLPLOOUEHUUOCOAULLLUOSIOLLULLOOHOLUOLOTULUGLETULLUCLOOAOLLLLGCOAPLULOOAUUUCUOOHA LUO ULUUUE LULL
American Pheasant
Breeding and
Shooting
cue eg
FE! A. QUARLES
Director, Department of Game Breeding and Preserving,
American Game Protective Association
A MUUVEHUUUUGTLUEOHHUUOAALUOGTHTUGHHIVOGHHTVOOATRGOHUOGATULOGHATOCOOTTHOGATIOOOTILOOATOOOOODIOOOAIIOOOADIUOAIILUOAAOOGAOLOONLOLLOOIILEOAULUOHILLUGEAULLOGELLLUCEALUUGAICDCUHOLLOCEILLCCAOLLLCGALCCEILDCOOHECOeeOD CECH
With 50 Halftone Hlustrations
Hercules Powder Company
Wilmington, Del.
1916
PUTCO TRCTCCEOTTTTTOOTTTTTOTCTOTUOTUTOOVOTVEOUOUOOOUOOUOOOOOOUNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONOOTOOIOOOOOOOOVOOOTOOTTOOONOOOOOIOTOOOTIOOOOOOOOOONOOTOOTTOTOOTOOTOOONTOTCOUIOONNIINIINIINMNNNM mmm IT
DTT TTT TTT OSHA eA Oe eG UAH UH CAT OT CGTOHTOOTCATOOTUOAUEGT COT OGIOTOOAT OO OOTOGTOGT OT
SRUEUTUIIUULLSULLLLALLLLLAALOLLLGOLLLACeLLCLCA LLL UOLULOUUCULNOOOLUVONOUCNOOUOUUIOOUUUUIUOULUNOONOUUNTOCUUUOOOUUTNOOUUMNUOUUUTNTONUOLOOOUUUOOUOOOUUUUITOOTUUTNOUOUUITUUUUOTUUUUUTOUUUUUNTUUUUNUUUUUOU UOC L Uo
AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC CO., N. Y.
To
FREDERIC C. WALCOTT
A sincere friend of wild life and an ardent worker for its conservation;
but for whose support and encouragement this book would not have
been written,
This Volume is Dedicated with Appreciation.
Copyright, 1916, by I. A. QuarLEs
CHAPTER I.
Cuapter II.
Cuapter III.
CHAPTER LV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CuHapter VII.
Cuapter VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
Cuapter XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
Cuapter XVII.
Cuapter XVIII.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
APPENDIX.
CONTENTS
Page
Wihygioneed ieasamtse 7:4 <1. Sues ae ues sete tees 1
The Ringneck—Its Evolution and Introduction
into the United States—First Steps in Pheasant
PLCC UUM ec ere three a ea oe oe eee Se 6
Preparing for the Breeding Season............... 16
Preparing for the Hatch—Nest Boxes and Nest-
HA COOP Src cn eae aera A en wn ae Roe E, 21
From the Commencement of Incubation to Pip-
POUR eect yeh a dato rae Pe we | Sean Paty
aking Oitcthesidatehiest5 sce een is ere ead 30
he: Riearmiot rel de se\ tae set ee ben os ea tee 32
Locating Broods in Rearing Field ............... 35
Feeding Pheasants in the Rearing Field.......... 41
Combabtime ay ermimle syns. kbs ote. cece anaes oe 48
Disease-and Pts Prevention. > 0.9 fe es eee 57
Distribution of the Pheasants of the United States. 61
Pheasants other than Chinese and Ringneck...... 68
Breeding of Pheasants other than the Ringneck
einuciy GAMES ORE Yc. cose ek soe) ig eae ow eee 74
Merckens the Pheasant... e002 foe bee et 76
Establishing and Holding Birds on Preserves—
Common Causes of Failure—Pheasant Shoot-
ing—Breaking Dogs to Pheasants........°7.... 84
Drive Shooting—Washington’s Unique Plan of
Stocking Public Coverts—Planting Broods
with Their FostergMothers\.. .......22...-2-- 92
How to Organize Co-operatively for Successful
Ipheasditt OMOOHMIKs,.750' a shel -wictnnehe snes t.cra eee 99
The State’s Interest in Game Propagation........ nes
GaimeriKcepensn ein. ae cetive sara hee ates cae 117
The Economic Position of the Ringneck.......... 120
Preparing the Pheasant for the Table............ 124
Game'Ciub Constitution... ...¢2<..'o.s see eee 126
SF
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LASOS See AS
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Frontispiece
Harry T. Rogers, Sup’t. N.Y. State Game; Narms. ... 2c.% .<. eee 8
Movable Pen and Construction Plan. (Figures 1, 1-A)............. 10
Movable Pen made Intercommunicating. (Figure 2)............... 11
New Jersey Type Stationary Pen. (Figures 3, 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, 3-D)... 13
Hurdle Pen: .CRigurel 4)... er Ma Aas ek 2 ens cela eee pe 14
Pens tor Adult Birds:JN.-Y¥sstate Warm: .t seen eee ene ahi
incubating Coop. ‘(igures'5,,5-Ae 9-15) ee oe eae ee eee 22, 24
Incubating Box-) i(Figure’6) s\: 3.4 ape tee fe eee ee eee ao
Rearing’ Coop, Dunn’ Type: (Figures '6-4,6-8) 1.22). «ase eee 26
Carrying Box for Young Birds. ((Piguresis) 1-202 «ae ee oil
Corn: strip in Rearing Field... $2. 0.3. oe on eee 34
‘Typreal Rearme Bields,2. 0k oa Be Se a 36
Rearing -Mield> Sherburne} Farm’ . 0.4: 09-2 5uehe oe ee eee 38
Rearme7Coopan “Ride”... 2.4 2c).5 eee Oe ie eee eee 40
Keepers shack and Paraphernalia. 2.) - 205 Ses ee 43
Pheasant Trap: (Fignres8,8-A) ... .. .-) ease eae: ast ee eee 45
Carryine Box tor-Half-Grown Birds. “(Bigure:9) oie 0 cee 46
Penvor Ringneck, Hens. 25 0.56 5.05.2 sis a ae On ee ee AT
Evans Vermineirap, (kigures 10) V02A)) 32). 2275... eee eee 53
Owl Decoy for Hawks. (Kigures 1; 11-4) 0. 2 a. 2 ee 56
Pen-ot ‘Golden Pheasants... ss .c3.4. eho ow ae eee eee fel
AimiherstuCock. asc. Ds as 68 CN RE ha 6 Rg Oe ee 72
Pen and Coop tor Fancy Pheasants.. (igure 12). os eee 74
Shipping Basket, «(igure lS) (7.2 2222 accents ye es eee eee gle
Shipping Crate. “(igure 14) >... e lene ee ee 78
Birds Displayed in Game Dealer’s Window. (Figure 15)............ 82
Interesting Work in Pheasant Cover... 5522065 eee ee 85
Run for Planting Pheasants. (Figures 16, 16-A, 16-B).............. 87
Neil Clark, Head Game Keeper, Clove Valley Club................. 89
V-Shaped Run for Catching Birds. (Figure 17)...............-...- 90
Treatment of Field Boundaries for Cover. (Figure 18) ...........-. 91
Keepers About Day's Bag. (Pigtire 19))> 22. fee: hoe ee er ee 93
Beaters:in’ Uniform. | (Pigure 19=A)) 2.05 20. Si ee oe ee 94
Shipping Crate for Mother and Brood. (Figure 20)..............-- 96
Interesting Day m Pheasant Coverts . 12.0... .04- = Ges ee 100
Trespass Sign. -(Bigure 21): 55...) 0. Sei cee Rakesh he oe ae 111
,
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PREFACE
CONVICTION that the ringneck pheasant is certain enor-
mously to increase in popularity both for sporting and food
purposes, combined with the fact that there exists no com-
prehensive treatment of the methods employed in this country
in the breeding and shooting of this bird, furnishes my excuse for writing
this book.
The conviction is due in large part to the recent liberalization of the
laws in several states permitting captive-bred pheasants to be killed in
any manner at any time, under certain reasonable restrictions. To this
may be added the fact that a method has been devised which makes
possible the shooting of captive-bred birds en a comparatively small
preserve without driving off the birds that escape the guns.
The present work was begun merely as a pamphlet on the breeding
of the ringneck, but I became so interested in my subject and so con-
vineced that fuller treatment might be worth while that the scheme of the
book was enlarged to include the presentation of the essential facts having
to do with the breeding, shooting, preserving and marketing of the ring-
neck. Special attention has been given to the organization of clubs for
pheasant shooting, for it is believed that it is, in large measure, through
this action that the pheasant is destined to serve sport to an extent that
is now little realized.
The overflow from club and private preserves almost invariably re-
sults in the stocking of public covers in the neighborhood, so that the
sportsman who can afford neither club nor private preserve is pretty cer-
tain to be the gainer where either of these is established.
It is felt that the book treats its subject in a much more comprehen-
sive, sequential and detailed manner than has before been attempted in
this country.
In the course of a report on the pheasant made in 1913 to the Massa-
chusetts legislature by the commissioners on fisheries and game of that
state, these words are used:
2ACD eee
“As in the case of poultry, the number of persons who can
rear pheasants by the thousand is limited when compared with
those who are able to raise a small number. Therefore, if the
pheasant is to be maintained, the supply must come from a large
number of small breeders rather than from wholesale production on
a large scale.”
The writer is in accord with these sentiments and, in writing this
book, has endeavored to keep particularly in mind the s
the farmer’s wife with a desire for more pin money and the city man with
a few acres in the country maintained chietly for recreation.
In an endeavor to secure clarity of treatment and to present the vari-
ous phases of pheasant breeding in their logical sequence, it is assumed
that some one wholly without experience decides to purchase a dozen
birds and make a try at this very fascinating game. Every essential step,
from the securing of the license to the bringing to maturity of chicks
hatched from eggs laid by the breeding stock that has been purchased, is
given in turn. Particular attention has been given to details and where
coops and pens or other equipment are mentioned, complete measurements
with full information regarding construction have been given. Half-tones
have been employed profusely, in the effort to show every important
step in pheasant breeding and shooting and to give adequate illustration
to all equipment that is mentioned.
While the small breeder has been specially kept in mind, at all im-
portant points the treatment has been elaborated to meet the requirements
of the man who wishes to go into pheasant breeding on a large scale.
Se te
: ®
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CHAPTER I
Wuy Breep PHEASANTS?
In an article entitled “Game Breeding in the United States,” pub-
lished in the March number of The Field, Mlustrated, of New York City,
I endeavored to show that the prodigal waste of the country’s original
profusion of wild life, combined with the almost universal adoption of
laws prohibiting or greatly restricting the sale and transportation of wild
game, had brought about a state of affairs in which one might reasonably
expect a widespread extension of efforts at breeding game in captivity.
These efforts will likely be directed both toward stocking depleted covers
and meeting the demand for game birds for edible purposes.
STATES SET THE PACE.—The establishment within the past few
years of game farms by the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oregon, California, Wisconsin,
*Washington and Iowa, and the action of other states in purchasing
birds in large numbers for stocking purposes, bear witness to the increas-
ing activities in game breeding. A state game farm has been authorized
for Michigan. Records of various states show an increasing number of
individuals who are taking out licenses which permit them to breed game
in captivity and laws are gradually being enacted in the more progressive
states which will encourage enterprise in this direction.
RINGNECK LOGICAL CHOICE FOR BREEDING.—In the
article above referred to, I showed that of the upland game birds the ring-
neck pheasant promises most successful results at the present time because
for it alone of all the upland species has been evolved a formula for success-
ful breeding in large numbers. At present it is the bird most largely pro-
duced by both state and private breeding establishments; it has proved its
adaptability to the conditions encountered in large areas of the United
States; a brace of these birds will furnish an ample supply of splendid game
flesh for the average family and, finally, while not the equal of our bob-
white, ruffed grouse or prairie chicken as a game bird, it furnishes satisfac-
tory sport to thousands of gunners today who must content themselves
with this species or nothing. The American Game Protective Associa-
tion believes strongly in the bobwhite and grouse and is doing all it can to
encourage experiments in the breeding of these species in captivity but, in
the present state of affairs, it is convinced that every encouragement
should be given the production of the ringneck, too.
__*Washington has established no game farm as a state but its principal county, King, has one
which turns out as many birds as the average state farm.
JV cenwrnment As
NEW YORK’S IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS.—The production record
of the New York State Game Farm at Sherburne during the six years of
its operation is as follows:
Eggs Ringneck Pheasants Reared
1910 6,500 1,200
1911 12,945 ogo
1912 12,681 3,409
1913 25,000 5,000
1914 31,000 4,500
1915 (a) 58,000 8,500
146,126 25,142
(a)—Includes production of recently established farm at Brownville,
Jefferson County.
Superintendent Harry T. Rogers states that the sum of 3,000 should
be added to the total given for ringneck pheasants above, representing
birds distributed late in the year by the state’s game protectors, which have
been sent out too late to be included in the annual reports of the game farm.
This would bring the total to 28,142, an average of nearly 5,000 birds a
year.
The tabulated figures given above represent eggs distributed among
farmers and sportsmen for propagation purposes and birds turned loose in
the covers of the state. From the distribution of eggs alone, it is estimated
that more than 5,000 persons have been afforded experience in the breed-
ing of ringnecks, and the recurrent applications for eggs from a large per-
centage of these shows that they constitute a valuable asset to the state
in the maintenance of its supply of this valuable food-producing and sport-
ing bird.
WITHSTANDS COLD WELL AND BUDS.—The result of these
efforts has been the firm establishment of the ringneck in the wild through-
out the greater portion of central and northern New York and on parts of
Long Island, and the species has abundantly proved its ability to stand
any degree of cold and to survive the heaviest snowfall, statements to the
contrary notwithstanding. From the mass of available evidence confirma-
tory of this statement may be cited this instance:
John B. Burnham, president of the American Game Pretective Asso-
ciation, states that there has been an excellent increase from the twelve
ringnecks, six hens and six cocks, placed in the covers of Essex County in
northern New York three years ago. It is estimated that the progeny of
these birds at the present time numbers more than 100. Six distinct covies,
each of good size, have been seen in one day within a small section of the
an ez
CC > 9
ESN erarerarento af M3, 3
county. During one of the three years, a temperature of 33° below zero
was registered.
Mr. Burnham states that he personally has seen ringnecks bud on
apple trees during the winter and that other residents of the county have
also observed them getting their food in this way. Ringnecks have also
been observed in Essex County feeding on bitter-sweet vines in stressful
weather. The country about Essex is wooded, showing that the bird will
adapt itself readily to such surroundings.
PHEASANT VERSUS DOMESTIC FOWL.—As the main purpose
of this manual is to encourage the general farmer and estate owner to take
up pheasant breeding along with his poultry or substitute it is an activity
that promises better profit than domestic fowl, the rewards it offers to the
successful breeder should be examined. Pheasants mature rapidly and it
costs less in feed and little more in care to produce fifty or one hundred
birds than the same number of chickens, yet retail dealers pay for domestic-
bred pheasants $3.50 to $4 a pair for eating purposes in the New York
market during the season, which runs from October to May. Better than
that, however, the pheasant farmer can count pretty surely on securing at
least $5 a pair for birds sold for breeding purposes, and the demand for
breeders frequently exceeds the supply.
DEMAND FOR BREEDERS.—Pheasants, however, are in principal
request for breeding. Every fall and during February and March, there
is a demand for birds for this purpose, and those who have attempted to
secure them will testify to their scarcity. Spring-hatched birds were
quoted at $5 a pair and hens at $3 apiece early this fall by the largest
commercial breeder in the country and the price advanced fifty cents to $1
as the market was cleaned up. Two-year-old birds are preferred for
breeding and bring a premium of at least $1 a pair. They are hard to ob-
tain. Birds are wanted at the ratio of one cock to four or five hens usually
for breeding purposes, though orders are not infrequently placed for cocks
or hens alone, the former usually.
Every year sees additional sportsmen’s clubs taking up the breeding
of ringnecks for their covers and they, of course, have to obtain birds or
eggs in order to make a start. Again, clubs and breeders generally who are
already engaged in the business have to secure fresh stock yearly in order
to preserve the stamina of their birds.
Some clubs buy birds in large quantities each year for shooting and
two orders of this nature totaling 6,000 birds were filled this year.
REARING BIRDS FOR SPORTSMEN.—Farmers are sometimes
employed by sportsmen’s clubs to rear pheasants from eggs obtained
S27
\ ) eee )
LARS Pe
gratis from state game farms. One instance of this has been brought to
my notice by Mr. W. S. French, Secretary of the Utica, New York, Fish
and Game Protective Association. This organization has for the past two
or three years contracted with a selected list of farmers in the neighbor-
hood of Utica to rear a stipulated number of birds in the way indicated.
It has been found that the farmers’ wives take particular interest in
this work and they doubtless use it as a pin money producer. The orig-
inal rate of pay was $1 a bird but the club found it could not afford this
and cut the price in half. This did not furnish enough incentive to the
breeder. Mr. French expresses the opinion that seventy-five cents a bird
would furnish the proper incentive and at the same time be within the
means of the average sportsmen’s organization. This is a branch of
pheasant rearing that may contain the germ of large expansion in the future
and its course will be watched with interest.
The Utica Association, Mr. French states, has placed about 500 eggs
a year with farmers in the neighborhood, some of them undertaking the
work gratuitously. From fifteen to seventeen eggs are placed under each
hen and birds that survive till August 1 are paid for. While the associa-
tion’s contract calls for the delivery of birds to it, this is seldom done from
the fact that the eggs are given out to farmers whose lands constitute espe-
cially good cover, and the birds in most instances are simply permitted
gradually to establish themselves in this as they get old enough. This
practice has resulted in making the farmer who rears birds solicitous for
their protection. The work done by the Utica Association so far has been
under absolute protection. It will be interesting to see how far its scheme
will go toward providing sufficient sport when an open season is declared
on the birds.
EGGS IN DEMAND.—Eeggs of the pheasant for hatching purposes
are in good demand during April and early May. At this time reliable
dealers obtain approximately $3.50 to $4 a clutch of 15, and $25 a hundred.
As the breeding season progresses, the price of eggs declines, of course.
There are few breeders, indeed, who will part with early-laid eggs at any
price, so that the man who depends on the purchase of eggs for breeding
purposes is not likely to get the best quality. Mr. Duncan Dunn, superin-
tendent of the New Jersey State Game Farm, states that in the course of a
single year when he was head game keeper at Tranquillity Farms, the New
Jersey estate of the late Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, he received inquiries for
more than 30,000 eggs.
NEW YORK FORBIDS IMPORTATION OF BIRDS FOR FOOD.
—A decided handicap to the breeding of all game birds exists in the fact
that New York forbids the importation of hand-reared birds from other
DIE
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Starman LY sD,
states for purposes of consumption. Live stock for breeding purposes
only may be brought in. This closes the New York market, the best in
the country, to all breeders outside the state. While unrestricted impor-
tation of hand-reared birds would afford unscrupulous persons an oppor-
tunity to mask violations of the laws passed for the protection of game, it
would seem that some modification might be made of existing laws and
that, under carefully drawn regulations, permission might be given for the
importation of birds, pheasants at least, that could be shown indubitably
to have been hand-reared. Reluctance to act on this matter has arisen
from fear that trapped wild birds might be brought into the state, placed
on a game farm, and ultimately sold as preserve-bred game. This was
actually done with mallard ducks a few years ago, but, notwithstanding
this, it is thought by many that New York might be safely opened to
pheasants under proper restrictions.
A recent liberalization of the New York law permits of the sale, under
restrictions, of pheasants captive-bred within the state at any time.
Details are given further on in the chapter on the marketing of pheasants.
From what has been written above, it would seem, that there is a
good demand for pheasants and that the market is susceptible of great
expansion. We shall now consider the pheasant himself.
SOS Ve
(SF ) ps )
LADY See
CHAPTER II
Tue Rinaneck—Its EvoLution AND INTRODUCTION INTO THE
Unirep Statres—f rst STEPS IN PHEASANT BREEDING
The species of pheasant with whose breeding this manual has prin-
cipally. to do is variously called in this country “English pheasant,”
“English ringneck,” ‘‘Chinese pheasant,” “Mongolian pheasant” and
simply “Ringneck.” This bird, as it exists in the eastern portion of this
country and almost wholly throughout the British Isles, is a cross between
the “common” pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, which takes its name from
the Colchis River in Asia Minor, and the “Chinese” pheasant, Phasianus
torquatus, and its proper designation is simply “Chinese.”
POSSIBLY INTRODUCED BY ROMANS.—Th: bird from Asia
Minor is thought by some to have been introduced into England by the
Romans, but Tegetmeier, the great English authority, thinks its acclima-
tization probably does not go back further than the Norman Conquest.
The Chinese bird, according to the same authority, was introduced “long
before 1790,” though the exact date is not known. These birds are only
sub-specifically distinct and freely interbreed, their progeny being perfectly
fertile. In the British Isles it is said that cross breeding has progressed
to such an extent that a pure-bred common pheasant is a rarity. The
same may be said of the eastern part of the United States, but in the West
pure-bred Chinese pheasants, descendants of the original stock sent to
Oregon in 1880 and 1882 by the Honorable O. N. Denny, at that time United
States Consul at Shanghai, and of frequent importations in recent years,
constitute the major portion of the birds.
BROUGHT TO UNITED STATES MORE THAN A CENTURY
AGO.—The first importation of pheasants into the United States of which
there is any record took place more than a century ago. ‘The importer
was Richard Bache. The birds were brought from England and placed
on Mr. Bache’s New Jersey estate. The experiment was not successful
and it may be said that the real introduction of the ringneck into the east-
ern part of the United States occurred in 1887 when the late Rutherfurd
Stuyvesant brought over a lot of birds from England and placed them on
his estate “Tranquillity”? at Allamuchy, New Jersey. Donald MacVicar,
former head game keeper for the Duke of Leinster, Kildare, Ireland, was
given charge of these birds. Great discouragements were encountered
but Mr. Stuyvesant was not to be daunted and MacVicar rose to the situa-
tion with splendid courage. After several attempts the birds were finally
established.
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MacVicar’s work was taken up after his second year by Duncan Dunn
and Adam Scott who, for twenty-three years, made the Stuyvesant and
Rutherfurd estates, which adjoined, the nucleus of pheasant breeding in
- the United States.
So much for the history of the pheasant’s introduction.
The first step in pheasant breeding is to procure a license. At least
this applies in the more progressive game breeding states, all of which
require the breeder of game to take such action. In New York it is pro-
vided (Section 372, page 109 of the Conservation Law) that the applica-
tion for a license shall be addressed to the Conservation Commission at
Albany, accompanied with a fee of $5. The license carries with it author-
ity not only to breed but to sell birds whether alive or dead, but certain
restrictions surround the latter case, which will be mentioned in the
chapter on the marketing of pheasants. New Jersey charges $5 for a
license also, but the Connecticut charge is only $2.
LOCATION.—The question of location comes next for consideration.
Well drained soil of sufficient fertility to grow good cover crops is essen-
tial. In the wild state, pheasants frequent country characterized by both
open fields and good cover. The fields they feed in must always be close to
some place of safe retreat such as a thicket, woodland with heavy under-
growth or swale afford. They are particularly fond of the last named and
will always resort to such a place some time during the day when it is
available. Particularly do damp, semi-moist places appeal during the
heat of a summer day. A well watered place is almost a necessity, though
frequent streams through a farm usually mean that rearing fields filled with
young birds may be flooded following unusually heavy rains. Some
breeders prefer a farm with a single stream and pipe the water in whatever
direction it is needed, running the pipes above ground. The winter pens
at the New Jersey State Farm are supplied with running water which is
sent through V-shaped troughs raised a foot or more from the ground.
Good drainage, water and fair soil fertility are, then, the prime requisites
in choosing a site for pheasant breeding. These matters will be discussed
more in detail later.
SECURING BREEDING STOCK.—With the license obtained and
the site selected, the next step is to secure the birds themselves or their
equivalent in eggs. It is preferable to make a start with the birds, and
they should be purchased in the fall or early winter, one cock to four or
five hens. This will admit of their becoming thoroughly settled before
the breeding season the following spring. Hens shipped in February or
March are not as likely to lay well as birds shipped earlier.
START WITH BIRDS RATHER THAN EGGS.—That birds are to
be preferred to eggs to make a start with is easily seen when one considers
ike
Harry T. Rogers, Superintendent, New York State Game Farms. Left hand figure.
that ten hens, costing, with the two cocks necessary approximately $35
should lay at least 200 eggs during the season. If the same number of
eges were purchased in the spring they would cost about $50. The balance
in favor of birds over eggs is thus $15. Then, too, the breeder will still
have his birds, which will not deteriorate in value the first year and he
will be out only the small sum expended for labor and feed during the
winter months. In a good laying season ten hens are likely to produce
more than 200 eggs, affording a surplus which may be sold and thus add
to the profit of the breeder who starts his operations with birds.
There are many reliable dealers throughout the country, though breed-
ing stock is generally scarce, so great is the demand. Wallace Evans,
St. Charles, Illinois, John McCarthy, Dunnfield, Warren County, New
Jersey, Morgan Wing, Sandanona Pheasantry, Millbrook, New York and
John Heywood, Hubbardston, Massachusetts, are among the dealers who
have established a reputation for good stock and fair dealing.
BIRDS OF WILD ANCESTRY PREFERRED.—Large breeders are
always looking for fresh blood of good, sound stock to keep up the stamina
of their flocks, and in this connection some of them are accustomed to
get pure-bred Chinese birds.
Superintendent Rogers of the New York State Game Farms is a great
admirer of the Chinese. Well recommended dealers in pure-bred Chinese
are P. G. Bettendorf, Beaverton, Oregon and Mrs. G. H. Robbins, Hood
River, Oregon.
TWO-YEAR-OLDS PREFERRED AS BREEDERS.—While two-
year-old birds are generally preferred as breeders, they are hard to obtain.
SAS
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Mr. Rogers states that his three-year-old birds outlay the one- and two-
year-olds approximately ten eggs to the season year after year. It is
well to remember, also, that birds distributed gratis by the states are not
to be confined and hence cannot be used for breeding for private profit.
The amount of breeding stock ordered will depend, of course, upon the
number of birds the breeder wishes to raise. It is probably conservative
to estimate that it is possible to rear to maturity 12 birds to each breeding
hen, where only a few breeders are kept and there is ample range. This
is based on an estimate of twenty eggs laid by each hen and the bringing to
maturity of chicks from a few more than half of that number. On this
basis, if one wished to rear 120 pheasants a year, for instance, he would
order ten hens and two cocks.
PEN FOR BREEDERS.—The order for the birds given, in fact, prior
to its placing, a pen for their confinement should be provided. This may
be of several types. The most important detail to be considered is that a
space of not less than 75 square feet should be available for each bird, if
the pen be of the stationary type. Where birds are reared in large num-
bers,’ 100 or more feet is preferable. As stationary pens should be spaded
and limed yearly, it is preferable that they be provided in duplicate.
Three types of pens are commonly used for confining adult birds.
THE MOVABLE PEN.—On the New York State Game Farms a
movable pen is employed, and this is probably the best type for the small
breeder. It is 12 x 14x 6 feet, covered on the sides and top with 2-inch
poultry netting and is built on runners. It gives nearly 40 square feet to
each of the five birds confined in it. Figure 1-A shows a detailed plan
for the construction of this and Figure 1 shows the completed pen and
one of the methods of moving it. The lumber required for the pen as
given by Mr. Rogers is as follows:
White pine or spruce—2 boards 7% in. x 12 in. x 16 ft.
I p /8
fi
ve
White pine or spruce—3 boards 7% in. x 12 in. x 12 ft.
Hemlock —2hboards 2in.x 4 in. x 14 ft.
Hemlock —2 boards 2in.x 4 in. x 12 ft.
Hemlock — boards #2 in. x 4in.x 6 ft.
Hemlock —lboard 2in.x 4in. x 16 ft.
(Item immediately above is for braces which go across corner of pen.
The timber should be cut into 4 pieces of equal length.)
White pine or spruce—3 boards 7% in. x 4 in. x 14 ft.
White pine or spruce—6 boards 7% in. x 4 in. x 12 ft.
Mr. Rogers states that it cost approximately $5 to build this pen
several years ago, but, as the price of poultry wire has increased since
then, the expenditure required today would be greater. It would be a
FR
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a
good idea to place a three-foot strip of burlap about the bottom of these
pens to reduce the disturbance of the inmates to the minimum. A horse
is employed for drawing the pens long distances, but for shorter hauls two
men, armed with grappling hooks, which are inserted under the lower
edge of the forward end of the pen, are sufficient.
Ficure 1.—Movable type of pen for adult ringnecks employed on New York State
Game Farm. (Figure 1-A gives detailed plan for construction of this Pen).
Scole 4 Inch + / Foot
A, Bolt wit nut Ewesher Detail of Corner
F
A es
fea h oer 12x 19-0 |
ASE een an b
we Hg : 2 be
x
Plank 2°%12"K 17-6"
Hinged flap abeach end fo lift up when breading cage 1s being
5 v moved witha horse,
ij Ww
drawn by; Co ais Side View End Vie
Figure 1-A.— Detailed Plan for construction of movable pen for adult ringnecks.
1 shows completed pen.)
(Figure
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Samm LOD sgh
Figure 2.—This shows how the movable pens for adult ringnecks are made intercommu-
nicating by raising the hinged flap at the end.
At the New York Farms these pens are placed end to end, made inter-
communicating by means of the hinged flap noted in the drawing, and used
for confining the birds during the winter. Mr. Rogers states that he has
found .19 gauge wire better than heavier material. Wire galvanized after
weaving is much more durable. On some farms the wire is dipped in hot
tar as a preservative.
In moving these pens, one is boarded over the bottom and the birds
are driven in it and confined till the move is completed. Fish netting is sub-
stituted for wire on the pen thus employed to keep the birds from injuring
themselves. Figure 2 shows how the pens are made intercommunicating.
WIRE VERSUS FISH NETTING.—The European war has caused a
heavy increase on the cost of wire netting used in enclosing and covering
pens, and prices are subject to frequent and rapid fluctuations. At this
writing, early November, 1915, the New Jersey Wire Cloth Company, 219
Fulton Street, New York City, quotes as follows the meshes principally
employed in game farming:
Mesh Width Length Gauge Price
2-inch 6 ft. 150 ft. 19 $5.6214
11-inch 6 ft. 150m 19 7.871%
1-inch 6 ft. 150 ft. 19 14.6214
Wire cloth, used principally in quail breeding, is quoted 5 cents a
square foot net, for both the ?gths and 14-inch meshes. The mesh in the
. ’
netting which is commonly referred to as
and in the cloth square.
‘poultry netting” is hexagonal
Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the necessity of having the
wire covering the pens stretched loosely. This greatly minimizes the
chances of the birds injuring themselves in the very probable event that
they will fly against it if seriously alarmed. Such a mishap usually results
in scalped heads and badly injured wings. Clipping one wing also tends
to reduce this danger.
Occasionally breeders use fish net as a substitute for wire netting,
particularly for pen coverings, as it lessens the chances of injury if the
birds fly against it when alarmed. It is much more expensive than wire
and does not wear as long, but is more easily handled. W. A. Augur,
33 Fulton Street, New York City, furnished the following quotations on
October 5, subject to change at any time:
Two-inch square mesh, 20-thread, soft laid twine, 114 cents a square
foot.
One and one-quarter-inch mesh, 24-thread, medium laid twine, 214
cents a square foot.
Tarring is advisable, and this adds approximately 5 per cent. to the
cost.
In order to afford a comparison between the cost of wire and fish net,
it may be mentioned that a 150-foot bale of the former, 6 feet wide and
2-inch mesh, would cost at this time $5.6214, while a similar quantity
of fish net of the same mesh would necessitate an outlay of $13.50.
STATIONARY TYPE.—The second type of pen for confining adult
birds is that employed on the New Jersey State Game Farm, see Figure 3.
It is 300 x 150 feet and 7 feet high. Two. pens, each of this size,
immediately adjoining, are built, one covered and one open at the top.
The birds are allowed to range in the open top pen in the daytime but are
confined in the closed top enclosure at night for greater security. A
maximum of four hundred and twenty breeders is placed in these twin
pens. The sides are composed of solid boards for a distance of 3 feet from
the ground, the remaining space being covered with wire poultry netting.
The boards, 4 feet long, 12 inches wide and 7% inch thick, are sunk one foot
in the ground to prevent vermin from getting under the fence. They are
nailed vertically top and bottom to pieces of 2 x 3. (In country that is
badly infested with vermin, 14-inch wire netting should replace the boards.
It is run one foot vertically beneath the surface and then bent outward at
right angles and run six inches horizontally.) Above the boards, which
minimize the alarming of the birds by dogs and passersby, one-inch wire
poultry netting is employed. Two-inch mesh wire, stretched loosely to
Ce
FiGuRE 3.—Stationary type of pen for adult ringnecks employed on New Jersey State
Game Farm. Malcolm Dunn Se ‘his birds.
Ficure 3-A.— Corner of New Jersey type Fiaure 3-D—Combined shelter and
stationary pen, showing employment catching coop placed in one corner of
of boards in constructing sides to New Jersey Stationary Pen.
prevent alarming of birds.
Ficure 3-C.—Showing method
of overlapping tapering ends
of white cedar beams. ‘To
afford greatest protection
from the weight of snow these
should be lashed with wire.
Ficure3-B.—This shows how
large ends of white cedar
beams are overlapped in
constructing covering of
New Jersey Stationary Pen.
Counter braces of 2 x 6 are
also shown.
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lessen snow damage, covers the pen, and it is supported by five-inch white
cedar beams, 16 feet long, resting on six-inch posts, which are 10 feet long
and placed 14 feet apart. The beams (Figures 3-B and 3-C) overlap some
3 or 4 feet, are shaped with an adze so as to interlock and, further, are
lashed with wire to prevent the weight of heavy snows from pulling them
down. Braces of 2 x 6 stuff are nailed to every third row of the posts
supporting the roof at right angles to the white cedar beams. See Figure 3-B.
Posts supporting the beams are set with 3 feet of their length under ground.
Posts used in constructing the side of the pen are placed 7 feet apart.
In one corner of the pen is placed a coop for shelter and as an aid in
catching up birds. It is pictured in Figure 3-D. The dimensions are:
height, front, 6 feet; rear, 3 feet; 16 feet long x 714 feet wide. A three-
foot door gives admission. Roosts of poles placed 2 or 3 feet from the
ground are provided both in the coop and outside in the pen and, in addi-
tion, evergreens are arranged around some of the posts which support the
top of the pen and in the corners, to provide cover. Evergreens are also
placed on either side of some of the pen roosts, forming excellent protection
from the weather.
THE HURDLE PEN.—A convenient type of pen for the small breeder
is constructed by the use of wired-frame units known as “hurdles.” See
sketch, Figure 4. These are employed more in England than in this coun-
try, but they constitute a cheap form of construction, are adapted to
almost any situation, and pens constructed of them are easily moved. A
ys arene GH eee ee - frame 6 x 6 feet is
| slr at constructed of 2 x 3
|
|
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AR
stuff and covered
with 1-inch poultry
netting. Over this
at the bottom is
nailed burlap or roof-
I-Inch Poultry Netting ing paper 3 feet wide,
Over Entre Frame which serves to pre-
vent the disturbing
of the birds by dogs
and passersby. ‘The
top edge of the bur-
lap is nailed to a
piece of 2 x 3 which
End View
vit. 1 Burlap (Over
cape © Netting)
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Ficure 4.—Sketch of
hurdle employed in
eae constructing pen for
Side Elevation adult ringnecks.
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bisects the frame and serves also as a brace. The four corners of the
frame are braced with solid, triangular pieces of wood or gussets. If it is
desired to have the frame underground as a protection from vermin, it can
be made 7 feet high, the extra foot being buried. The frames are lashed to
stakes driven in the ground and they permit of the construction of a pen
or pens of practically any size and shape. The pen constructed with them
should be covered with 2-inch mesh poultry wire or fish netting, prefer-
ably the latter, which is much more easily handled in moving the pen and
which requires no bracing across the middle as the wire netting does.
Adult birds confined in pens of this type should be given a minimum of 40
square feet a bird and the pen should be moved monthly, particularly if the
ground has been used the previous season for penning birds. The hurdle is
not recommended where birds are reared in numbers, but it has the recom-
mendation of economy and mobility when employed with a few breeders.
REQUISITES FOR PENS FOR ADULT BIRDS.—Summing up,
pens for adult birds of whatever type should contain: cover for hiding and
laying; roosts 2 or 3 feet from the ground which should be removed in
laying season, as some birds will drop eggs from them which will cause
egeg-eating in the pen; a simple shelter open in front with back to pre-
vailing winds, which will keep rain from the dust baths which are
absolutely necessary, (in movable pens this consists of an overhung
board attached to the end and slightly sloping); doors with lower edges 10
or 12 inches above ground to prevent ingress by dogs or vermin.
On large operations a separate pen is prepared in March for the
breeders as explained in page 45, but the small operator can use his
winter pen for breeding.
ELABORATE PEN NOT NECESSARY.—Finally, any sort of sta-
tionary pen will answer the purpose of the small breeder if it affords a mini-
mum space of 75 square feet to each bird, and the soil be kept fresh from
year to year by spading, liming and the sowing of rye, clover or other
purifying crops, though, even with this precaution, the location should
be changed from time to time.
LOCATING THE PEN.—A pen is best located when placed on well
drained, sloping soil, the south side of a hill being preferred. In small
breeding operations it is well to have it located as near to the house as
possible, as this reduces the danger from marauders of all kinds.
Pheasants need grit (sharp-surfaced mica) ; and charcoal must always be
onhand. A good supply of pure water is absolutely necessary. It is im-
portant to bear in mind that the pheasant can stand a great deal more cold
than domestic fowl and consequently needs, and will thrive better with, much
less shelter; a few evergreens being really all that is absolutely necessary.
,
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CHAPTER III
PREPARING FOR THE BREEDING SEASON
We will suppose that the breeding stock, 10 hens and 2 cocks, has
arrived and that the pen is ready to receive them. They should be shipped
with the primaries, the long feathers of one wing, clipped and if the person
ordering has neglected to specify this in giving his order, he should attend to
it before releasing the birds. For the beginner it is better that two attend
to this operation. Firmly secure both feet and wings, holding the latter
against the bird’s body, before drawing the creature from the crate. Hold
the bird with his head toward you. Have your assistant ready with the
scissors. He should grasp the wing to be clipped firmly near the base as you
release it. Only the five or six longest feathers need be clipped and care
should be taken not to cut them off too closely. Do not in any circum-
stances squeeze your bird. The clipping keeps birds from injuring them-
selves by flying against the sides and top of the pen and makes capture
easier in the event any escape. Birds renew their flight feathers after
the summer moult and they are wing-clipped in March and September if
kept in open pens. Pinioning, cutting off the last joint of one wing and
thus removing permanently the ten primary wing feathers, is sometimes
practiced, but rarely by experienced breeders, who pretty generally decry
it, as it renders the bird practically defenseless for the rest of its life.
RELEASING SHIPPED BIRDS.—It is good practice to release birds
as soon as possible after they are received, daylight being preferred. Havy-
ing first provided scratch food, (mixed grain obtainable at any poultry
supply house) charcoal, grit, water, dusting facilities and cover of ever-
greens or brush, place the shipping crate within the pen and provide an
opening barely sufficient for the exit of the birds. Then, retire and keep
away from the pen as much as possible, allowing your birds to accustom
themselves to their new surroundings.
The best practice is to keep cocks and hens separate until the laying
season arrives, and this is essential where large numbers of birds are being
reared.
WINTER FEEDING.—Bed your pen fairly deeply with leaves or
straw in one corner. Feed wheat, corn or any regular scratch food grain
mixture. R. D. Eaton, Norwich, New York, sells a scratch food of good
quality at prices considerably lower than those asked by most city dealers.
His brand is called “Climax.”” The greater variety of feed employed the
better. Throw feed on straw and leaves, thus making the birds work for
it. Two light grain feeds a day, morning and night are sufficient, many
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breeders feed only once, in the late afternoon. Mangels or beets of any
sort, turnips, lettuce and other succulent foods should be given. It is well
to hang such food to a string slightly out of reach of the birds as they
stand and thus make them work for it by jumping. Of course, you will
keep grit and charcoal constantly before your birds. They seem to prefer
it simply mixed with the grain feed or thrown on the ground separately
and do not take to it as well if supplied in hoppers.
Be sure that some sort of hiding place is afforded your birds. It will
greatly minimize their chances of getting hurt by flying against the sides
of the pen. A pole 4 or 5 feet long supported at either end by stakes 2 or
3 feet high and covered with small evergreens, furnishes a splendid bit of
pen cover and also affords a good laying place.
PREPARATION OF REARING FIELD.—If birds are to be reared
on a large scale, the rearing field should be sown with grass and clover the
preceding fall or spring. This will be gone into when the subject of rear-
ing fields is considered. When only a few birds are involved, however,
this does not have to be considered. One piece of fall or winter work for
small and large breeders alike, however, is the construction of coops, runs,
frames and other paraphernalia to be used during the forthcoming breed-
ing season. These will be discussed in detail later. Still another bit of
winter work is the preserving of hens’ eggs in water glass to provide food
for the pheasant chicks, if the supply the farm will afford in the spring,
when eggs are cheap, will not be sufficient for the purpose. The receipt of
the United States Department of Agriculture for preserving eggs (Farm-
ers’ Bulletin 128) calls for the dissolving of 1 part of syrup-thick water
glass in 10 parts by measure of pure, boiled water after it has cooled. Sceald
the vessel in which the eggs are packed and then pour the solution over
them. Use only clean, uncracked eggs and do not wash them. Earthen-
ware receptacles are preferred for the eggs.
View of pens for adult birds on New York State Game Farm at Sherburne.
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If only a few birds are to be reared, it is seldom necessary to preserve
eggs for their feeding.
COCKS PLACED WITH HENS IN MARCH.—The arrival of the
breeding season is the next important event for the beginner. Cocks should
be placed with the hens the latter part of March. When only a few breed-
ers are employed or where small pens are used, it is probably best to keep
each cock and the hens allotted to him in a separate pen, but where breed-
ing is done on a large scale the entire breeding stock is frequently confined
in one pen. On the New York State Farms, breeders are kept in the small
movable pens heretofore referred to, but the pens are no longer inter-
communicating, one cock and 5 hens being allotted to each, while on the
New Jersey Farm, all breeding stock is confined in one or two large pens.
It is claimed that more eggs are produced under the former method, but
those who employ the latter point to the fact that a good deal more time
is necessary both to gather eggs and to attend to the birds where the former
is employed.
FIRST EGGS IN APRIL.—In New Jersey the first eggs are laid
usually during the first week in April; in Central New York, during the
third week of that month and in Illinois during the last week in March.
Some two or three weeks before the laying season begins, it is customary to
start a special course of feeding designed to stimulate production and in-
crease fertility. The ration employed by Superintendent Rogers of the
New York State Game Farms for that purpose follows:
ROGERS LAYING MASH.—Equal parts of corn and oats ground
together (commonly known as “‘cowfeed’’) and middlings, to which mixture
add one-fourth bran, one-fourth mealed alfalfa and one-tenth bone meal.
Sceald the alfalfa over night and use sweet-smelling bone meal only. Before
adding the alfalfa scald the mixture above given and, when cool, work in
the alfalfa. This mixture, which is equally good for ducks, should be fed
crumbly, never sloppy. If it is too wet add sufficient middlings to make
it crumbly. Feed this mash food every morning and give the ,usual
grain feed at night. Keep grit, charcoal and oyster shell always before birds.
DUNN SYSTEM OF FEEDING LAYERS.—Mr. Duncan Dunn has
his pens at the New Jersey State Game Farm in nice clover when the birds
are turned in at the commencement of the breeding season. He feeds his
laying hens scalded pheasant manna (a mixed grain ration prepared by
Spratt’s) in the morning and wheat (dry) at night. Onions and onion
tops are added to the manna from time to time. They are ground in a
meat chopper. Mr. Dunn also feeds onions to his young birds. He
states that the onion odor permeates their bodies and has a perceptible
effect in keeping lice down.
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Of course, the feeding of a special laying ration will greatly stimulate
production, but the small breeder should understand that this is not abso-
lutely necessary, though its omission will undoubtedly cut down profits.
When breeding is done on a large scale, the ration is essential. At all
events, give plenty of green food, lettuce being excellent. In feeding
lettuce it is well to let it go to seed before placing it in the pen.
EGGS AND EGG EATING.—Eggs should be gathered twice daily.
This greatly stimulates egg production and tends to prevent egg eating.
Nests do not have to be provided. Most of the eggs will be laid under
- the evergreens provided for cover, but birds will drop eggs at times any-
where about the pen. Egg eating is a not uncommon vice among pheas-
ants, the cocks being principally addicted to it. Bone meal supplied with
the laying ration will tend to obviate this. Frequent gathering of eggs is
the best safeguard. Imitation glass eggs made to look as much like the
real egg as possible will help break cocks of the habit. Poultry dealers
carry a glass egg designed for bantams which may be used for this purpose,
though it is not a very good imitation and lacks weight. Tegetmeier,
(p. 103, fifth edition) commends the eggs made by Mr. Fairfax Muckley,
Audnam, Stourbridge, England. Iron eggs painted as near the color of
pheasant eggs as possible are good. Imitation eggs are supplied by Spratt’s,
Limited, Newark, New Jersey, at five cents each. Some breeders pen the
egg-eating cocks each day until the hens have laid, but this involves en-
tirely too much trouble. The upper mandible of the bird may be pared
with a sharp knife so that when it strikes the egg, it will cause pain. This
is said to be effective.
CARING FOR EGGS.—Eggs when gathered should be placed in a
cool, well ventilated place of even temperature and care should be taken
that the sun does not have access to them. A semi-dark room is excellent
for this purpose. Lippincott says (Poultry Production, p. 157) tempera-
ture limits of 55° and 65° F. give best results. Place the egg with the
small end down in a tray filled with oats or oat husks and turn twice
daily. By placing all eggs in the same position at the beginning, it is easy
to ascertain whether they have been turned. Another method is to bore
several rows of holes in a 7%-inch board with a brace and bit and place
the eggs on this. On many large farms the egg turner manufactured by
the Houghton Egg Carrier Company of 13 Burlington Street, Woburn,
Mass., is used successfully. This is made in several sizes and permits the
turning of hundreds of eggs within two or three seconds. The smallest
size holds fifteen dozen eggs and sells for $3.25 while the largest has a
capacity of 84 dozen and is priced at $8.50. There are two sizes in between.
The larger poultry supply houses carry this article. Do not place unwrapped
SR
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eggs in bran or any stuff that will clog the pores of the shell, and do
not permit them to come in contact with each other through the jolts of
shipping. Excellent containers for shipping eggs are sold by Messrs.
Stumpp & Walter, 30 Barclay Street, New York City. One of these,
known as the “Eyrie,” is made of corrugated board, in 15 and 30-
egg sizes and sells for fifteen and twenty-five cents respectively. The
other container, designed for larger and longer shipments, is made of 3¢-
inch pine and comes in 15, 30, 60 and 100-egg sizes, selling at 20, 25,
40 and 50 cents, respectively. Considerable reductions in price are made
on both kinds of containers for quantity orders.
In using any container, each egg should first be wrapped securely in
paper, then the carton should be half-filled with bran or oats. The
wrapped eggs are next placed in the individual compartments provided
for them and they are then covered with bran or oats as the case may be. A
grape basket with shavings used for packing answers every purpose. Wrap
each egg and be sure not to substitute anything for shavings in packing.
AGE LIMIT OF EGGS FOR INCUBATION .—On most farms, the
endeavor is to avoid using eggs for incubation that are more than ten days
old, but opinions differ largely on this subject, and so excellent an author-
ity as Mr. Rogers thinks an egg three weeks old properly cared for is as
fertile as one newly laid. Experiments with domestic fowl, however, show
that the percentage of eggs not hatching shows a fairly consistent increase
for all periods longer than two weeks, and it would seem reasonable to
infer that the same holds true for all gallinaceous species, at any rate.
Mr. Dunn advises that, if eggs more than ten days old are used, they
should not be mixed with those that come within that limit. It is prob-
ably wise not to use any eggs that are more than three weeks old nor those
laid during the first five days after the cocks are placed with the hens.
Assuming that our beginner will secure at least 300 eggs from his ten
hens, he should start incubating operations as soon as the first 100 eggs are
laid. Generally speaking, the birds earliest hatched thrive best and the
larger the number of eggs started at any one time, the less will be the labor
of attending to the chicks.
Mr. Rogers conducted an experiment with 800 late laid eggs at the
Sherburne Farm during the past summer, starting his hatch well into July.
His report was, “Results just as good as during any part of the rearing
season. Birds strong and healthy.”
CHAPTER IV
PREPARING FOR THE HatcH—NeEst BoxeEs AND
Nestinc Coors
Pheasant hens in captivity are practically non-sitters and so domestic
hens are employed as foster mothers. There is considerable difference of
opinion as to the best type of hen to be employed in this connection.
THE BANTAM AS FOSTER MOTHER.—There is a widespread
idea that the bantam breeds afford the ideal mother for ringnecks and from
time to time articles appear in sports publications gravely discussing this
matter. Medium to light weight hens of the ordinary breeds, however,
are to be preferred, and as they can cover more eggs and naturally are
able to generate more body heat for purposes of incubation, it seems reason-
able to suppose that the consideration of bantams is more or less time
wasted. The latter are not employed on any large farms so far as my
knowledge goes. If any reader feels that he wants to try the bantams
despite what has been said, it may be stated that the silkie and buff-cochin
(bantam, of course) both make excellent mothers, but the feathers on their
legs harbor vermin, a considerable disadvantage. Mr. Duncan Dunn
states that a cross of the silkie and fighting (not bantam) game, produces
a clean-legged fowl of excellent qualities as a mother.
TYPE OF HEN EMPLOYED.—Heavy hens are usually avoided, as
well as long-legged individuals. The very best hen of all, perhaps, is the
bird of large frame, heavily feathered, but of medium weight. Rhode
Island Reds of medium to light weight, late hatched birds, usually make
excellent mothers. Mr. Harry T. Rogers employs most successfully large
numbers of two- and three-year-old white Leghorns, usually regarded as
non-sitters and entirely too nervous to make good mothers, but this
practice is not recommended to the inexperienced. Mr. Rogers’ experi-
ence has been that many birds are killed on the nest by Plymouth Rocks.
Hens proving to be good mothers should be kept from year to year, as
they are a valuable asset indeed.
INCUBATORS TO BE AVOIDED.—Incubators are not recom-
mended, though a small one will serve to take care of a clutch of eggs if a
setting hen is broken up till another can be provided. Pheasant chicks
will not hover in brooders, so that a hen mother has to be provided for
those hatched by incubator and, in addition, such stock has not the stamina
of birds incubated by natural methods.
FIFTEEN EGGS TO HEN.—While experienced breeders place 19
to 21 eggs under each hen, it is best that the beginner use only 15. One
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Ficure 5.—Incubating coops employed on New York State Game Farms shown
in actual use. From 500 to 1,000 eggs are usually put under hens at one
time, 20 eggs to each hen.
hundred eggs, 105 to be exact, will require 7 setting hens. If our beginner
has that number, he will be fortunate and it is, of course, good practice to
encourage all hens that become broody to continue in that state while the
first batch of pheasant eggs is accumulating by placing a few eggs of
domestic fowl under them, so that they will be ready when the time comes
to place the pheasant eggs under them.
POINTS ABOUT SETTING HENS.—It is not unlikely, however,
that the breeder will have to call on his neighbors to help out with setting
hens. ‘These rules are to be observed if such is the case:
1. Always procure your hens at night.
2. Never tie their legs, but confine them in a box or loosely-woven
sack, one sack to each hen being best.
3. Have your nests prepared, placing a few eggs of domestic hens in
each, prior to going forth on the hunt for setting hens and place the hens
thereon as soon as you return, dusting them four or five days after they
have been placed on the nest thoroughly with pyrethrum, sometimes
called Persian powder. (Dusting will be explained in detail a little later.)
4. Never employ a hen with feathers on her legs nor one afflicted with
sealy leg. The former harbor vermin and the latter will communicate the
disease to the pheasant chicks. Detailed information regarding scaly leg
is contained in the chapter on Disease and Its Prevention.
5. Try out your hens for two or three days before placing pheasant
eggs under them,
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The price paid for setting hens runs from 75 cents to $1. When
rented they bring usually 50 cents. Purchased hens can generally be re-
sold in the fall for 75 cents.
TYPES OF INCUBATING COOP.—The hens procured, it is neces-
sary at this point to consider what sort of coop or box for nesting purposes
should be employed. ‘The two types most generally used are illustrated
in Figures 5, 5-A, 5-B and 6. Their description follows:
Figure 5: This is the type employed on the New York State Game
Farm and it is probably better adapted to the beginner and the small
breeder than any other. It is also most successfully employed in opera-
tions conducted on a large scale. In this type the nesting box and the
coop in which the young pheasants resulting from the hatch are reared are
combined. The coop is 2 feet square, 191% inches high in front, sloping to
12 inches at the rear. The top is removable, the front slatted and pro-
vided also with a board 1 x 2 feet, which serves as a door and, later, in the
rearing field, to shade the enamelware pan in which water for the young
birds is placed.
LUMBER FOR ROGERS’ COOP.—The lumber this coop calls for is:
White pine or spruce—1 board 7% in. x 12 in. x 10 ft.
White pine or spruce—1 board 7% in. x 10 in. x 8 ft.
(tongue and groove)
The actual cut of the lumber for the coop follows:
2 Bottom boards, rear and 2 sides 1 x 2 ft.
2 Top boards which complete the enclosure of the 2 sides. They are
triangular in shape, measuring 91% in. in front x 251% in. on top x 24
in. along the bottom. These boards support the roof and their cut gives it
a decided slant.
1 Top board, front, 10 in. x 2 ft. This has a 1-inch hole bored in the
center affording entrance for the point of the bellows used in treating birds
affected with gapes. (See chapter on Disease and Its Prevention.) A but-
ton is attached to the center of this board along its lower edge to secure
the door, which is placed immediately below it.
4 Slats, 3 x 16 inches, placed equidistant across the front of the coop.
The slat farthest removed from the nest is nailed loosely, so that it may
be pulled aside and afford ingress to the hens when they have finished
feeding.
1 Brace, 31% inches x 2 feet, nailed across the bottom of front of coop.
The lower ends of the slats are nailed to this.
1 Door, 1 x 2 feet. This has a cleat attached at the center to facili-
tate handling. The door is not attached to the coop in any way but is
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kept in place when the hens are on the nest by a button placed on the
lower edge of the top board immediately above it, as previously described.
3 Roof boards 10 x 32 in.
2 Cleats 3 x 22 in. nailed to under side of roof boards.
These cleats should be nailed so as to give the roof a 6-inch rear over-
hang, affording very necessary shelter for birds caught outside the coop in
heavy rains. The roof affords excellent ventilation if placed so that the
front cleat rests on the edge of the top board at the front of the coop and
it should always be so placed.
FRAMES TO ENCLOSE NEST.—The above completes the coop
proper. As this coop is used both for incubating and rearing, it would be
too large for the former purpose but for the utilization of a clever device
for confining the nest to proper proportions. This is done by the con-
struction of a simple board frame (see Figure 5-B) 16 inches square, which
is placed in the corner of the coop farthest removed from the movable
slat mentioned above. This is done so that the setting hen, in returning
to her nest, will not be afforded the opportunity of stepping upon it as she
enters the coop. Broken eggs are reduced to a minimum by this device.
The construction of the nesting frame calls for 4 pieces of 7<-inch board,
3 inches wide and 16 inches long. A second frame of the same dimensions
is placed upon the first when pipping commences to prevent the chicks
first hatched from escaping from the nest and perishing of cold. This is
shown also in Figure 5-B, resting against the side of the coop.
A nail should be driven two-thirds of its length in the front edge of
one of the boards constituting the side of the coop, 6 inches from the
ground, and on this should be hung a tin cup, which should be kept sup-
plied with fresh water. Make the hole in the side of the cup large enough
to slip easily on and off the nail. This method of supplying water keeps
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Fieurre 5-A—Front view of incubating Ficure 5-B.—Interior of incubating coop
coops shown in Figure 5. Note door (Fig. 5) rear view back and top removed.
resting against coop and hole at center Note nest frame and extra frame to pre-
near top for blowing in powder with bel- vent early hatched chick’s escape, also slat
lows when treating young birds for gapes. pulled aside to allow hen to feed.
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it from being fouled and places it beyond the reach of young pheasants
when the coop is removed to the rearing field. The cost of the material
used in constructing this coop is about 75 cents, Mr. Rogers states.
THE WIRE RUN.—We come now to the wire run placed in front of
each coop of the Rogers type to confine the setting hen when she is taken
off each morning to feed. See Figure 5. This is 3 feet long, 2 feet wide
and 21 inches high, with removable top. It is covered on the front and
two sides with 14-inch poultry wire, the rear being open and placed against
the front of the coop. The top is covered with 42-inch wire also and the
employment of this mesh keeps the sparrows out.
Figure 6: This is the type of
nesting box employed on the New
Jersey State Game Farm. It consists
of several rows of boxes placed one on
top of the other much as the lock boxes
in post-offices are arranged. Each row
is 8 feet long, 15 inches wide and 18
inches high and contains 6 nesting com-
partments, 15 x 15 inches. Only the
lowest row is provided with a bottom,
the top of each preceding row serving
as the bottom of the one above it. In
each of these compartments a sod is
placed, grass side up, but it is first
hollowed out a little on the under side
so as to afford a saucer-shaped contour
Figure 6.—Showing method of incu- for the nest and the depression thus
bation employed on New Jersey formed is lined with soft grass or hay.
ree ee ae ‘S When this type of nest is used, the hens
are taken out daily and placed in
slatted coops with trough in front for feeding.
SUBSTITUTE FOR SOD.—In country having a heavy clay soil,
the sod does not work so well and Mr. Adam Scott, manager of the Froh-
Heim Game and Poultry Yards at Far Hills, New Jersey, states that he
has employed with good success as a substitute O. K. litter, which is sold
by Messrs. Stumpp & Walter of 30 Barclay Street, New York City, at
$2.50 a bale. It is claimed that this is vermin-proof. The litter is worked
over two or three days with a shovel and then soaked in hot water. When
placed in the nest it is moistened by sprinkling.
Figures 6-A and 6-B show the excellent rearing coop used on the New
Jersey Farm. While it has no part in hatching, the coop described a
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eae 6-A.—Coop employed on New Ficure 6-B.— Another view of New Jersey
Jersey farm for rearing young ring- rearing coop showing employment of
necks. | Note board run which is shutter to give shade and ward off rain.
usually discarded when chicks learn A similar shutter is used to afford a floor
foster-mother’s call after four or five for the coop during the first few days of
days. the chicks’ existence.
few paragraphs above (the New York coop, Figure 5) is used both for
hatching and rearing; hence it seems proper at this point to give a descrip-
tion of the New Jersey coop, which is 221% inches wide, 2714 inches long,
22 inches high in front, sloping to 101% inches at the rear. The roof is 26
inches wide and 40 inches long and is stationary. There is a hinged door
on one side 8 x 814 inches. In front are three stationary slats 1014 inches
long and 2% inches wide. Back of them four movable slats, 13 x 21%
inches are made to slide so that the coop may be opened or closed in a
moment. Above the slats is an opening 17 inches long and 51% inches
wide, which is covered with 14-inch wire cloth or fly screen. It aids in
ventilation when the slatted front is closed. On either side 8 one-half-inch
holes are bored 21% inches from the top as a further aid to ventilation.
With each coop are provided two boards called “shutters” each 23 inches
wide and 28 inches long. One of these furnishes a floor for the coop when
the young chicks are placed in it, being removed after the first few days
unless the weather is unusually rainy, and the other is used to shade the
front of the coop and prevent rain from blowing in.
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FRoM THE COMMENCEMENT OF INCUBATION TO PIPPING
Spray the incubating coop or box, as the case may be, thoroughly
with any good coal tar dip, procurable at poultry dealers. On large farms
the coops are dipped in a tank of disinfectant, (Kreso dip Number 1, Parke
& Davis, being used on one farm at the ratio of one gallon to 150 coops).
Place the coop (New York type), on a well-drained piece of ground which
will afford exposure to both sun and shade. An orchard is usually a good
location. If a flat, treeless field is the only spot available, the front
should be placed so that it will be away from the sun the greater part of
the day, unless the weather is still cold. Bear in mind that fowl prefer
morning to afternoon sun. Be sure that the coop is so placed that water
will not drain into it. A little banking of earth around it will usually
prevent this. The coop located, the door should be put in place and the
roof arranged, as previously explained, so as to afford ventilation. The
wire run is next placed in front of the coop. Nesting boxes (Figure 6 of
preceding chapter) are placed indoors and should be located so as to pro-
tect the setting hens from draughts. The room containing them is usually
kept in semi-darkness.
BUILDING THE NEST.—The next step is the building of the nest.
This has already been covered in the description of Figure 6, but requires
special explanation for Figure 5 (New York type).
The first step is a slight hollowing of the earth by pounding. This
done, place the nesting frame about the space so treated, being sure that
the spot selected for the nest is farthest removed from the loose slat.
Next place fairly coarse straw within the frame, thus forming the base of
the nest. Shape this slightly and line it with soft hay or grass. The nest
should have a very slight incline toward the center. Eggs piled on top of
one another when the hen is taken off usually mean too deep a nest, in
which case it should be remade. A nest nearly flat makes easier for the
embryo chick its exit from the shell. It will be noted that this type of
nest is not in as close contact with the earth as that pictured in Figure 6.
Mr. Rogers, who employs it, thinks too close contact has a tendency to cause
diarrhoea in the setting hen. Eggs of any type of nest should be sprinkled
with tepid water in very dry weather and, where they are placed on the
ground, the earth immediately surrounding the nest may also be moistened.
SELECTING EGGS FOR INCUBATION.—We will suppose that
our breeders’ setting hens have been tried out on other eggs two or three
days, that they have been dusted, and that now the real business of
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commencing the hatch is about to begin. In selecting eggs for incubation,
avoid all but those strictly normal, such as thin-shelled, “flat-sided,”
elongated, covered with lime deposit, ridged and fouled; also eggs below
the average size. Experiments with poultry seem to indicate that three or
four days are required for the full establishment of the fertility of eggs after
the first mating, so it is probably well to avoid those laid within this period.
Put fifteen eggs to each nest and place the hen on them gently, prefer-
ably at night.
FEEDING SETTING HENS.—The seven hens started to work, there
will follow the regular routine of one daily feed,—from seven to ten o’clock
in the morning is a good time, and the time fixed upon should never be
changed,—and an occasional dusting with insect powder. Corn or ordi-
nary scratch food varied with an occasional bit of lettuce or fresh-cut clover
is all that is needed, with plenty of water, sharp grit and charcoal on the
side. Lift the hen gently off the nest when the feeding hour arrives by
inserting the right hand under her breast, raising that portion of the body
slowly from the eggs and eventually grasping her legs between the fingers
to prevent breaking of eggs if she be inclined to struggle. Be sure that
she does not retain any egg between her thighs as it is likely to fall and
break. With the type of nest described in Figure 6 (New Jersey State
Game Farm), the hen is placed for feeding in a slatted coop and returned
to her nest by hand some twenty or thirty minutes later. |The proce-
dure with the Figure 5 (New York type) is to lift the roof of the coop
slightly, take the hen out, place her in the wire run by raising its top, and
let down the board forming the door to the coop. The loose slat is pulled
to one side, permitting ingress following feeding. Many hens will return
to the nests of their own accord. Those that do not are returned within
half an hour. The door is placed in position again and all is secure for
another twenty-four hours.
DUST HENS THREE TIMES.—Setting hens are dusted usually
three times, the first as heretofore described, the second after they have
been on the pheasant eggs ten or twelve days and the third time not less
than four days before the hatch is due. So experienced a breeder as Mr.
Adam Scott, manager of the Froh-Heim Game and Poultry Yards, on the
estate of Mr. Grant B. Schley at Far Hills, New Jersey, omits the last
dusting, declaring that he has had young birds killed shortly after hatch-
ing as the result of a windpipe clogged with dust inhaled from the body
of the foster mother. This, however, is the only report of the sort I have
received, and the method described above is quite generally followed.
PYRETHRUM BEST DUSTER.—Mr. Rogers strongly advises
strictly fresh pyrethrum powder and asserts that some of the commercial
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powders contain carbolic acid in sufficient quantities to injure surface
veins and arteries.
HOW TO DUST.—Dusting is best done by two people, one holding
the fowl and one applying the powder. Place the hen on her side on the
bottom of a cracker box. Lift the wing on the upper side of the body and
rub the dust well into her skin and on her breast. Repeat the action when
she is turned on her other side and also rub the powder well into the feath-
ers about her rump and the top and back of the head. The use of the box
saves a great deal of powder from being wasted. Cloth drums especially
designed for dusting are sold by poultry dealers but are not necessary.
The best time for applying the powder is when the hens are taken off for
feeding. If possible, it is a good idea to provide a bath of road dust or
fine ashes in each run, but where many hens are being handled this is out
of the question.
MITES.—These tiny red insects will frequently annoy a setting hen
so that she will be broken up. They work at night and, if a hen is sus-
pected of being the victim of their attack, it 1s well to make an examina-
tion of the bird and nest after dark, a pocket searchlight being well adapted
to this purpose. They leave specks on the eggs and frequently cause the
hen to assume a half-standing posture, and it is by these two signs that
their presence is most frequently detected. Once the breeder is assured
that they exist, the entire nest should be burned, the coop well sprayed
with zenoleum, and moved to a new location. The hen and eggs may be
lightly sprayed also.
BROKEN EGGS.—When an egg is broken, it is, of course, removed.
The nest should be remade and such of the remaining eggs as have come in
contact with the contents of the broken egg should be wiped with a clean
cloth moistened with tepid water and dried with an unmoistened cloth.
It is well to have a few extra hens on domestic eggs so that they may
be used if any of the regular setters are broken up. Either this precaution
or the employment of a small incubator is almost a necessity.
It may be that our beginner at pheasant breeding has been compelled
to start with purchased eggs instead of breeding stock and, if so, there is
nothing to be added to what has been said above further than to advise the
purchase of eggs as early in the season as possible. Place your order in
February or March if you can, and preferably pay the higher price asked
by reliable dealers. Names of dealers will be sent if inquiry is made of
the American Game Protective Association, 2273 Woolworth Building,
New York City. Most breeders keep shipped eggs twenty-four hours
after receipt, turning them once in that time. Some hold that they may
with safety be placed under the hen immediately.
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CHAPTER VI
Takina Orr tHE HatcH
We come now to one of the most interesting periods in the routine
of pheasant breeding—the taking off of the hatch and its placing in the
rearing field.
It usually takes from 23 to 24 days for ringneck eggs to incubate,
though that period may be considerably lengthened and is sometimes
shortened. Eggs that are late in hatching should be collected from the
various nests and placed under hens whose eggs are slow in pipping. Such
of the chicks of the latter as have hatched can be given to hens that are
ready to be taken off with their broods.
HATCH COMPLETED IN 24 TO 36 HOURS.—Do not feed the
setting hen from the time the eggs begin to pip till she is placed in the rear-
ing field. The hatch will be completed from 24 to 36 hours after pipping
commences. Do not remove the shells as the chicks come out, their sharp
edges probably keep the hen from sitting too heavily on the newly-hatched
chicks. The beginner will do well at this period to have complete confi-
dence in the hen and let her alone for a full day after pipping starts. The
hatch should in no case be taken off the nest until the latest chick is thor-
oughly dry, which will be, as stated above, from a day to a day and a half
after it starts, and Superintendent Dunn of the New Jersey State Game
Farm, finds that birds taken off 48 hours after pipping do best. The yolk
in the body of the chick furnishes ample food up to this time. Indeed,
there are well authenticated cases where young pheasants have passed the
first six days of their existence without food and have apparently suf-
fered no inconvenience, though in one case the domestic hen foster-mother
died of starvation. The beginner is likely to worry a great deal at this
point about food for the chicks, but he can be assured on the best of auth-
ority that all this is unnecessary.
If the New York type of hatching coop is employed (Figure 5, as
described heretofore), the extra frame should be placed on that enclosing
the nest as soon as pipping starts to prevent the early hatched chicks from
starting on an exploration tour and probably perishing from cold.
TAKING THE BROOD TO THE REARING FIELD.—We will
assume that the chicks have dried off well and are now ready for transpor-
tation to the rearing field. This is usually effected by taking the hen
off first and placing her in a coarse sack. The chicks should be imme-
diately placed in a box or basket deep enough to keep them from jumping
out and lined so that there will be no chance of their injuring themselves.
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Ficure7.—Box for carrying newly-hatched Ficure 7-A.—Box similar to that pictured
chicks to rearing field used on New Jersey in Figure 7, but with a tank for warming
State Farm. chicks.
Place fine hay, grass or leaves in the bottom of the receptacle. When
the weather is cold, this stage is a more or less critical one. At such a
time, place a woolen cloth in the basket and cover it over after the chicks
are in, leaving enough of an opening to furnish air for breathing.
BOX FOR TAKING CHICKS TO REARING FIELD.—Where
_ breeding is done on a large scale, the box pictured in Figure 7 will be
found most convenient. This is 26 inches long, 1114 inches wide and 8!4 -
inches high. It has 6 compartments, with division walls 4 inches apart, each
holding 20 chicks, the brood that is usually allotted to each hen foster
mother, unless bantams are used, when 12 to 15 are the limit. A sliding
door covers the box. One inch from the end of this door is an opening 5
inches long and 3 inches wide, closed with a slide when not inuse. Through
this the chicks are taken out when the rearing field is reached. A row of
half-inch holes is bored on either side of the box an inch or two from the
top for ventilation and the bottoms of the compartments are lined with leaves
or grass. The box should be sprayed with disinfectant following its use.
Mr. Neil Clark uses a similar box, but employs a warm water tank, see
Figure 7-A.
CONSOLIDATING BROODS.—As each foster mother can hover 20
chicks and as only 15 eggs were allotted to each setting hen, and as, of
course, all these will not hatch, it will be seen that two or three of the
setting hens can be dispensed with. Some breeders put a second clutch
of eggs under such hens and thus induce them to continue their setting
for another 24 days. Except in emergency, this does not seem to be
good practice and it comes very near to bordering on the cruel. In such
circumstances, the hen lacks the body heat necessary for the best results
in incubation, as her system is greatly depleted.
Do not use nesting coops or boxes a second time till nest contents have
been burned and coops thoroughly sprayed. If Figure 5 is used, move it
to fresh ground for the second hatch.
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CHAPTER VII
Tue REARING FIELD
Having our broods safely started toward the rearing field, it is neces-
sary to halt the action for a moment to consider this very important sub-
ject, for it is on this spot that the chicks will spend the critical period of
their development, and a happily selected location will go far toward
making a season successful.
MATURING BIRDS AFFECTED BY CHARACTER OF SOIL.—
There is a very intimate relationship between the soil and the growth of
the young bird, and this cannot be too firmly brought home to the beginner.
Invariably, birds do better in certain fields than others when, even to the
experienced eye, there is no discernible difference. Not only is this true,
but in the same field one brood will thrive while another forty or fifty yards
away and apparently facing the same conditions, will droop. Here is
where the skilled breeder displays much of his ability. He cannot always
tell why birds thrive in one spot and droop in another, but he can, by
constant observation and moving of coops, see that birds that are not
doing well are given a more promising location. Sometimes the birds in
an entire field will get to the stage where their development seems to be
arrested. Such a crisis is recognized by the experienced eye and it is
met by the immediate abandonment of the field. If an epidemic breaks
out, it is frequently combatted by the transfer of all the chicks to another
location.
THE REQUISITES.—In choosing a site for a rearing field, it should
be borne in mind that sun and shade, abundant insect life, and a weil
drained soil are prime requisites. The small breeder on the average farm
will rarely have trouble in discovering a spot that will fulfill these, but
where the operation is being carried on on a large scale, it is customary to
make special preparation of fields for rearing purposes. For the small
breeder, an orchard frequently meets the requirements nicely. SAT ZA 'ES
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Typical pheasant rearing field showing arrangement of coops in rows facing on “rides.”
access to the board run the day following their placing in the rearing field
and some breeders permit this from the first if the weather be warm.
REARING COOPS 40 YARDS APART.—The first hatch located,
disinfect thoroughly by spraying the coop from which it was taken and
place this at least 40 yards from the coop first located in the rearing field,
repeating the routine described in detail above, till the last chicks are re-
moved and located in their new home. On large farms it is sometimes
necessary to put coops only 25 yards apart, but this should be avoided if
possible. Always hold chicks loosely; squeezing is likely to injure them
seriously. Bear in mind in taking off the hatch that the sooner mother
and chicks are reunited the better.
AS TO “RIDES.’’—In large operations the rearing coops are placed
in rows, and swaths or “rides,” as the British game keepers call them, are
cut through the grass directly in front of them, forming a succession of
streets, as it were. These are shown in the illustration on this page, taken
from a photograph of a rearing field at the Clove Valley Rod and Gun
Club in Dutchess County, New York. The ride has its good and bad
points. It makes the birds somewhat easier prey for vermin in the opinion
of some but, on the other hand, it is claimed by its advocates that it less-
ens the wetting the chicks get from early morning dew and keeps the hen
from trampling her chicks. It certainly does make feeding drier work
for the man in charge of the field.
Where breeding is done on a large scale, it is customary to allot from
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1200 to 1500 birds to each rearing field, one man being responsible for their
care. This individual usually sleeps in a shack by the side of the field, a
shotgun always in reach to repel the vermin that the display of so many
tempting morsels invariably attracts.
ORDINARY WETTING SELDOM HURTS.—Pheasant chicks ap-
parently are not hurt by dew and they can withstand a pretty good wetting
from rain provided they have a dry coop to which to retire. A chick will
usually come through a hard rain all right, if it has for protection cover of
sufficient strength to break the force of the downpour, but they succumb
in large numbers if subjected to the full force of a hard rain. Mr. Rogers
thinks it best to let the chicks alone if they get caught in a storm, arguing
that any efforts that are made will only result in scattering them.
The procedure with the Dunn type of rearing coop (Figure 6-A, page
26) differs so little from the description given above that it is not necessary
to detail it.
It is proper to hark back at this juncture to our breeding pen for a
moment and remark that our beginner will have placed his second lot of
105 eggs under hens some time before the first lot is hatched.
THE FIRST FEED.—Feed your newly-hatched chicks when they
have finished their first brooding as described above. 3
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Rearing field, Sherburne Game Farm. Note strips of buckwheat which furnish cover for
young birds and serve to keep the birds to the field as they get old enough to wander.
with the cracker dust, work it in with the fingers and repeat the action
till the eggs are dry and crumbly.
HALF AN EGG TO EACH BROOD.—Half an egg to each brood of
twenty chicks will be ample at first. It is quite likely that not much more
than half this amount will be taken the first few days. Use good eggs.
Take as much of the prepared egg as you can hold with the thumb and
first two fingers and throw it directly in front of the coop, together with
some whole corn for the hen. She will quickly call the chicks to their meal.
Pass on to the remaining coops and when the last has been attended to,
return to the brood first fed. If all the food has been taken and the
chicks still seem hungry, throw down a second pinch of egg. If, on the
other hand, all the food has not been consumed and the chicks are no
longer working at it, remove it, as food that has been exposed to the sun
long enough to sour is very dangerous. Throw a handful of chick char-
coal and grit on the ground by the egg feed. _
WATER. SHALL IT BE GIVEN CHICKS?—No water is given the
chicks during the first four or five days, their first taste being had when the
frame run is removed from the front of the coop. Their food during this —
time contains a good deal of moisture and they get the dew off the grass in
the frame run in which they are confined by stripping the blade cleverly
with their bills. On the New Jersey Farm no water is given young birds
during the first month or six weeks. The foster mothers of the chicks are
supplied with water through the medium of boiled whole corn which is
too large, of course, for the young birds to swallow. It is the general
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practice among game keepers who follow English methods more or less
closely not to supply water directly to the chicks. This is done on the
theory that if water is supplied in receptacles some of the chicks are sure
to develop an abnormal craving for it and, literally, drink themselves to
death. The English practice also minimizes the amount of work to be
done in the rearing field and the fine-looking birds resulting from it seem
to indicate that, intelligently followed, chicks will do well under it.
i,
Since writing the above paragraph, I have received the following
from Mr. Duncan Dunn in which he amplifies his views on the subject
of water for young birds:
I do not water any of my birds until they are more than a
month old, as I make my feed sufficiently moist to supply the
water needed. Of course, if I had a field that did not have much
grass on it I would water once a day. Experiments I have made
have demonstrated that birds not supplied with water have done
as well again as those that had it. Where there is a good stand
of grass the dew that falls upon it gives the young birds all the
water they need.
On the other hand, Mr. Rogers and his followers provide water in
enamelware pans holding one and one-half quarts and which are 11%
inches deep, after the fourth or fifth day, when the board frame that has
confined the chicks is removed. These can be had at the five and ten
cent stores and are preferable, in my opinion, to the cone-shaped drinking
fountain, as well as being much cheaper. The water is placed in the tall
grass some 8 or 10 feet from the coop and is shaded by its door, one end of
which rests on the ground and the other on a stake so as to afford sufficient
space for shoving the pan under. Water exposed to the sun is most
dangerous. It should be changed frequently and the pans should be
kept very clean. An occasional scalding is good and if disease breaks
out, this should be done every day. The breeder who contemplates
action on a large scale may carefully study both systems and determine
for himself which he prefers to follow, but the man who has only a few
birds will probably make no mistake in furnishing them water as indicated.
WIDER RANGE GIVEN AFTER 4 OR 5 DAYS.—By the fourth
or fifth day the chicks will have learned the call of the hen and will have
been brought to look on the coop as home. They are then ready to be
given a wider range, if the weather is good, and the frame run (Figure 6-A)
that has hitherto limited their roaming is taken away, the foster mother
being still confined to the coop, however. This will add greatly to the
supply of insect life to which the birds will have access, and they should
go forward rapidly. From the day of their release, the rearing coops should
VS %
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LS, OPN Y cerenmnmnan ae
be moved daily. In large operations an extra coop is an advantage in
doing this. The keeper starts work in a field by placing the extra coop
on the spot he wishes the first brood to be moved to occupy and puts the
hen therein. This releases the coop she has been taken from and, using
it, the action is repeated till the coops throughout the field have been
moved.
On the New York Farms, the hen is frequently given free range with
the brood after the first week or ten days. This works satisfactorily
partly as the result of the fact that the rearing coops are placed unusually
far apart, minimizing the chances of fights among the hen mothers, and
partly due to the skill of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers in selecting mothers and
handling them in the rearing field. Many breeders keep the foster mother
confined till the chicks are weaned.
LOOK OUT FOR SICK BIRDS.—The sharpest look-out must be
kept for sick birds. Once it is established that a bird is sick, it is much
better to wring his neck and burn him forthwith so that the menace he
affords to the other chicks will be removed. This is one of the hardest
things to induce beginners to do. Some chicks will appear very weak
when first taken off the nest and may continue so tll the first feed or until
a nice bug has been eaten and weakness of this sort should not be confused
with actual sickness.
Some breeders close their birds in every night and others rarely or
never do so. If trouble is had with vermin, this is frequently necessary,
but the earlier start at feeding the chicks can make in the morning and
the better ventilation the coop has, the more certainly they will thrive.
Young birds are fully feathered by the end of three weeks with the
exception of the top of the head and back of the neck. If these do not
develop within five or six weeks, it not infrequently indicates coming disease.
Full feathering is also some-
times delayed by unfavor-
able weather during the
early days of the bird’s life
or by the presence of lice.
This shows rearing coop placed
in a “ride” and illustrates well
the heavy stand of clover and
mixed grasses that the experi-
enced pheasant breeder gets in his
rearing fields to furnish cover
and insects for his young birds.
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CHAPTER IX
FEEDING PHEASANTS IN THE REARING FIELD
The complete feeding regimen for pheasants as practiced by Superin-
tendent Rogers of the New York State Game Farms, from hatching till
the birds are old enough to be placed on a straight dry grain diet is given
herewith:
FIRST FOUR DAYS
Feed 4 or 5 times daily with not more than 3 hours between meals.
Hard boiled egg mixed with cracker dust till dry and crumbly—chick
charcoal and grit—no water.
FIFTH TO SIXTIETH DAY
Feed 4 times daily fifth to thirtieth day and 3 times thereafter.
a. Wet mash: To the ration described immediately above add
pheasant meal (Wallace Evans, St. Charles, Ill., preferred), fine oyster
shell, middlings, kiln-dried corn meal (Buffalo Cereal Co.’s preferred)
boiled rice and bone meal. Hulled oats (R. D. Eaton, Norwich, N. Y.)
may be added on the tenth day with profit.
b. Dry feed. During the same period begin feeding ordinary chick
grain mixture obtainable at poultry supply dealers, mixing grit and charcoal
with it. Give one feed of this daily (the last). Canary and hemp seed
may be mixed with the chick grain in small portion from time to time,
but give very little of the latter.
No meat substitute for insect life is prescribed by Mr. Rogers, as his
birds have such extensive range that they do not need it. Where the
range is limited, he advises boiled beef liver put through a meat chopper
and mixed with the wet mash at the rate of a handful to each gallon. The
small breeder whose young birds have free range need not bother about
feeding meat. Crissel, a beef scrap, obtainable at poultry dealers, is used
by many breeders, but Mr. Rogers prefers the liver.
After ‘the twelfth day, give two dry and two wet feeds, the dry the
last of the day, and from the eighteenth day, give only one wet feed a day,
making it the first.
After the sixteenth day, use the second of the three sizes of chick grain.
From the sixtieth day on, dry feed is given principally, the third or
largest size of chick grain or, more properly, scratch food being employed;
the general feeding system as heretofore described for adult birds is
followed, except that the wet mash is fed once a day every other day till
freezing weather ensues and an occasional feed of crissel is given dry on a
board, charcoal being mixed with it.
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In preparing the wet mash, the egg should gradually be decreased and
the pheasant meal increased as the birds get older. It is important to
bear in mind that egg and pheasant meal are the principal ingredients.
Mr. Rogers uses no barley meal or rye because of the tendency of these
grains to sour.
If the hens are allowed to run loose in the rearing field with their
broods, it is wise to take a different course each time the round of the field
is made. at feeding time. Otherwise, they quickly learn the keeper’s route
and the congestion that follows frequently leads to fights among them.
PREPARATION OF WET MASH.—Chop the hard-boiled eggs and
mix with cracker dust as previously described. Corn meal or middlings
may be substituted for cracker dust. The next step is to prepare the pheas-
ant meal, which is put in a separate dish and moistened slightly with water
or milk. Work with the hands till thoroughly moist but not sloppy.
Now, place the moistened pheasant meal in the receptacle containing the
chopped egg and mix the two thoroughly by hand, adding enough corn
meal and middlings to make the mash crumbly. Rice may be added
from time to time. It checks looseness of the bowels. It should be well
boiled with every grain separate. In preparing it, place the grains in a
double boiler, filled with hot water, and boil ten minutes or more. When
cool, mix first with corn meal and then add to mash, working it well in.
BONE MEAL.—Bone meal should be occasionally added to the
mash, but never constitute more than ten per cent. of it.
It is impossible to give the relative amounts employed in making the
wet mash feed described above, as enough of each ingredient must be
added to constitute a dry, crumbly mass which will easily fall apart when
thrown upon the ground. The hard-boiled egg and pheasant meal make
the bulk of the mass and, as stated above, the proportions of these
vary with the age of the chick, the pheasant meal being increased as
time goes on.
SIMPLER FEEDING POSSIBLE.—Where only a few chicks are
being reared and birds have free range, the mash can be considerably sim-
plified, the number of feeds a day cut down after the first ten days and the
percentage of dry feeds can be increased sooner. The insects that the birds
will get on the large range that is possible where only a few are reared
benefit them vastly more than any food that may be given them.
Experiments conducted on a small scale in times past indicate that it
may be possible to rear pheasants successfully on dry feeding alone, start-
ing the young birds off on chick grain and adding wheat after the first week
to create a more stimulating ration. So far, no one breeding birds on a
large scale has been willing to take the risk. This is a matter which the
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Keeper’s shack, boiler, sieves and other paraphernalia used in feeding and caring for young
pheasants in the rearing field at the New Jersey State Game Farm.
Department of Game Breeding of the American Game Protective Associa-
tion proposes to try out and report on during the coming season.
CURDS.—Curds are invaluable to correct intestinal troubles so
frequently encountered in game bird rearing and which manifest them-
selves chiefly in cholera and scours, two diseases which find their counter-
part to an extent, at least, in typhoid fever and diarrhoea in human beings.
Curds are best prepared by placing sweet milk on the back of the kitchen
stove and letting it remain two or three hours till it has assumed a leathery
texture. When taken off, the contents should be placed in a cheesecloth
bag and strained. The dry, crumbly mass that remains is what is given
the birds. Salt must not be used. Curds may be fed several times a
week as an extra feed and also placed before the birds along with a regular
wet or dry feed. It should be thrown on the ground, as all other
feed should, not fed in a trough, and, after the birds are allowed to
range, care should be taken that feed is not thrown on the same spot from
day to day.
Superintendent Duncan Dunn of the New Jersey State Game Farm
has done particularly brilliant work in turning out splendid birds in large
quantities, on a comparatively restricted area,—the severest test to which
the breeder can be put. His system of feeding is, therefore, of particular
interest.
DUNN FEEDING SYSTEM.—First three days, chopped hard-boiled
egg and Spratt’s fine ground oatmeal.
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After the third day, mix in Spratt’s number 12 pheasant meal, first
scalding it and using the oatmeal to bring it to a crumbly state.
On the fifth day, add chick grain, scalding it and the pheasant meal
together and later mixing the two with the egg. Increase the proportion
of chick grain till the birds are two weeks old.
At the end of two weeks, substitute number 5 pheasant meal for
number 12 and add rice to the second and third feeds of the day. Boil the
rice separately and mix it in by hand.
A pinch of bone meal should be added to the mash at each feed after
the first week.
In wet weather, after the first week, a dash of cardiac in the feed, is
recommended.
USE OF CRISSEL.—At the commencement of the third week, crissel
(a beef scrap substitute for insect food manufactured by Spratt’s) and
Spratt’s pheasant manna (a grain mixture), are added to the mash. The
crissel is first placed in a bucket of warm water and the impurities are re-
moved as they come to the surface. It is then scalded with boiling water
and left to drain in a sieve (a simple frame 18 x 18 inches with a fly screen
bottom). The pheasant manna is also scalded and drained and mixed with
boiled rice and scratch food, the two last named being boiled together when
the birds reach this age. The mash resulting from the mixture of these
ingredients is given at the first three feeds of the day and dry scratch food
alone is given at the fourth.
At the commencement of the fourth week, the daily feeds are reduced
from four to three.
As it is the custom in New Jersey to distribute pheasants reared on
the state farm the following spring, the pens in which the birds are placed
for the winter when, at the age of six weeks, they are taken from the
rearing field, are quite well filled and so the combination of wet and dry
feeds given immediately above is continued but Mr. Dunn, with Mr. Rogers,
recommends dry feeds from the sixth week if the birds have free range.
DRY MASH IN HOPPER.—Spratt’s egg-laying mash, a dry mash,
is kept in a hopper before the young birds when they are put in the winter
pens on the New Jersey Farm and corn meal is added to it. It keeps
down feather-eating which always threatens when birds are confined.
Mr. Dunn has experimented with raw eggs as a feed for young birds
with good results but has not adopted this feed generally. When em-
ployed it is first given from the fifth to the seventh day. The egg is first
beaten well and then mixed with Spratt’s number 12 pheasant meal, a
little scalding water being added, but care is taken to avoid sloppiness.
Unscalded chick grain is sometimes mixed in.
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Figure 8.—Trap with fun-
-_— nel-shaped entrance for
Sey | catching pheasants.
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Figure 8-A.—Another view of
pheasant trap, taken at out-
side opening of funnel-shaped
entrance.
On the Sherburne Farm, narrow patches of buckwheat are sown in
all the rearing fields and the chicks spend a good deal of time in them.
Some of the buckwheat is cut green and given the adult pheasants for
succulence. What remains serves to hold any escaped birds to the field.
Never place the rearing coop in standing grain; always locate it on turf.
Soft ground is good for young birds to run in but not adapted to the loca-
tion of coops.
PHEASANT TRAP.—Various forms of traps are used for catching
young pheasants in the rearing field, and some device of this sort is par-
ticularly needed when the time comes to remove the birds from the field.
The trap pictured in Figure 8 is the one used on the New Jersey State
Farm, and it works well. It is 18 inches high, 6 feet long and 3 feet wide.
The framework is composed of 1 x 2 stuff and this is covered with one-
inch poultry netting. A hinged door in the center of the top is 2 feet long
and 1 foot wide. The trapped birds are removed through this. At one
end of the trap the wire netting, instead of being nailed flush across, is
drawn within the trap a distance of 2 feet or more, so as to create a funnel-
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shaped entrance which is 1 foot wide at the mouth and tapers to 3 inches
at the small end. By baiting this with grain, the birds walk into the trap
readily. This device should be anchored with weights or guy ropes if
there is any chance of vermin getting in, as the captive will escape other-
wise by crawling underneath the edge, as the trap is very light in
weight.
On the Sherburne Farm, some birds are caught by closing the rear-
ing coop the previous evening, after the birds have entered, but as the
larger birds do not go into the coops at night, further measures are neces-
sary. These are supplied by the use of the covered wire run which is
employed earlier in the season to confine the setting hens when taken off
the nest for feeding. The run is placed in front of a rearing coop and
just far enough from it to permit the pheasants to enter. A grain bait is
then put down. When the run is filled, it may be quickly pulled over
till it comes in contact with the front of the coop, by a person approaching
from the rear of the coop. The birds are then imprisoned and, as the top
of the run is removable, they can be taken out. A word of explanation
here will prevent the escape of a good many captured birds. In taking the
pheasants out of the run, shove the movable cover to one side a distance
sufficient to admit your right arm and no farther. This gives free play
to the arm within the run and the aperture created is not large enough
to permit of the escape of any birds. A round net 18 inches across with a
5-foot handle is employed in catching adult birds when confined in pens.
This is similar to but larger than the landing net employed in fishing.
In removing the young birds that have been trapped in the rearing
field from that enclosure to the winter pens, Mr. Dunn employs the carry-
ing box pictured in Figure 9. It is 51% feet long, 2 feet 4 inches wide and
14 inches high. A sliding door, horizontal, on top affords ingress for the
birds and they are released
through two other sliding
doors, vertical, at either end.
One of these slides up and
down and constitutes the
entire end of the box, while
the other moves from right
to left and constitutes but
half the end. Ventilation
holes are bored in the sides
and handles are provided
for carrying. Leaves or
fine hay are placed on the
Ficure 9.—Box employed on New Jersey Farm for
bottom. carrying birds from rearing field to winter pens.
Se
Sem 1 OOS we
REGULARITY COUNTS.—The amateur breeder will have to acquire
most of his knowledge regarding the management of the rearing field
from experience. Absolute regularity in feeding, and in moving coops,
close observance of the chicks and quick action when disease threatens,
unfailing vigilance and the application of gray matter in combatting the
vermin that always menace game, foresight in avoiding the heavy losses
that come so frequently from rain storms—these are some of the things
that are demanded of him. Little things, petty details, count doubly at
this time. It is not unusual for the keeper to put in twelve or fourteen
hours in the rearing field in the course of a day and night and the wonder
is that most of them are able to maintain so pleasant a disposition, despite
the heavy strain on body and nerves. The man who brings through a
goodly percentage of the birds in the field entrusted to him has thereby
proved himself possessed of skill and cunning and trustworthiness in the
highest degree. Such a feat is no mean achievement and it makes heavy
drains on many of the most admirable qualities that man possesses—
courage, patience, painstaking attention to detail, faithfulness, industry,
intuition, plodding perseverance in the face of a routine that in time must
become deadly—all of these, the successful game keeper must possess.
We have now completed the annual cycle of activities on the pheas-
ant farm. Starting with adult birds acquired for breeding stock, we have
followed the various developments to the point where the year’s hatch is
ready for disposal and preparations for another year’s activities are due.
Pen of ringneck hens, Sherburne Farm.
LAGOS Se
CHAPTER X
COMBATTING VERMIN
A volume might well be devoted to this subject alone and it is impos-
sible within the covers of this work to treat it in detail. In the first place,
the small breeder is not likely to have a great deal of trouble, but where
young birds are congregated by the thousands in the various rearing fields
of one game farm, there the vermin will flock and it is a constant battle
of wits between man and the birds and mammals of prey. Yet, no game
breeder of wide experience and real ability fails to win his fight nine times
out of ten and the smaller man by study and patience can do so, too.
Among the creatures which prey on pheasants may be mentioned
cats, rats, skunks, weasels, foxes, minks, hawks, crow blackbirds, owls,
crows, blue jays and snakes, black snakes particularly. Red squirrels
and chipmonks have been known to break the legs of pheasants and
otherwise attack them. A good shotgun and eternal vigilance in seeking
opportunity to use it is the first suggestion to be made.
CATS.—Even if you do not keep a cat, you will be surprised at the
number of these highly destructive creatures roaming the countryside in
search of prey if you set out a few cat traps. An ordinary rabbit trap
made a little larger than usual will do. The Greenwich, Connecticut,
Bird Protective Society sells a most effective box trap for cats at $3.50.
In its literature it suggests a fish head or raw meat as bait and advises
placing the trap in shrubbery or having it otherwise partly concealed.
The David T. Abercrombie Co., 311 Broadway, New York City, carries
a box trap that automatically chloroforms the cat.
Keep no cat yourself. They do not destroy birds as a rule when any-
one is looking and the hour following daybreak is their favorite time for
hunting, so the oft-repeated statement, “but my cat doesn’t kill birds,”
is seldom based on full knowledge of the animal’s movements. Cats have
been proved by medical authorities to be carriers of the germs of scarlet
fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis and many other frightful diseases. See
“The Cat and Transmission of Disease,” by Dr. C. A. Osborne, Biological
Department, Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
In common with practically all other vermin, cats are most destructive
during the breeding season, when it is impossible or unwise to confine the
young in covered pens.
RATS.—The best information for combatting rats within my knowl-
edge is contained in “Rats and Rat Riddance,” by Dr. Edward Howe
Forbush, the well-known state ornithologist of Massachusetts, and readers
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of this manual are referred to it for much more complete information than
it is possible to give here. It is a state publication and can be obtained
by addressing the State Board of Agriculture at Boston. The following
excerpt from Dr. Forbush’s brochure briefly summarizes the means of
ridding a place of rats:
“There is no royal, easy and immediate road to rat riddance.
It requires continuous mental and physical exertion to banish the
rat, but it can be done, and a reasonable expenditure to that end is
a wise economy. Extermination is too much to hope for, and ban-
ishment from large areas cannot be expected without great co-oper-
ative effort, but the individual can clear his premises of rats provided
the conditions are first made right. The means for ridding prem-
ises of rats may be outlined as follows:
“(1) Rat eviction: (a) destroying rat habitations and har-
boring places; (b) rat-proofing buildings.
(2) Rat starvation: (a) disposal of edible garbage and
refuse; (b) rat-proofing receptacles for all sorts of edible materials.
(3) Rat slaughter: (a) traps; (b) poisons, chemical and
biological; (ec) shooting, clubbing, drowning, ete.; (d) encourag-
ing natural enemies—owls, dogs, ferrets, cats, ete.
“(4) Rat driving and harrying.
“(5) Preventing rat multiplication: (a) all the above.
“Not all of these methods are necessary in every case, but all
are useful under certain circumstances. Methods of permanent
eviction come first, as it is of little use to extirpate rats and then
invite others to come in by continuing favorable conditions, such
as a plentiful, accessible supply of food and numerous excellent
breeding places.”
RAT STARVATION.—The first step in combatting rats seems to be
to make rat-proof the receptacles in which all grain and other food is kept
and to do away with woodpiles and other places that furnish a harbor
for the rodents.
TRAPS VERSUS POISON.—Dr. Forbush much prefers traps to
poison and clearly shows the very great risks incurred when the latter is
resorted to. The Schuyler trap is specially commended. Effective rat
traps can be purchased for ten cents each at the 5 and 10 cent stores, though
they lack something in durability. Bacon or strong toasted cheese makes
good bait. Traps should be scalded and dried. They should be handled
with gloves scented with a drop or two of the oils of anise, caraway or
rhodium. Handle the gloves themselves as little as possible. The bait is
scented with a single drop of anise or caraway oil dropped on a piece of
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paper and, with it, rubbed on the bait. Traps should always be anchored.
They are frequently more effective if covered with chaff, fine hay or other
litter and it is well to place them behind boxes, barrels and so forth in the
natural pathway of the rat.
Mr. Rogers states that he uses poison effectively for rats at the State
Game Farm at Sherburne, N. Y., by putting it on a small shelf inside a
box placed bottom up. An entrance hole is bored in one side of the box
and the shelf is attached to the opposite side, a partition extending half
way up from the floor intervening. The poison, dry corn meal mixed with
strychnine, is placed on the shelf and the partition makes it impossible for
the rat to carry away any of the poisoned bait.
VIRUS TESTIMONY CONFLICTING.—There are conflicting re-
ports regarding the various viruses used to inoculate rats and destroy them
wholesale by spreading disease. Some hold that rats become immune to
them within a few generations while others contend that there is a great
difference in the effectiveness of the various viruses, and that the best are
not subject to this criticism. Mr. J. P. Kellogg states that the Pasteur
virus has been used at the Rumson Country Club of Rumson, New Jersey,
where mallards are reared in considerable numbers, and that it has been
found quite satisfactory. This virus can be obtained of the Pasteur
Laboratories, 366 West Eleventh Street, New York City. It is used in
liquid form for large areas and gelatin for smaller ones. The liquid form
is sold in two sizes, at $1 and $1.50 respectively. The gelatin form is
priced at $.50 and $.75.
USE OF ARSENIC.—The following method of using arsenic is taken
from Dr. Forbush:
‘*A time-honored way of administering arsenic to rats is to
place pieces of bread and butter sprinkled with sugar near their
runs night after night, until they have learned where to look for
them and their suspicions have been allayed, then to spread finely
powdered arsenic thinly over both sides of slices of bread and spread
soft butter over the arsenic, or, better, mix arsenic with the butter
before spreading, and sprinkle with sugar as before. The poison
becomes incorporated with the butter, and is eaten without suspi-
cion by the cunning rodents. Sometimes, however, the sly rat will
eat the bread and avoid the poisoned butter, and it is better to melt
the butter, stir in an equal quantity of arsenic, and pour the mix-
ture on both sides of the bread, so that it will soak in. The bread
may be then cut in pieces about an inch square and each piece well
sprinkled with powdered sugar. One piece should be fatal to any
rat that will eat it.”
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Rats seek water when poisoned and are likely to pollute any receptacle
in which it is contained by dying within it or vomiting into it. Some
breeders of birds make a practice of placing a vessel containing poisoned
water near the poisoned bait so that the rat may get a double dose when
he attempts to slake his thirst.
GOVERNMENT RAT FORMULA.—The poison formula used by
government officials at San Francisco in combatting rats is detailed by
Dr. Forbush as follows:
White arsenic, finely powdered................. 4 pounds
Cheeseman gg ht SO Se taka re mnne EN echt acre 4 pounds
CG CORING a yee ced Srv nd eae to is UES 6 ounces
DN ethe Tae hs SpAak hh ere aS ll oe Atte ore mn i ee 11% gallons
Gornemealie.. ove. oes oe, See ee ae ee 10 pounds
Black analine, sufficient to color to a slate gray.
Ono heamisetye soo eee ORLY eee ed We RE Ne: lee 14 ounce
“Melt the cheese with the glycerine and one-half gallon of the
water, then add the corn meal and the balance of water, and con-
tinue to heat until the corn meal is thoroughly cooked. Then stir
in the arsenic and black aniline, and lastly add the oil of anise. It
may require more or less water for the above formula, according
to the amount of starch in the corn meal, but the quantities as
given above are for average quality of corn meal.
“It is essential in the preparation of this poison that the
arsenic be powdered as finely as possible, in order that there shall
be no grit in the paste when completed. The black aniline is added
until the color of the paste is a slate gray, the idea being to have
the color of the poison approximately the same as that of the sur-
rounding ground. In this manner it does not attract the attention
of children, dogs, chickens or other animals.
“In the preparation of the paste none of the ingredients should
be handled by the bare hands, as there is reason to believe that the
odor of the human being attaches to the poison, and in some in-
stances may render the rat suspicious of it.
“The paste when finished is placed in ordinary tin fruit cans, each
can containing four pounds of paste. Each man places one can per
day, and each can of four pounds should be sufficient to poison approx-
imately from 800 to 1,000 holes or runs. The poison is placed with a
small mixing spoon, somewhat similar to a cheese scoop, and a piece
approximately the size of a hazelnut is placed in each hole or rat-run,
in such manner as to be thoroughly concealed from the observation
of any person or animal except the rat which uses the hole or run.
SU SV
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“The glycerine keeps the paste moist and in a fresh condition
practically indefinitely, and it was not unusual to learn of dead
rats being found in a vicinity where poison had been placed three
or four weeks prior to the discovery of the dead animals.
“Probably this is one of the most deadly arsenical mixtures
ever invented, but if rats do not take it one of the others least
resembling it should be tried. Where they will take no arsenical
mixture, as is sometimes the case, other poisons may be resorted
to. My opinion is that the quantity of arsenic should not be less
than 8 or 10 per cent. of the whole.”
WALLACE EVANS ON RATS.—Replying to a query sent him re-
cently as to his methods for combatting rats, Mr. Wallace Evans of St.
Charles, Illinois, the largest commercial breeder of pheasants in the coun-
try, wrote me as follows:
“T find it a hard battle to keep down the rats on my farm.
Where there is so much feed around for them, it means one continu-
ous fight from year end to year end to keep them within bounds.
I have a number of Airedale dogs trained especially for this pur-
pose, and also keep several ferrets; with the additional aid of steel
traps and various forms of automatic traps and various kinds of
peisons, I am just able to hold my own against them and prevent
them from doing any serious damage. No one method alone is
effective where rats are necessarily so numerous; every possible
scheme should be tried and a continuous fight kept up if you want
to keep them under control.”
THE AIREDALE.—A well-trained Airedale is indeed a valuable
asset to a game farm. Mr. Harry T. Rogers’ splendid dog, “Liz” is of
this breed. She hunts his rearing fields day and night for vermin and woe
to the cat, skunk or rat that she gets within striking distance of. As a
young dog, “Liz” killed a cock pheasant. Seizing the bird by the legs,
Mr. Rogers struck her with it a few times, and from that day this splendidly
intelligent dog has never harmed a bird.
FUMIGATION.—Rats and other vermin that burrow in the earth
can be effectively dealt with through the medium of carbon bi-sulphide.
Having located a single hole, puff smoke into it with the ordinary bee
smoker, using cotton waste to produce the smoke, and soon it will be seen
issuing from the holes round about. These should be plugged at once
with mud. Saturate a bunch of cotton with one and one-half to two
ounces of carbon bi-sulphide and push well into the open hole. Next
plug the hole, placing stones or brickbats in first and then seal it with mud.
The stones will keep any loose earth from rolling down on the waste.
5 SAR a: Ra
Ficure 10-A.— Another
view of the Evans’
vermin trap.
Figure 10.—The effective
Evans’ vermin trap, show-
ing an ermine which has
been snared. Note the wire
to the left which forms a
runway the more surely to
guide the vermin to the
mouth of the trap. Photograph taken on Evans Game Farm, St. Charles, Illinois.
Carbon bi-sulphide is both inflammable and explosive and is to be
handled with extreme care. It is best used in wet weather. The gas
that proceeds from it tends to descend. Some users place the liquid in
every hole located and others prefer to explode it, as this drives the gas
to every part of the burrow. I am indebted to Dr. Forbush and Mr.
Rogers for the information regarding carbon bi-sulphide.
DYNAMITE.—Mr. Rogers states that he has found dynamite effec-
tive in destroying burrowing vermin, especially weasels. The burrow lo-
cated, three sticks of dynamite are placed two feet in the earth, equidistant
from the burrow and each other. They are exploded simultaneously. A
simple method of determining whether any burrowing animal is occupy-
ing a hole is to stop it up loosely and see whether the barrier is subsequently
removed.
GENERAL VERMIN TRAP.—The all-metal trap, simple and inex-
pensive in construction, which is shown in Figures 10 and 10-A is used for
vermin generally by both Mr. Wallace Evans and Mr. Harry T. Rogers.
It can be made at home, the dimensions being, width, 16 inches, length,
24 inches, height, 12 inches. By many it is considered the best vermin
trap known. The floor is of solid wood and a frame constructed of 1 x 2
material supports the three-eighths-inch wire cloth which encloses top and
sides. A metal rod 13 inches in length is placed across the floor of the coop
9 inches from the rear, its ends passing through holes bored in angle irons
screwed to the floor, which permit the rod to revolve. Attached to the
0) 7
cA SG) S4 ee 9
rod is a flat piece of sheet iron with rounded corners, 11 inches long and 434
inches wide. This is the pan on which the victim must step in order to
reach the bait, a bird, rat or what not, which is hung from the rear wall
of the trap. In the more modern models the pan is made of stiff wire
cloth and the bait is fixed to it. A hole is bored through the center of the
pan a half inch from the edge farthest removed from the metal rod and
through it is placed the end of the trigger, bent to an angle of something
less than 45 degrees. The trigger is merely a piece of heavy wire, bent as
described at one end and with the other, which is straight, projecting
toward the front of the trap a distance sufficient to hold up the sliding
door at the front when the pan is raised an inch to an inch and a half from
the floor. Just before passing under the lower edge of the door, the
trigger is supported by being run through a hole bored in an angle iron sim-
ilar to that which supports the metal rod to which the pan is attached.
This is fastened to the wooden cross piece at the top of trap. The trigger’s
length must be such that when the animal’s weight bears the pan’s outer
edge to the floor it will withdraw the support it affords to the door of the
trap, which drops forthwith and prevents the victim’s escape. The door,
12 x 12 inches with a metal frame, works in metal-lined grooves contained
in two upright pieces of 1 x 2 stuff, 18 inches long, placed 121% inches apart.
These traps should be placed along the outside of the fence enclosing a
pen and should always be put back to back, to prevent vermin from at-
tempting to get at the bait from the rear. No trap has proved so effective
on game farms as this one. It is good for nearly every kind of vermin
that preys on game birds.
Mr. Wallace Evans, proprietor of the largest commercial game farm
in the country, at St. Charles, Illinois, who is the inventor of this trap,
sells it at $8. In the following letter recently received from him, he makes
some interesting observations regarding his invention:
I invented this trap about ten years ago and have improved it
from time to time as experience showed this was necessary. The
latest type has a wire cloth pan instead of the sheet iron that was
formerly employed. This permits the placing of the bait on the
pan instead of hanging it from the rear wall of the trap. Experi-
ence has shown that this greatly increases the effectiveness of the
trap when used around buildings.
These traps are used principally on the outside of boundary
fences, not only for vermin, but for snaring escaped pheasants.
When used around fences we usually employ a short guide of wire
netting to make more certain the capture of any prowler along the
fence. This is the most deadly trap that I have ever seen for
the cunning old rats that can not be snared by the methods usually
at = oz
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employed in taking vermin. I assure you that we could not run our
farm profitably without them. Ihave tried all the traps on the
market and have found them of very little use for our purposes.
A trap built on the principles of the above, but which is so constructed
that live bait may be employed, is sold at $2.50 by the Trappers’ Supply Co.
of Oak Park, Illinois. Specify skunk trap when ordering unless the smaller
size, designed for mink and weasel, is wanted. That size sells for $2.25.
Mr. Rogers employs also the number 1 jump trap, manufactured by
the Oneida, N. Y. Novelty Company, which is obtainable at most hard-
ware stores. This is placed a few inches within one end of a box-like run-
way 30 inches long, 8 inches wide and 6 inches high. The runway is
placed next to the fence surrounding the pen and the trap’s chain is fast-
ened to the runway to prevent the victim’s escape after he is caught.
These traps are placed a few paces apart around smaller fields, but this is
not possible, of course, where greater areas are concerned. The runway
inevitably guides the skulking mink, weasel or whatever the vermin may
be to the jaws of the trap as he makes his way about the fence in an effort
to find an opening to his prey.
Open steel traps in running water to do away with the scent of the
human body are frequently used for foxes and minks. The bait, a piece of
meat, is attached to a stick which is placed two or three feet from shore
and is long enough to hold it just above the water. Between the bait and
the shore place the trap, just beneath the surface of the water and located
so that its pan will serve as a stepping stone to the fox for the bait. Cover
the pan with leaves or moss so as to provide a dry footing for reynard. An
experienced trapper suggests the employment of two traps instead of one
in the manner indicated. Tegetmeier tells of a breeder who paints his
rearing coops white on the theory that foxes are repelled by the color.
FEATHERED VERMIN.—Hawks, owls, crow blackbirds, crows and
blue jays come within this category. The shotgun is a handy exterminator
and the open steel trap, unbaited, and placed on poles near the pheasant
pens or fields, affording a convenient alighting place for hawks, is usually
quite effective. Mr. Rogers fixes sharp spikes, 6 inches long to the tops
of all the posts supporting the wire mesh about his fields with an occasional
exception and on this a steel trap is placed. The jaws of traps should be
wrapped with cloth, as innocent birds are sometimes caught in them.
This also minimizes the suffering of the creatures which must be destroyed.
Messrs. Von Lengerke & Detmold of 200 Fifth Avenue, New York
City, sell a stuffed great-horned owl, ingeniously constructed so that its
head and wings may be caused to move quite naturally by means of
strings attached to them and conveyed to a nearby blind which conceals
CACO emer
the operator. The owl is mounted on a
pole and the hawk is dispatched by the
operator’s shotgun when he makes for
the owl. This device is graphically pic-
tured in Figures 11 and 11-A. The owl
decoys are sold at $25 each and the same
house carries a crow call and crow decoy
which sell at $1 each.
Wholesale destruction of hawks by
means of this device is by no means ad-
vocated. ‘The cooper’s and sharp-shinned
should always be destroyed, but it is to
be remembered that many hawks are
Fiaure 11-A.—Cooper’s hawk decoy-
ing to owl.
valuable destroyers of mice and other
enemies of the farmer and comparatively
innocuous in so far as birds are concerned. It is always possible, of course,
for individuals of a harmless species to develop depraved habits, but many
breeders are inclined to convict the hawk on insufficient evidence. In the
literature issued in connection with the owl decoy mentioned above, it is
stated that ““many of the hawk species are not as destructive as most
people imagine, and such as the red
tail, meadow, broad wing and red
shoulder, which all come well to the
owl, should be spared.” The great-
horned owl is one of the worst enemies
of game birds and it will work great
havoc on a game farm unless promptly
attended to.
Crows are very destructive. Mr.
Dunn attacks them by placing half an
egg shell containing raw egg mixed
with strychnine just outside the rear-
ing field. One crow caught in this way
is likely to rid the place of his fellows
for some time to come. A conspicuous
object which the wind will keep con-
stantly in motion makes a good scare-
crow, but any device must be changed
: ' Figure 11.—Decoy owl used for com-
from time to time. batting destructive species of hawks.
by a S
ED vere arava AOL. Oe LPN
CHAPTER XI
DISEASE AND Its PREVENTION
The best way to cure disease in pheasants is to prevent it, if one may
be allowed a Hibernicism. Once it breaks out on a considerable scale
even the most experienced is likely to suffer severe losses, therefore any
extended discussion of cures for the various diseases to which Sa
are subject seems hardly worth while.
CAUSES OF DISEASE.—Disease in pheasants most Peete
results directly or indirectly from one or the other of the following causes:
1. Errors in feeding—(a) too much; (b) too wet; (c) irregularly.
2. Failure to provide pens of sufficient size—in other words, crowding.
3. Keeping birds too long on the same spot—infected ground.
4. Failure to supply pure, fresh water in clean utensils and keep it
in the shade. Water exposed to the sun will frequently kill young birds.
Damp ground around a water vessel furnishes excellent breeding ground
for the germs of many pheasant diseases. Mr. Rogers keeps the plain,
open water pans for his young birds 10 or 15 feet from the rearing coop
to avoid just this condition.
5. Failure to supply sharp-surfaced grit and charcoal together with
green food, such as lettuce, to penned birds.
6. Wet weather.
7. Exposure to diseased domestic fowls.
8. In-breeding, which causes birds to be less resistant to disease.
WHAT TO DO.—Generally speaking, these things should be done
when disease appears:
1. Burn the body of the diseased bird.
2. Seald daily drinking vessels and all vessels in which food is mixed.
3. Move coop or pen to fresh ground, quickliming the site on which
it formerly rested and spray all coops with disinfectant.
4. Isolate bird as soon as its illness is discovered.
5. Get birds on dry ground if possible. Mr. Dunn uses a removable
floor, or “shutter,” as it is called, for his rearing coops and this is always
employed when the chicks are first put in the rearing field in order to
insure a dry footing.
6. Remove from contact with domestic fowl.
7. In extreme cases where the ground is generally infected, feeding
may be done on boards.
8. Feed your wet mash dry and crumbly, never sloppy and give as
much dry feed as possible.
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LA SOY See
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9. Feed rice, if bowels are loose.
10. Carefully watch droppings of fowl for indications of disease.
Make up your mind at the start that you will be so careful that it
will be next to impossible for disease to break out.
Tegetmeier gives a very respectable list of diseases to which pheasants
are subject, among them being colds, gapes, roup, tuberculosis, pneumonia,
cramp (an affection of the bones of the leg), skin necrosis, fowl enteritis
(cholera) and scurfy legs. Birds may also contract lead poisoning through
eating shot picked up on ground that has been hunted over.
POWDER TREATMENT FOR GAPES.—Gapes, the very common
disease which is easily diagnosed by the “‘sneezing”’ of the birds, is, fortu-
nately, rather easy to cure, provided it does not attack very young birds.
The so-called sneezing arises from the efforts of the bird to expel from its
windpipe the worms (Syngamus trachealis) that are lodged there. The
treatment is to place the affected birds in a coop, closed fairly tightly, and
blow into it with a bellows camlin or blackerite powders, which are to be
had at the larger poultry supply houses. The Rogers’ type of rearing coop,
as previously described, has a hole in the front, a few inches above the
slats for the insertion of the nozzle of the bellows. Mr. Rogers uses
blackerite, at the rate of a teaspoonful to a coop of fifteen or twenty birds.
Mr. Dunn gives three puffs of the bellows to each coop. The birds are
kept exposed to the powder approximately three minutes. The coughing
caused by the powder results in the discharge of the worms, but the ground
on which the coop stood should be quicklimed, as the expelled worms will
otherwise infect the soil.
Tegetmeier recommends the employment of the fumes of carbolic
acid in treating gapes. A hot brick placed within the coop on which a
few drops of acid are dropped will cause a vapor which will bring results,
and this is the inexpensive method for the small breeder.
MENACE OF SCALY LEGS.—Sealy or scurfy legs is another ailment
that is fairly common and yields readily to treatment. It is contracted
by young pheasants usually from foster mothers, as the disease is quite
common among domestic fowl. It occurs in the form of crusts that appear
on the legs and toes of fowl, caused by the raising of the scales covering
this portion of their anatomy by a minute parasite, (Sarcoptes mutans),
which takes up its abode under them and sets up irritation. The disease
is infectious and it is easy to see how the pheasant chicks could get it from
their foster mother. Clean-legged fowl only should be used as foster
mothers and the legs of these should be carefully examined for evidence of
the disease before they are placed on eggs. On the Sherburne, N. Y. Farm,
the legs of the adult pheasant breeders are gone over with a brush saturated
aN @2
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SS LY M3,
with kerosene four times a year, so that it can be seen that scaly leg is a
real menace and to be avoided at all hazard. If the disease actually breaks
out, coops, nesting places, and so forth should be liberally sprayed with
disinfectant and kerosene applied to the legs of infected birds.
Setting hens should also be carefully examined for symptoms of skin
necrosis which attacks the mouth and throat and the skin of the abdomen
and chest. When the skin is affected, it appears as “thick, dry, greenish-
yellow, friable deposits”? (Tegetmeier). Burn the body of the infected
hen. ‘Treat ground on which she has been with quicklime and do not use
it for birds for a year if possible.
The other ailments of pheasants for the most part respond slowly, if
at all to treatment and little in the way of medication can be done. Iso-
lation, cleanliness, dry quarters free from draughts and care in feeding are
about all that can be done, provided the bird is not destroyed forthwith
and its body burned, which is frequently the wisest course to pursue.
The following list of diseases, their symptoms and treatment, is taken
for the most part from Tegetmeier:
ROUP.—Cause, micro-organism known as a protozoon, an infectious
specific parasite; symptoms, white patches in mouth and pharynx, mouth
filled with viscid slime. Treatment, add salicylate to drinking water, a
pinch or two; free the mouth from growths and dress affected parts with
a strong solution of boric acid. Disease usually curable when only mouth
affected. Dress ground of pen heavily with quicklime and turn under
after three days. Conkey’s roup cure is recommended by some.
CRAMPS.—An affection of the bones of the legs, commencing usually
in one and spreading to the other, making locomotion nearly impossible.
Usually fatal within three days. No treatment is known but the germ
thought to cause the disease probably flourishes in wet ground, so move
the birds to high, dry ground as soon as trouble appears and cover the
ground with quicklime as in roup. Burn the body of the infected bird.
ENTERITIS.—Severe purging accompanied with yellow evacuations
characterizes it. No effective treatment is known. Burn the bodies of
infected birds, move non-infected ones to fresh ground and treat the in-
fected soil with quicklime.
Enteritis is sometimes caused by the presence in the intestinal tract
of a sporozoon micro-organism. The symptoms are loss of appetite,
emaciation, constipation, followed by diarrhoea, the evacuations being
“often brick red, more often whitish, then greenish” (Tegetmeier). Great-
est mortality occurs in birds from three to six weeks old. Adult pheasants
and domestic fowl frequently resist the disease, but the cysts of the para-
sites, passed out in their droppings, infect the ground and any food that
S27
4 i ) — ))
PILAR. A Pienemann Aes
AGS DN 3A INE ZA SS
is thrown on it. The cysts of the parasites live a long time after being
deposited on the ground. Isolate infected birds, move others to fresh
ground, treat infected soil, scald all food utensils and feed on a board.
The United States Department of Agriculture, in a bulletin by Dr.
Morse, prescribes for enteritis a teaspoonful of Epsom salts given in the wet
mash for each eight to fifteen chicks, according to size, sulphate of iron in
the drinking water at the rate of ten grains to a gallon.
For scours, cholera and enteritis, which seem to be different phases
of enteric troubles, castor oil fed in the wet mash is recommended by
Mr. Dunn; a teacupful to a water bucket of mash, given every other day.
There is a diversity of opinion as to whether the foam-like substance
not infrequently encountered in rearing fields, and known as “cuckoo
spittle” is injurious to young birds. There are many well authenticated
instances in which birds have died, apparently from eating it, but some
breeders think it is seldom the primary cause of death. It occurs on poor
soil and birds having access to it are therefore not likely to be in first class
condition. Perfectly healthy birds are frequently reared in fields in which
it abounds. These facts indicate that the spittle is not harmful to well-
nourished birds. In affected birds the spittle forms a jelly-like mass in the
crop. Relief is afforded by pressing this mass out with the fingers. It is
the purpose of the American Game Protective Association to experiment
to determine how far the spittle may be considered injurious. I am indebt-
ed to Dr. L. O. Howard, chief of the Bureau of Entomology of the United
States Department of Agriculture for the following description of the
insect which secretes the spittle:
“The so-called frog-hoppers, or spittle insects, are of the
family Cercopidae. They are small, slender, brown or clay-yellow
or grayish insects, and after hatching from the egg live in little
masses of froth resembling spittle, on the stems of plants, frequently
on grasses and weeds. The eggs are laid in the stems in the autumn
and hatch in the spring. The spittle is secreted as a clear liquid,
and air bubbles are brought into it by constant threshing about of
the anal end of the body, the air being retained as bubbles by the
viscid quality of the liquid. It is supposed that the purpose of the
frothy mass is to protect the soft-bodied, immature insects from their
natural enemies; in other words that it is a disguise, but it renders
them very conspicuous, and once their true nature is ascertained
they are all the more easily found by their enemies, and as a matter
of fact they are sought for by certain wasps which drag them out
of their froth and carry them off to provision their nests. So far
as I know, there is no evidence that either game or domestic fowls
are injured by eating these insects or their secretion.”
wae «-
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Steet LY DISD. 2
CHAPTER XII
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PHEASANTS OF THE UNITED STATES
We have already noted the fact that the pheasant commonly found
in the eastern United States is the ringneck, a hybrid sprung from the
common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, and the Chinese pheasant, Phasia-
nus torquatus, and that that of the Pacific Coast is the pure Chinese,
(Phasianus torquatus). The following rule for distinguishing the com-
mon, the Chinese and their hybrid, the ringneck, has been given me by
Mr. C. William Beebe, curator of ornithology of the New York City Zoo-
logical Park, the first volume of whose monumental work on the pheasants
of the world has recently been announced:
HOW TO DISTINGUISH “COMMON,” “CHINESE” AND
“RINGNECK.”—If the loose, hair-like, disintegrated, feathers which
cover the lower back and rump are:
1. Pure maroon, the bird is a pure-bred “common” pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus), a bird that is rarely seen in England
today, so generally has it been crossed with the Chinese pheasant
(Phasianus torquatus).
2. If pure green, the bird is a pure-bred Chinese pheasant
(Phasianus torquatus).
3. If mottled, or a blend of maroon and green, the bird is a
ringneck, the pheasant commonly found in England and Eastern
United States and which is a cross between colchicus and torquatus,
with sometimes, in Great Britain, an admixture of the blood of
the Japanese pheasant (Phasitanus versicolor).
SPECIES COMMONLY BRED.—Species of pheasants other than
ringnecks which are more or less commonly bred by the large commercial
breeders are the Reeves, Mongolian, Japanese (versicolor), Prince of Wales,
golden, silver and Amherst. Most of the Pacific Coast breeders breed
the pure Chinese rather than the ringneck, in addition to the species just
mentioned. Of the latter the four first mentioned belong to the genus
Phasianus, whose members are known as true pheasants, and they are all
more or less of the type of bird adapted to the coverts of this country.
The remaining species of the list are commonly referred to as aviary birds
and, generally speaking, are not adapted to such cover as is typical of the
United States. For that reason, these are seldom liberated but drag out
what must be a rather miserable existence in an aviary. There are to be
had of a few breeders, of course, other and rarer species of aviary pheasants,
but such have no place in a work of this nature.
A LAM) See TIME AE
CROSSING TO IMPROVE QUALITY.—So far, the ringneck and
Chinese are the only birds really established in the wild state in this coun-
try, so far as I am able to determine, the former being characteristic of
the eastern United States and the latter of the far West. The other
species, however, are not to be dismissed summarily, and there is evidence
accumulating of increasing experimentation in the crossing of the ringneck
and Chinese with some of their near relatives with the idea of improving
the qualities of these birds both from a sporting and an edible standpoint.
Letters requesting detailed information, which were recently addressed
to various states and individuals which had reported to the American Game
Protective Association the breeding of species other than Chinese or
ringnecks, elicited interesting replies. Two of these that are typical are
given herewith:
Dr. George W. Field, Chairman, Commissioners on Fisheries and
Game, Massachusetts:
We have been breeding, in a small way, at the state farms
Mongolians, versicolors, Reeves and golden pheasants in addition
to ringnecks to determine whether by any chance these birds are
more suitable than the ringnecks from their feeding and breeding
habits, and hardihood. They are each of them distinctly more
difficult to raise than the ringnecks, and the few we have are only
for popular interest. We have not succeeded in breeding them in
sufficient numbers to warrant liberation, although the first crosses
and partial bloods have been liberated. This refers to crosses of
ringnecks with Mongolians and versicolor. We have no intention
of interbreeding hybrids or attempting to establish any subspecies
but merely to get a breed which is a little more gamey than the
ringneck.
Henry Rief, Esq., Superintendent, King County Game Farm, Seattle,
Washington, writes:
The main object I have in breeding Prince of Wales into
Chinese pheasants is to overcome a fault.
The fault is, first, that our birds are becoming smaller each
year which is, I believe, caused through inbreeding. What first
called my attention to this was that in raising from one to three
thousand we would have one out of about fifty white. This lead
me to believe that the stock we had was inbred.
I found after crossing my birds with the Prince of Wales and
Mongolian strains that this stopped and that the size of the birds
increased. While it is true that the Mongolian is a smaller bird
than the Chinese, he is of a cleaner strain, or rather the ones that
I have exhibit these qualities.
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Stem 1 M3,
I have about seventy-five male birds that are crossed with
either the Prince of Wales or Mongolian; birds secured from vari-
ous breeders in Oregon. These same birds last year showed great
signs of degeneration. Many of them were hatched with crippled
legs and deformed in other ways. In many cases they were ex-
tremely weak. Since I have crossed with the Prince of Wales, us-
ing the male of that species and the Chinese hen, we have experi-
enced less of this trouble. It could probably be eradicated by
bringing in new stock from the Orient, but owing to the pressure
of business, and further because I had a number of Prince of Wales
cocks on hand, I made the experiment and I find that the birds
resulting are a great deal hardier. This applies to the Mongolian
cross as well. I had no particular object in doing this further than
to add strength to the birds that we were turning out.
I have placed an order with a firm in Yokohama for a number
of thoroughbred Chinese male birds and should I be successful in
landing them, I will cross them with some of the females that I
now have.
You probably know that of the Chinese birds first brought to
the Pacific Coast by Judge O. N. Denny, the majority were liber-
ated in Oregon. Some, however, were placed on Protection Island,
in Puget Sound. No further consideration was given these birds
till some years later when a few sportsmen began shooting them.
There followed their propagation in captivity in Oregon and after
a time the bird became known in Washington and several people
in this state began to raise it. Some of our stock was imported
from Oregon, presumably descendants of the original birds im-
ported by Judge Denny, and some has been brought in from other
parts of the United States. Also, a great many birds appear to
have been imported from the Orient. Whether they were pure
Chinese stock I cannot say, but in summing it all up, it appears to
me that 99 out of every 100 birds in western United States orig-
inated from the birds imported by Judge Denny.
Some time ago I saw birds on board the S. S. Minnesota which
were bought from Laffan & Co., Yokohama. The plumage was
somewhat disfigured on account of being in cold storage, but the
bird was a great deal heavier than ours. I also noticed that the
breast was more compact than that of our birds.
Mr. Rief’s reference to the Mongolian as a smaller bird than the
Chinese is puzzling, as he is commonly recognized as being much larger
than either the Chinese or the ringneck.
S77
LASS See
TABLE OF PHEASANT CROSSES.—As will have been gathered
from what has been written above, many species or sub-species of pheas-
ants may be crossed and, in a good many instances, the resulting progeny
will be fertile. Some species will also cross with domestic fowl. The fol-
lowing table of crosses is taken from ‘‘ Pheasant Keeping For Amateurs,”
by George Horne, an English publication:
CROSSES EGGS
Goldtand*nnenecks 3.29 ee eee eee Fertile
silver and domestic fowl ....5..2.). 4.2. .2- Fertile
Amberst-and:Gold: 23-45 san ee eee Fertile
Reeves:and ringnecks 1.40000. Hae. Fertile
Elhotandscommont \- eee eee Unfertile
Soemmerring and common................. Unfertile
Versicolorsand* Golda ss 4-6) ae aaa eee Unfertile
PHEASANT AND DOMESTIC FOWL.—Mr. Charles A. Sykes of
Dutchess County, New York, is authority for the statement that a cross
between the ringneck and domestic fowl gives a bird of surpassing quali-
ties for eating purposes. The hybrid is infertile. The following account
of a cross with domestic fowl is taken from the BULLETIN of the Ameri-
can Game Protective Association of July 15, 1915:
Every now and then stories are heard in game breeding circles
of crosses between pheasants and domestic fowls. Some of these
are well authenticated. Mr. H. M. Brigham, of New York City,
has brought to the attention of the BULLETIN an instance that
occurred on the preserves of the Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club in
Dutchess County, New York, a few years ago. The male bird
was a cock ringneck pheasant and the female a small bantam hen.
The color of the offspring was nearly an exact reproduction of the
color of the plumage on the body of the cock pheasant under the
wing. In size the bird was considerably larger than either of its
parents. Its most striking characteristic was its carriage, which
strongly resembled that of a game cock, the head being held very
high. The bird was rather strong in flight.
A brief consideration of some of the species used in crossing or which
are bred pure will enable any reader who may wish to experiment in this
line to do so with some appreciation of the distinguishing characteristics
of the various species:
CHINESE.—This species, the pheasant commonly found in the
Pacific Coast, is a rarity in the East. Smaller than the hybrid ringneck,
he is esteemed by many a far better game bird and more toothsome also.
One of his strongest admirers is Superintendent Rogers of the New York
te
AS:
BS \-Smrrm on LA LPN
State Game Farms, who says he finds him excellent for renewing the blood
of his strain and, as a sporting bird, quick to rise to a dog, seldom running
along the ground, and a swift flyer.
Mr. C. William Beebe, states that he has shot pheasants within two
miles of Shanghai without the white ring on the neck, apparently demon-
strating the fact that the Chinese pheasant does not always breed true to
type. In fact, Mr. Beebe states that there is great irregularity. He is of
the opinion that the large majority of the pheasants of the Pacific Coast
country have no blood of the common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, in
them, as practically all our eastern birds have. Mr. Rogers, on the other
hand, states that in his observation pure-bred Chinese birds breed in this
country unusually true to type, when reared in captivity. He prefers the
pure Chinese to the ringneck, esteeming it a keener, hardier bird.
OREGON PREFERS CHINESE.—I am indebted to Mr. William L.
Finley, state biologist of Oregon, for the following:
In regard to your question concerning the pheasants in Oregon,
I will say that the wild birds are pure-bred Chinese, Phasianus
torquatus. Ihave seen a great many of the birds killed in the wild
state and the stock is pure. Of course, we have quite a number
of people who purchase pheasants, and some of these have pro-
cured Mongolian or English ringneck stock, but as far as I know,
none of these has been liberated anywhere in Western Oregon.
From the experience I have had, I believe the pure Chinese,
Phasianus torquatus, is a better game bird than any of the others.
In talking with some of the eastern dealers, I have had them claim
that their birds were larger and better. In fact, one of them told
me that he thought the Oregon pheasants were not as good stock
because they are smaller and run mostly to legs. This was either
because he had different stock for sale or he did not know this
bird in the wild state. I take it that the main point in a
good game bird is one that can take good care of itself in the
wild state, and reproduce itself in sufficient quantity to give
hunters something to shoot at. If you could observe our pheasants
in Oregon travel up and down the Williamette Valley, you would
see that this bird is a success from the sportsman’s standpoint and
in every other way.
In reproducing the above I have taken the liberty in several
instances of changing the term “ringneck” to “Chinese,” as for the pur-
poses of this book we have determined upon the latter as the designation
of the pure-bred bird of Chinese ancestry, Phasianus torquatus.
S77
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LAWS See
Mr. L. H. Darwin, state game warden, writes from Seattle:
I beg to advise you that the Chinese pheasant (Phasianus tor-
quatus) is the one which is found in the State of Washington.
These birds are imported direct from China, thrive beautifully on
this coast, and have never been observed to cross with any of the
other species, although other species are to be found in this state,
having, likewise, been imported.
We have several pheasantries in this state and in Oregon,
which are engaged in the work of propagating this species, but the
protection afforded them by the law has served to give us a stock
that does not need further replenishing by importation.
Our observations are that, in many portions of this State, Hun-
garian pheasants have reproduced in the wild state, and to a lesser
degree, possibly, the Japanese, (versicolor) and silvers.
RENEWING BLOOD FROM EGGS OF WILD BIRDS.—Mr. Will-
iam H. Dirks, superintendent of the California State Game Farm, writes
that “the Chinese pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) is the bird we are rear-
ing and liberating in California. We do not know, with any degree of
certainty, of any other species that has been established on the coast.
“Our method of renewing our blood has been through exchange with
private breeders, but last spring a year ago, we received 13 eggs from a
nest of 17 that had been destroyed by a mowing machine in Santa Clara
County. Our Deputy Koppel obtained these eggs about noon, placed
them in a box full of sawdust, containing a hot water bag, and shipped them
to us. We received the eggs at 5 p. m. and placed them in an incubator.
They hatched two days later (April 24). We reared 11 birds, 10 hens and
1 cock. The hens were penned up with one of our best cocks, and the
cock with 10 of our hens. From the offspring of these birds, we have
selected 55 birds to be bred back to the birds of our original stock.”
Most game farms make a practice of trapping wild birds for breeders
and this undoubtedly accounts in part for the years of unbroken success
that Superintendent Rogers of New York has had. In New York it is
unlawful to shoot pheasants within any of the territory immediately sur-
rounding the farm. In England some breeders place their breeding hens
in open pens so located that wild cocks may have access to them. There
are conflicting reports as to the efficacy of this method. On other estates
abroad no pheasants are kept in confinement and breeding is done from
eggs gathered from the nests of wild birds and placed under domestic hens.
While, I believe, the matter is not specifically covered in the New York
Conservation Law, I assume that such practice would be lawful in that
state provided the nests from which the eggs were taken were located on
Soe LMS
.
a “wholly enclosed preserve or entire island’? owned or leased by the per-
son for whose benefit they were taken and provided also that that person
had a breeder’s license. In any event, however, in any state it would be
wise first to obtain the consent of the authorities before resorting to such
a practice.
Warden J. L. DeHart writes: “only ringneck [Chinese?]
pheasants have ever been liberated in Montana, and these in a limited terri-
tory on the Marcus Daly ranch in the Bitter Root valley. There they have
thrived and exist in considerable quantities at the present time. No
other species, to my knowledge, has ever been liberated in this state.”’
RINGNECK STATES OF THE EAST.—While it is the pure Chinese
that is under discussion at the moment, it seems proper to call attention to
the fact that the ringneck is the only species of pheasant found in the wild
in the East. Massachusetts and New York are the great pheasant states
of that section, and these birds are found to some extent in practically all
the eastern states north of the Carolinas. The few attempts that have
been made to introduce ringnecks in the far South have apparently proved
unsuccessful, though an interesting experiment along this line is now
being carried on by Mr. William duPont on a large preserve in southern
Georgia. Writing of this some months since, Mr. duPont had this to say:
“The ringneck pheasants turned cut on my preserve in south-
ern Georgia have done well. They have not been there, however,
long enough for us to determine definitely whether they will breed
in a satisfactory manner in the wild state.
“The only losses that the writer knows of is one that was
accidentally shot and some eight or ten that wandered off to adja-
cent properties. Two of these were shot. All of the birds killed
were in the very pink of condition, showing that their new home in
the South agreed with them well. This loss is comparatively small
out of about two hundred and twenty-five birds turned out.”
PHEASANTS IN THE MIDDLE WEST.—It is difficult to obtain
definite information as to the status of the pheasant in this section of the
country. The ringneck undoubtedly occurs in the wild in many of the
states 1t comprises but in none, I believe, to the extent it is found in cer-
tain of the far-eastern and far-western commonwealths. Ohio, Iowa,
Oklahoma, Kansas and Kentucky are all states that have stocked ring-
necks on a considerable scale in recent years. The largest commercial
breeder of pheasants in the country is in Illinois, and there are successful
commercial pheasantries in Michigan and Indiana.
In the chapter that follows, consideration will be given pheasants other
than the ringneck and Chinese, which are bred in this country.
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CHAPTER XIII
PHEASANTS OTHER THAN CHINESE AND RINGNECK
Probably the Reeves, Mongolian and versicolor are, among the true
pheasants, the species most generally bred in the United States, though
none has as yet been established in the wild over any appreciable area and
all three are used at the present mainly for crossing purposes. These will
be considered in the order named:
REEVES.—This species is being bred on the state farms of Oregon,
Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Activities in this connection on the
Oregon farm have assumed considerable proportions, as will appear from
the interesting letter from Mr. William L. Finley, given herewith:
More than four years ago when I took the position of state game
warden, I found that my predecessor had entered into contract with
Mr. ’Gene Simpson to purchase 100 pairs of Reeves pheasants for
$1500 to liberate in different sections of the state. The previous
year quite a number of these birds were liberated and we had fairly
good reports of their breeding in the wild state. When we took
over Mr. Simpson’s stock we purchased about one hundred Reeves
in addition. From that time on we have been raising and liberating
about two or three hundred of these birds in certain sections of
the state each season. We know of specific instances in which they
have bred in the wild state. As a rule, they have scattered quite a
little from the places where they were liberated. When set free in
the valley, they seemed to seek the hilly land. For mstance, some
that were liberated in Lane County near Eugene were found some
forty or fifty miles up the river. A pair bred on a farm above Oak
Ridge, and a flock of seven of these birds was seen during the
past season.
The trouble is the Reeves is not nearly as prolific as the Chi-
nese pheasant. We do not get more than an average of fifteen to
twenty eggs from the former, while forty to eighty eggs are laid
by the Chinese hen. The birds are more difficult to raise, also,
although Mr. Simpson uses practically the same methods with
the Reeves as with the ringnecks (Chinese). They are reared side
by side and sometimes in adjoining coops in the same enclosure.
I do not know yet whether we shall continue breeding these
birds indefinitely or not. They are not really successful as a
game bird, but it is a beautiful sight to see them in the fields
and woods.
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Mr. Rogers found in handling the Reeves that they did not lay til
they were two years old and that the hen could be counted on for only 8
to 13 eggs a season. He characterizes the species as being shy and of a
bad disposition.
So far as I can learn, the activities described by Mr. Finley consti-
tute the most ambitious efforts made in any state so far to introduce any
species of pheasant other than the ringneck and Chinese. (In England
the Reeves has been well established for a number of years.) This bird
is not found in the wild state in the eastern part of this country, so far as
I am aware.
The Reeves has the longest tail of any of the true pheasants, exceed-
ing six feet in some individuals and is easily distinguished by that feature.
Its home is in northern China. The bird is excellent for the table, of large
size and of surpassing swiftness in flight. As a sporting bird, however, it
seems to do better in wild, broken, hill country, where its flight must
necessarily be high and varied. In low lying covers it is said to be hard to
get up and to fly low when it does arise. This species is said to be an even
greater wanderer than the ringneck, and that, of course, counts against it
as a bird for stocking coverts.
Crosses of Reeves and ringnecks are more or less common, but it is
supposed that the hybrid is infertile.
MONGOLIAN.—To this day, the ringneck is not infrequently re-
ferred to in this country as the “ Mongolian pheasant,” a curious error which
apparently arose with the introduction of the former bird to this country.
As we have already learned, the ringneck, the pheasant most commonly
found in this country and England, is a cross between the Chinese pheas-
ant (Phasianus torquatus) and the common pheasant (Phastanus colchi-
cus), whereas the Mon-
golian is an entirely dif-
ferent bird as itsscientific
designation, Phasianus
mongolicus shows.
The home of the
Mongolian is in Northern
China. It is, therefore,
inured to low temper-
atures, but is said not to
do so well in warm cli-
mates. It is larger than
the ringneck and a writer
Silver pheasant cock, New Jersey State Game Farm. in the London Field of
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LASS See
January 16, 1909 states that these birds “rise freely to the beaters, and
fly boldly, very fast and high.” Mr. Harry T. Rogers informs me, how-
ever, that he considers the bird rather sluggish and that he does not see
much to be gained from a sporting standpoint in crossing the Mongolian
with the ringneck.
The Mongolian is not to be found in the wild in any part of the United
States, so far as I am informed, but the State of Massachusetts reported
in the BULLETIN of the American Game Protective Association of
July 15, 1915 as follows regarding breeding activities in that species:
Eggs set to Hatched to Still
June 20 June 20 incubating
Mongolian pheasants... 0.22... 4.2.5 90 40 50
Mongolian pheasant cross .......... 68 Qi Al
Mongolian (Evans stock)........... 82 26 56
In the same issue, the State of Connecticut reported that it was
breeding Mongolians, but gave no statistics.
Mr. A. G. MacVicar, head game keeper at the Childs-Walcott pre-
serve in northern Connecticut, thinks well of the Mongolian, as will be
seen from his letter, recently received:
The Mongolian cocks we bred from this season were reared in
this state from imported stock. Crossed with the ringneck hens,
we got a larger and more vigorous progeny. This is true of nearly
all crosses, as, for instance, versicolor, Prince of Wales, Hagenbeck,
ete., with ringneck hens. ‘Some of the hardiest and best birds I have
seen in this country, however, were pure Chinese (Phasianus tor-
quatus) from Oregon. The fertility of our eggs this season was below
the average, I suppose on account of the cold wet season.
We did not get any eggs here till late in April. (We had 14
inches of snow still on the ground April 7.) So you can see that we
can scarcely expect as many or as fertile eggs here at this altitude,
as, say, Mr. Dunn could count on at Forked River. Birds reared
here, however, should make very good breeders, hardy and prolific.
Mr. Neil Clark is another experienced and highly successful breeder
who fancies the Mongolian. He writes me from the Clove Valley Rod and
Gun Club, in Dutchess County, New York, as follows:
We imported from M. Dwight, Berkhamsted, Herts, England,
forty-six Mongolian cock pheasants. We did not get them until
the middle of February and they were in very poor shape, having
been more than two weeks on the way. I did not use them for
breeders this year but I intend to next. The Mongolian cross is a
larger bird than the ringneck, is just as good for sport and is very
hardy. I think they cost about $10 a pair. If you will pay us a
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Pen of young golden cocks and hens, New Jersey State Game Farm.
visit I will show you our Mongolian cocks, and I think you will say
they beat the ringneck.
Mr. Ralph H. Sidway writes me as follows concerning the Mongolians
he is using on his estate near Buffalo:
I imported Mongolians this year because they are larger,
finer birds and wilder than ringnecks. I think they will make better
birds to stock the covers with. I bought these birds in England
after you were down at our farm and they arrived rather late for
this year, but we had fair luck raising them and hope next year to
raise a great many. I intend to breed them pure. The only indi-
viduals we will cross will be the wild birds. All else will be pure
blood. There are quite a few wild ringnecks around our land
now and they will mix up with the Mongolians, but I hope event-
ually to breed all pure Mongolians.
VERSICOLOR.—Of the representative and widely scattered number
of breeders of game included in the American Game Protective Associa-
tion’s 1915 census but one mentions the versicolor, or Japanese pheasant.
The sole exception is the State of Massachusetts, which is merely experi-
menting with it on a small scale. Yet the versicolor is one of the keenest
and most attractive of the true pheasants and it occurs in the wild in
large numbers in Great Britain. In that country it has freely interbred
with the common and Chinese pheasants, the mixed progeny being fertile,
and, according to Tegetmeier, “the effect of this introduction of foreign
blood into English coverts has been amazing, producing an increase in
size and vigor, and beautiful variations in the plumage, dependent on the
species whose blood predominates in the cross,”
SRA
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LALA ) ee 9
PRINCE OF WALES.—While this species can be obtained of the
larger dealers in this country, I know of only one place in which it is being
produced in any numbers and that is on the farm of the King County Game
Commission, near Seattle, Washington, as appears from the letter of Mr.
H. Rief, reproduced in the chapter immediately preceding. This pheas-
ant is a native of Afghanistan and spends much time in dense under-
growths in marshes, though it feeds in more open and drier country morn-
ing and evening. It would be interesting to see experiments conducted
with this bird in country as nearly resembling that in which it is found in
Afghanistan as possible.
THE GOLDEN PHEASANT—We pass now from the so-called true
pheasants, the species included in the genus Phasianus, all of which inter-
breed and produce fertile offspring, to the genus Thawmalea and the birds
which are more frequently found in the aviary than the covert, beyond the
boundaries of the land of their origin. The golden pheasant is usually
regarded as one of the easiest of all the species to breed, many considering
it a hardier bird than the ringneck. It is certainly one of the most beau-
tiful of all the pheasants, its silken crest and broad tippet, characteristics
of the genus to which it belong, giving it a distinction all its own. The
golden is known to inhabit the mountainous country in the western cen-
tral part of China.
Twenty-five eggs is a good average for the golden hen in a season.
The young take to roosting very early and, despite his gorgeous plumage,
the adult cock is by no means so
easily marked in the wild as might
be expected. Young cocks do not
come into full plumage till after the
middle of the second summer. Gold-
ens are occasionally shot in various
parts of the country but in no
instance have they become really
established. They are shy birds
and are said in the wild to be dis-
posed to make way for more asser-
tive species.
Dr. G. Howard Davison, the
well-known authority on American
agriculture, informs me that he will
probably breed and liberate a few
Amherst pheasant cock, New Jersey goldens next year on his place near
State Game Farm. Millbrook, Dutchess County, New
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York. The birds will be thrown with the ringnecks which Dr. Davison
has for years bred and liberated with excellent results, and it will be inter-
esting to note how the two species agree in the wild state.
Goldens are bred by most of the commercial breeders and a good many
state farms also rear them.
THE AMHERST PHEASANT.—This is one of the most beautiful
of all the pheasants and, with the golden, completes the highly restricted
genus, Thaumalea. The two interbreed freely and their progeny is fer-
tile. The cross exceeds either parent in beauty of plumage. It is inter-
esting to note that the Amherst prefers rocky, unwooded places covered
with bramble and briar, and that it is accustomed to considerable extremes
of heat and cold in its native Thibet. There are parts of our western
country in which this species might do well. In captivity it is best to
afford it the maximum of cover.
THE SILVER PHEASANT.—We come now to the last of the species
to be considered and, incidentally, arrive at a new genus, Euplocamus.
In the opinion of Mr. Beebe, this pheasant is probably the most numerous
species in the United States, the ringneck and Chinese excepted. These
birds are so vicious, however, and are so hard to get off the ground that
they are not worthy of much consideration, though they are undoubtedly
of beautiful plumage. The cocks will attack anything that is feathered
and not infrequently go for the keeper when he enters their pen. Of
course, they are not much of a menace, but a cock might do serious injury
to a child. Mr. Beebe informs me that Mr. William L. Finley has written
him that silvers occur in the wild state in considerable numbers in Oregon.
I know of no place in the East in which they can be found in the wild in
any numbers.
When the silver can be induced to get up its flight is low, making
dangerous shooting. It comes from the wooded hills of southern China
and has long been known in this country and Europe. Its flesh is not
regarded highly and, altogether, outside the aviary, where it is quite
attractive, it is not a desirable bird.
DN,
Sees
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GAN ‘sb Di Pee LAs
SP
CHAPTER XIV
BREEDING OF PHEASANTS OTHER THAN THE RINGNECK AND
CHINESE
With such species as the Mongolian, versicolor and Reeves, the
methods employed in breeding differ in no respect from those used with
the ringneck. Even in the case of the fancier species, the more or less typi-
cally aviary birds, there is small difference. In the case of the latter it is
probably best to rear them by themselves and the adults are usually con-
fined in a combination coop and covered run of the type shown in Figure
12, which is from a photograph taken at the New Jersey State Game Farm.
DESCRIPTION OF COOP.—The coop is 5 feet wide, 6 feet deep and
5 feet high, the roof, which slants two ways, rising at its greatest elevation
to a height of 6 feet 4 inches. Two doors, 2 feet wide and 3 feet 8 inches
long, are placed front and rear. They are hinged at the top and open
upward, being supported by a stake driven in the ground when they are
open. It is often desirable to move the pen without moving the heavy
coop and the provision of a door at both the front and rear makes this
possible. The pen should be moved every month or two and, when this
is done, a fresh layer of gravel should be spread over the bottom of the
coop. The latter should be moved at least once a year.
Above the front door there is a ventilation aperture 4 feet long x 1
foot wide, covered with wire cloth. The framing used is 2 x 3 stuff to
which is nailed 7-inch tongue and groove boards. The roof is composed
of 10-inch boards covered with roofing paper. A round roost, 2 inches in
diameter and 16
inches from the
ground is placed
across the center of
the coop so that
long-tailed species
will not injure their
plumes.
On one side of
the coop there is a
door for the use of
Ficure 12.—Type of
pen and coop used for
confining adult fancy
pheasants, ;
Wee
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the keeper, 4 feet 3 inches high and 221% inches wide. The roof measures
3 feet 9 inches from the apex to the lower edge on either side of the slope.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PEN.—The pen which goes in front of
the coop is 10 feet wide, 12 feet deep and 5 feet high. It is constructed of
2 x 2 material, covered, sides and top, with 1-inch mesh poultry netting.
All corners are braced and the two sides are strengthened with a central
strip, attached vertically. Roofing paper 3 feet wide is placed about the
pen to minimize alarming the birds. The top edge of this is nailed to
strips of 2 x 2 which act, also, as a horizontal brace.
The pen is provided with a door in front, 4 feet high x 20 inches wide.
Opposite it at the rear is an aperture 5 feet high x 5 feet wide, which fur-
nishes an opening for the coop door. Across the center is placed a roost,
composed of a piece of 2 x 2 with the edges rounded.
Mr. Duncan Dunn, superintendent of the New Jersey farm, suggests
that the coop might be done away with entirely, and its place taken by a
simple shelter, open along its entire front, and placed across the rear of
the pen itself. Such an arrangement would lessen construction cost
considerably and also the labor of moving, as well as permit the placing
of the coop itself on fresh ground at more frequent intervals.
Bantams are more frequently employed in rearing aviary pheasants
than with the other species, Mr. Dunn using the buff cochin. Light hens
of the ordinary breeds may be employed if bantams are not available.
From 12 to 15 eggs are placed under the bantam, according to size. Feed-
ing and handling after hatching do not differ in any important particular
from the methods employed with the ringneck, but it is probably best to
keep the species separate, as some are more pugnacious than others, the
Amherst being rather notable for its fighting proclivities. It gets the
lion’s share of the feed when confined with other young birds.
ONE COCK TO THREE OR FOUR HENS.—This is the rule
usually followed and with the rarer birds, where it is not always possible
to provide so many hens of the same species, ringneck or even game
hens are used to make up the deficiency. Too few hens mean poor hatches
and the cock not infrequently injures them seriously.
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CHAPTER XV
MARKETING THE PHEASANT
The demand for ringnecks for breeding purposes is considerably
greater than the supply. This, coupled with the fact that breeders bring
higher prices than birds sold for table purposes, is responsible for the fact
that few birds reared in this country find their way to the market, that por-
tion of the demand being met almost exclusively with pheasants imported
in cold storage from Great Britain. Two things, however, are likely in the
future so to increase the breeding of pheasants in this country that eventu-
ally they will come upon the market as a part of the nation’s game food:
1. When the farmer’s wife awakens to the fact that a few ringnecks
reared each year will produce more pin money than chickens, guineas or
turkeys, with hardly any more trouble involved in bringing them to ma-
turity, she will forsake the other fowls or at least add ringnecks to her list.
2. Sportsmen are learning rapidly that a great deal of sport can be
had in ringneck shooting at small expense through the example that is
being set by such organizations as the Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club,
as explained in a later chapter. The next few years are likely to see
pheasant shooting clubs spring up all over the country and, with their
increase, more birds will be available to meet the demand that imported
stock now supplies.
PRICES OF BREEDING STOCK.—Following is this fall’s price list
(1915) of a well known and responsible dealer, the figures given being well
in line with prices asked by other breeders of good quality stock:
Eggs, Dozen Birds, Pair
Ringnecks (cocks and hens)........... $ 6.00
BluedNedlke sia shee ese a ee $ 3.00 6.00
OTS operas eben Some T Csi MARS. Sale, ff, 5.00 10.00
Golden certo as ea eee 6.00 10.00
ViEESICOLOR sg hes LOL oe ae toe eee 12.00 15.00
Reeves: ) site) to Se tae eee eee: 12.00 20.00
Rady? Amaliterstjoi0 3) ts ae ae eee 12.00 20.00
SWranhO@s tes. ae oe Bee eee 18.00 30.00
Mongoliam)<).. 525). 5 “tacoresae eee 10.00 10.00
Manchurian: (3h) oe oo oer 60.00 75.00
MPV ANS Se Fane LGC ae te eet eee 80.00 100.00
Peacocke eo 5 hoki s Mee eee 70.00 60.00
Princesot Wales. 34 So. sso eee 10.00 12.00
EMiOtis® ce ee eee ee eee 20.00 40.00
Cy
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$ 2 \ Sra
The same list quoted ringneck eggs for the 1915 season as follows:
ples See eee aes. a 12 6100 Dozen, $20:00;per-100
MMe enes eer han 3.00 Dozen, 20.00 per 100
aU AL emetic ae 3.00 Dozen, 16.00 per 100
UAE Ae Secs yet 5 os 2.50 Dozen, 14.00 per 100
Another responsible dealer early in the fall quoted ringnecks at $5 a
pair, birds purchased separately being priced at $3 each for hens, and
$2.50 for cocks. At this writing, early November, the market seems pretty
well cleaned up and dealers are asking $6 to $7 the pair for ringnecks.
There really seem to be few birds to be had at any price.
HOW TO SHIP LIVE BIRDS.—Birds wanted for breeding stock are
usually purchased in the fall or early spring, the first named season being
by all odds the best time in which to lay in stock. In my opinion the
best method of shipping live birds a comparatively short distance is that
adopted by Mr. Rogers for the New York State Game Farms. A large
grape basket is the receptacle used. See illustration, Figure 13. These
are made in two sizes, the first holding four to six birds two to three months
old and the second only a pair. They are known respectively as the one-
bushel Climax and twenty-pound Climax. They have been sold in the
past at 1114 and 5 cents each by the Oxford Basket & Manufacturing Com-
pany, Oxford, Chenango County, New York. In preparing the basket
for shipment, cut the ventilation holes shown in the illustration with a
stencil, cover the bottom with two inches of coarse shavings and quarter
three or four apples or turnips as a substitute for water during the trip.
Place a few handsful of grain in the basket also. Unless the birds are to
be used for shooting, one wing should be clipped. Many a bird is lost
otherwise when the basket is opened by an inexperienced consignee. Paste
the address label on the top of the basket immediately under the handle
to avoid its being rubbed off.
The crate shown in Figure
14 is that used by a British im-
porter and illustrates the type
best adapted to long shipments.
It is 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and
14 inches high. —— h
GASP See
though their prices may be considerably higher. An experienced breeder
wrote me recently as follows regarding an imposition of which he had been
the victim:
The novice in many cases is misled by the person who sells
him the birds and is led to believe that he is buying pure stock when
the facts are otherwise. For example, two years ago I became
interested in the Prince of Wales pheasant and corresponded with
a dealer who claimed to have thoroughbred birds. The result
was that I parted with $35 of my hard-earned money and received
three birds, very scrawny looking. When they arrived the maie had
no tail and the hens looked dumpy. After taking them to my
place and supplying them with good coops, plenty of running water,
lots of green feed and plenty of charcoal the birds improved in
appearance. When they reached maturity, however, I found that
the male was about a quarter-breed and the hens were nothing more
than the common Chinese. This illustrates how irresponsible
some breeders are. I am glad to learn that your Department of
Game Breeding will seek in every way possible to protect purchasers
from unscrupulous breeders.
IMPORT INFORMATION.—Breeders sometimes wish to secure
birds from Great Britain. They can probably get their orders filled by
addressing any of the following:
M. Dwight, Berkhamsted, Herts, England.
McLean & Wormald, East Dereham, Norfolk, England.
Welham Game Farm, Malton, Yorkshire, England.
A. W. Gamage, Ltd., Holborn, London, E. C., England.
Wilts Game Farm, Oxenwood, Hungerford, England.
Norfolk Game Farm, West Bilney, Kings Lynn, England.
Rocketer Game Farm, Wendover, Bucks, England.
All but the first named above are taken from a list obtained some
time since, so that it would be well to address several in order to insure get-
ting in communication with one still in business. Laffan & Co., Yokohama,
is the only far-eastern house of which I have knowledge.
If possible, in securing English birds, it is more satisfactory to have a
representative pick them up on the ground from a number of small breed-
ers than to purchase by order through one house.
THE MARKET ON BIRDS FOR EDIBLE PURPOSES.—Ringneck
pheasants, domestic bred, for edible purposes, were $3 @ $3.50 bid, a pair,
this fall by retailers and were sold to the consumer at from $4.50 to $5.00
a pair. Wholesalers paid $2 to $2.25 a pair for imported English birds.
This represents a considerable advance in price for imported birds, due to
oe
CS:
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the rise in freights following the war. They have been obtained as low as
$1.50 a pair in recent years, it is said. The best of the imported birds were
retailed at $4.50 a pair this fall.
Pheasant carcasses are shipped best when crated, six pairs to the
crate, with plenty of ventilation. Do not wrap the bodies in either paper
or cloth.
While it will pay the breeder at the present time to sell his birds alive,
there is always likely to be a surplus of cocks that cannot be disposed of
except for table purposes. The wholesaler is out of the question, as
both he and the retailer have to get their profit out of any birds sold him
before they get to the consumer. The breeder will therefore do well to
sell his birds to the retailer direct or, better still, to some club or hotel.
One sportsman’s club sells its surplus birds to a large New York hotel at
$5 a pair.
Wholesalers handle imported birds only. Among the New York
City retailers who carry pheasants in season may be mentioned:
Alexander Wilson, 319 Madison Ave.
H. H. Tyson & Co., Madison Ave. and Forty-ninth St.
George H. Shaffer, 673 Madison Ave.
William King, 581 Madison Ave.
George Muller & Son, 932 Sixth Ave.
In the illustration in Figure 15 are shown ringnecks in the windows
of one of the above dealers, reared by Mr. Morgan Wing at his Sandanona
Pheasantry in Dutchess County, New York.
MARKET NEEDS BROADENING.—The demand for ringneck
pheasants for edible purposes in the New York market is limited to people
of wealth because of the comparatively high price, and it is active when
the social season is on with its consequent entertainment. The first pheas-
ants arrive about October 15 and they are kept in stock continuously until
April or even May, depending on the exodus of society to the country.
November, December, January and February are the months of greatest
demand.
Commenting on the situation recently, Mr. Alexander Wilson, one
of the retailers whose name is given above said:
“T think there would be a great broadening in the market if
birds were produced in larger quantities, thereby cutting down the
price. Dealers generally, I am sure, would welcome this and in
the end it would mean more money to breeders.”
Pheasants are killed by inserting a knife in the mouth and running it
through the brain. They are neither drawn nor picked. Mr. Wilson
states that the imported pheasants are sent over not frozen but rather
SR
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chilled, and that they arrive in first class condition. Some dealers, how-
ever, complain of the condition of imported birds. He says that domestic
birds vary greatly in quality, but that he prefers the best of them to the
imported. Pheasants are sold in the market largely in pairs and are
eraded according to size.
HOTEL MEN WANT MORE PHEASANTS.—MTr. Oscar Tschirky,
general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, states that the hotels will
velcome a large increase in the production of ringnecks. He prefers the
native to the bird imported in cold storage and thinks that with the law
enacted at the last session of the New York legislature permitting the sale
of pheasants at any time, this bird will likely take the place of the guinea
to a large extent on hotel menus. Mr. Tschirky expressed deep interest
in the movement to popularize pheasant breeding.
LARGEST IMPORTER WOULD WELCOME AMERICAN-BRED
BIRDS.—M+r. A. Silz, of A. Silz & Co., wholesale game and poultry dealers
at 416 West Fourteenth Street, New York City, who is popularly supposed
to import approximately ninety per cent. of the pheasants brought to this
country for table use, states that he would very much like to see farmers
and any one else who may be interested take up pheasant breeding and
cermin abe
Ficure 15.—Birds from Mr. Morgan Wing’s Sandanona Pheas-
antry displayed in the window of a New York
game dealer.
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he thinks there will be an ample market for all that can be produced.
“One trouble, I fear, however,” he said in discussing the matter, “‘is that
the average breeder would not be content with prices received the preced-
ing year when he came to market his birds the following season. This
has been our experience with various kinds of poultry and in this matter
our breeders are in marked contrast with those of Europe, who seem con-
tent with the same price from year to year provided it yields a fair profit,
and who can be depended upon to furnish their quota of birds as each sea-
son comes around. That is one reason that we have not made much
effort to stimulate American pheasant breeding.
9,000 BIRDS BROUGHT FROM ENGLAND YEARLY.—‘Our
yearly importation of pheasants averages about 8,000 birds, most of which
come from England, but some are Chinese birds. The latter, however,
come by way of England also.”
If the assumption that Mr. Silz imports ninety per cent. of the pheas-
ants brought to this country is correct, it will be seen that the annual im-
portation runs in the neighborhood of 9,000 birds.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that, under the rulings of
the customs office, the ringneck pheasant is a domestic bird, and hence
the bringing in of its feathers is not in violation of Schedule N of the tariff
law, which forbids the entry of all plumage except that of domestic fowl
and the ostrich. On the other hand, the Chinese pheasant is still classified
as a wild bird and bond must be given for the destruction of its feathers
when it is imported for eating purposes.
MAY DRIVE OUT GUINEA.—The comment of Mr. Tschirky re-
garding the supplanting of the guinea by the ringneck on the menus of
the leading hotels and restaurants is of particular interest. It was the
passage of the non-sale of game laws that forced the hotel men to resort
to the guinea as a substitute for game. This fowl does not compare with
the ringneck in edible qualities and, once the public taste acquires a little
more education it seems probable that the latter will force the former into
the background. Guinea breeding, if I am correctly informed, took on
great strides when the laws above referred to were passed. There is no
reason to doubt that a similar experience awaits pheasant breeding.
MARKETING EGGS.—Eggs can be made to form an important
part of the pheasant breeder’s income. They are in demand from the time
the birds start laying, but the wise breeder will see that his own wants are
amply satisfied before selling. Egg quotations are given earlier in this
chapter and full information as to packing for shipping is contained in
Chapter III under the subhead, “Caring For Eggs.”
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CHAPTER XVI
EstTABLISHING AND Houpina BirRDs ON PRESERVES—COMMON
CAUSES OF FAILURE—PHEASANT SHOOTING—BREAKING
Docs To PHEASANTS
The history of American pheasant breeding is replete with instances
in which men of wealth have taken it up with high hopes of securing
abundant sport, only to meet with failure and disappointment, usually
after spending a not inconsiderable amount of money.
Again, several of the states have purchased pheasants in large numbers
and turned them loose in their covers in the fond hope that a solution had
been found for the passing of the ruffed grouse and quail. Seldom has
more than mediocre success attended such efforts, due in large measure
to the manner in which they have been carried out.
It must be admitted that such instances as these have given the
ringneck a black eye but one which it does not deserve in the opinion of
its advocates.
THREE COMMON CAUSES OF FAILURE.—I have attempted to
make as careful an analysis as possible of several of the larger and more
spectacular failures of individuals at raising ringnecks for sport and I
believe that in every instance lack of success can be attributed to one
of three things:
1. An incompetent game keeper.
2. Selection of land not adapted to birds.
3. Lack of knowledge of pheasant preserving.
I believe that the first cause has been operative in at least half the
cases. The newness of the industry with its accompanying lack of men
skilled at the business largely explains the lack of competent game keepers.
Owners of estates and all who contemplate engaging a game keeper are
advised to read the chapter on that subject, further on.
MUST HAVE ACCESS TO WATER.—Pheasants must have access
to water if they are to be successfully preserved. It is a common and
fatal mistake to assume that woodland will hold them. Particularly do
they like a swamp well covered with undergrowth. A bog with abundant
hardhack to give protection from foxes is ideal. A close observer of these
birds states that he has seldom seen one more than two flights from water.
In their wanderings pheasants almost invariably follow streams, so
that the attraction of water for them is so marked that it must always be
considered when it is desired to hold pheasants to any particular part of
country.
a
There have been instances where an estate owner or a club has had a
competent keeper and a happily selected preserve and yet has failed utterly
to get satisfactory shooting. How often have I had said to me,‘ We had no
trouble raising our birds but after shooting over our covers a few times we
found we had driven practically all our birds off our preserve.” Now,
the individual or owner who goes to the expense of breeding birds
naturally is disappointed if an outsider is afforded the privilege of
shooting them.
Having thus considered these three most frequent causes of failure
somewhat in detail, let us treat them constructively and see what may be
suggested to insure success where there has been failure.
Number 1 relates to the game keeper and he is adequately treated in
the chapter, further on, which is devoted to him, so nothing further need
be said here.
GET EXPERT ADVICE.—Number 2, relating to the choice of a pre-
serve, needs no elaboration here, as scarcely a chapter in this book is de-
void of some suggestion, direct or implied, as to the sort of country adapted
to pheasant preserving. This further suggestion is made, however. Hav-
ing decided pretty definitely on a place for your preserve, engage the ser-
vices of an authority on the subject before closing the deal. If you al-
ready own your land, it will still be wise to let an expert lay it out for you.
This will consume little time and the expense will be small. The Ameri-
can Game Protective Association will gladly act for owners in such a mat-
ter. Address Director, Department of Game Breeding and Preserving,
Woolworth Building, New York City.
Interesting work in a typical bit of pheasant cover.
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THREE METHODS OF STOCKING.—Error number 3, relating to
the establishing and holding of captive-bred pheasants on preserves, requires
rather extended treatment. At the present time three principal methods
are employed in this country in stocking covers for pheasant shooting.
1. At the Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club, Verbank, Dutchess
County, New York, a system of placing birds in covers in open
front runs from which they eventually escape has been worked out
with great satisfaction to the club members and with the loss
of an astonishingly small percentage of the birds that are released.
2. Occasionally some estate owner who has become enamoured
of drive shooting abroad establishes it on his preserves. This
requires large acreage and is very expensive.
3. Many of the states are endeavoring to afford pheasant
shooting to the public, as was stated in the introduction to this
book, through the annual distribution of eggs and young birds
for the stocking of unposted lands.
These methods will now be considered in detail:
HOW THE CLOVE VALLEY CLUB DOES IT.—For the complete
and interesting exposition of method number 1, I am indebted to Mr.
Henry Martyn Brigham, counsel of the Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club
and author of the original New York Breeders’ Bill, which has done so
much to encourage game breeding in that state:
Perhaps the best method of planting ringneck pheasants for
shooting is that pursued at our club, where Mr. Neil Clark, the head
game keeper, has established an enviable reputation, not only in
raising pheasants and mallards, but in releasing them under such
conditions as to afford excellent sport.
It is essential that captive-bred pheasants be released in suitable
cover, as otherwise they will not remain long at the point where
they are let go, and they are likely to flush out of gun shot. A line
of fence, along which bushes and brambles, weeds and heavy
grass have been allowed to grow unchecked, is ideal for this
purpose, particularly if located within one or two flights of a swamp
or swale, which is the natural hiding place of these birds. The point
selected should be at least one flight from the boundaries of the
preserve and as near its center as possible.
BIRDS PLACED IN RUN.—Having selected the cover in
which the birds are to be released, three to five are placed in an
A-shaped run, which consists of a frame of 2 x 1 stuff covered with
two-inch twine netting, tarred, six feet long, two and one-half
feet high and the same dimension in width. One end is left open
Figure 16.—A-
shaped run used
in planting
pheasants in
hedge-rows in
Clove Valley
Club’s method
of shooting.
Ficure 16-A—
This shows A-
shaped run after
being placed in
hedge-row. The
brush covering
run has’ been
pulled away
from one side so
as to giveaclear-
er view of the
run.
aes
Ficure 16-B.—This shows keeper releasing
birds from sack into A-shaped run.
for the escape of the birds. The run should be well covered with brush.
For illustration see Figures 16, 16-A and 16-B.
After the birds have been placed in the run the keeper remains until
they have “squatted.” In a short time thereafter they will find the
opening and wander into the cover along the fence-line.
After an interval of half an hour to an hour, the birds may be hunted
with dogs and will lie to a point in much the same manner as quail, par-
ticularly if the cover is dense. If released in any other manner they are
likely to make long flights and are very difficult to locate.
Under these conditions the dog will usually set the birds, one at a
time, near the fence or hedge-row in which they have been released, and
those which escape almost invariably will fly down the hedge-row toward
the nearest swamp or swale, from which, if it be of considerable size, it
is almost impossible to drive them. If there ts suitable food in the vicinity,
they will be found for weeks after either in the swamp or in neighbor-
ing covers.
THE PHEASANT DOG.—It is almost impossible to find the birds
without a dog. The best for this purpose is a fast, wide-ranging animal of
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the type used for quail, although a staunch slow dog that noses out the
trail will work in a very satisfactory manner along the hedge-rows or
fences. Either type, with a little special instruction, will soon work sat-
isfactorily either along the fences or hedge-rows or in the swamps, but
as the pheasant has a marked tendency to run, I prefer a fast dog that
hunts with his head high, makes close points and covers his field rapidly.
Such an individual makes his points so close to the bird that it is not
likely to run, and on the whole, he is less likely to flush his birds. A
pheasant which has several times been pointed by a slow dog is likely to
run and flush wild.
In order to work satisfactorily along a fence or hedge-row, the dog
must be under perfect control. A wild dog is likely to run down a fence
or hedge when a bird has been shot and put up other birds out of gun-
shot and to chase a bird if he sees one running on the ground.
SCHOOLING WILD DOGS.—It is comparatively easy, however,
to break a dog of these tendencies, and my method has been to take a
pheasant from the aviaries before the shooting season opens, clip one
wing so that the bird can make a flight of only fifty or a hundred feet,
attach to the leg of the bird a strong cord of about twenty-five feet in
length, and release it in a meadow where the grass is sufficiently high
and thick to prevent its being readily seen. I then take a piece of clothes-
line forty or fifty feet in length, form a slipping noose in one end, and
fit this around the dog’s neck. As the string always trails over the
grass it is easy to determine exactly where the bird is, and when the dog
approaches the pheasant sufficiently close to make a point, the attendant
stops him with the line, and I go on and flush the bird. If the dog
attempts to break his point or follow the bird, the attendant again checks
him with the line. It is apparent that many points may be obtained
in a very short time and the dog soon learns that he must not follow or
chase the birds. I then work the bird into thinner cover where the dog
can see the bird on the ground, and if, on approaching, he attempts to
chase the bird, the attendant checks him with the line. It is not
usually necessary that a dog which has been broken on quail should be
taken out more than two or three times in this manner before he has
thoroughly learned that he must not chase birds when flushed, or when
he sees them running on the ground, and when this has been accom-
plished the dog will be found very serviceable.
METHOD GIVES REAL SPORT.—I have taken experienced
sportsmen on our preserve and tried them out with pheasants planted as
above described, and also on wild birds, and they have been unable to dis-
tinguish between the wild birds and the birds which had just been released.
Sete
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Somme afi AN
The great value of this method of releasing birds lies in the fact
that they furnish excellent sport on comparatively small preserves, where
driving would be impossible. The latter method necessitates a large
area and great expense, as a far greater number of birds will be killed and
without affording anything like the same quality of sport. It is also
doubtful whether natural covers could be obtained which would be suit-
able for this purpose.
i,
To me one of the greatest pleasures of field shooting is in observing
the work of a well-trained and intelligent dog.
Fortunately, in the Clove Valley we have several large swamps where
the released birds which escape the guns eventually go. These swamps
afford excellent sport, but the difficulties involved in shooting birds in
them are such that many of the members prefer shooting the birds re-
leased along the hedge-rows where the conditions are much less difficult.
So far as I have been able to ascertain, the members bring in and
account for between eighty and ninety per cent. of the birds released.
FOUR MONTHS OF SHOOTING.—As the New York law now
stands, ringneck pheasants reared on a wholly enclosed preserve may be
taken at any time during the year. We shoot them, however, only dur-
ing October, November, December and January. In the early part of
October, we shoot only the wild birds and in the latter part of the month
release a few additional birds in the
swamps. During November and
December birds are released along
the fence and hedge-rows in the man-
ner above described, and during Jan-
uary the members are at liberty to
shoot the birds in the swamps, an en-
deavor being made during that month
to kill as many of the cock birds as
possible, as the wild birds seem to
breed better when there is only one
cock bird to about three hens.
Supplementing Mr. Brigham’s inter-
esting description, it may be mentioned
that Mr. Clark, the head keeper keeps
his young birds in the rearing field until
late September or early October before
placing them in large, covered pens of the
type employed by Superintendent Duncan
Valley Rod and Gun Club, Dutchess y :
: County, New York. Dunn at the New Jersey Game Farm.
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LASS See me 45
Figure 17.—Birds being driven down the V-shaped run in covered pen on Clove
Valley Club’s Preserve. When a sufficient number for the day’s
shoot have entered the coop the door is closed and the birds captured.
The pen has also, in one corner, the small house employed by Mr. Dunn
for catching and shelter. Into this house are driven early each morning
enough of the captive birds to meet the requirements of the members
who intend shooting that day. A wire run, 60 feet long, gradually con-
verging toward the entrance to the house, is employed in driving the birds
into it. Figure 17 shows birds being driven down this run to the door of
the house, which is seen in the picture. When a sufficient number of birds
have entered the house, the keepers capture them and place them in wheat
sacks in which they are taken to the covers for the day’s shooting.
SIXTY BIRDS FOR EACH MEMBER.—Members order their birds
and draw for covers the preceding evening. Each member is entitled to
have 60 pheasants planted during the season, and it is customary to put
them out in lots of five or ten at a time. Not more than five birds are
placed in a run. Experience will have to be relied upon to teach the be-
ginner how far apart the various runs should be placed.
The Clove Valley Club has sixty members and the country that is
shot over comprises approximately 2,000 acres. This is a succession of
open fields, whose boundary hedges and fences have been allowed to grow
into a tangle of shrubs and vines, bogs and thick-covered swamp. ‘The
illustration in Figure 18 affords some idea of the treatment given field
boundaries so as to afford cover for the planting of pheasants.
“CANNED SPORT.’’—I am quite aware of the fact that planting
birds in the manner described above suggests what one critic has, somewhat
slangily, termed “canned sport.” The answer to such criticism lies in
ate
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SX Sem LY DOD. 2
the fact that it depends on the individual, just as it does in general field
shooting, as to whether the taking of game under the conditions just de-
scribed shall be done in a sportsmanlike manner. One who cares nothing
for the ethics of sport will transgress in whatever circumstances he finds
_ himself placed while the real sportsman will be all that the name implies,
however placed. I do know that some of the keenest sportsmen of my
acquaintance belong to the Clove Valley Club and that they are enthusias-
tic about the sport the system in vogue there affords.
Furthermore, let us consider the fact that the Clove Valley system
makes possible an extension of sport throughout the country that would
not have been thought possible a few years ago. Under it there is no sec-
tion of the country, however depleted its covers may be of native game, that
cannot have pheasant shooting and have it at cost or less.
wii ae
Ficure 18.— Illustrating treatment given field boundaries so as to afford cover for
pheasant planting on Clove Valley Club’s Preserve.
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LAS Tee
CHAPTER XVII
DRIVE SHOOTING—WASHINGTON’S UNIQUE PLAN OF STOCK-
ING PusBLic COovVERTS—PLANTING Broops witH THEIR
FosteER MorTHEers
We come now to method number two of stocking covers with pheasants
for shooting. This is practically the British system in which a succession
of covers, some natural and some artificial, are located over a large acre-
age and the birds driven from one to the other by beaters, the guns being
placed about each covert as it is beaten so as to afford the maximum of
sport. This does not make a general appeal in this country, where field
shooting behind a dog has become so firmly intrenched that sportsmen are
loath to accept any substitute. It is only fair to say, however, that driven
birds can be made to furnish excellent sport, as many American sports-
men who have shot abroad will testify and the criticisms that are some-
times leveled at this method of shooting usually proceed from some one
not fully informed.
Occasionally drive shooting is done in this country, though the ex-
pense involved and the lack of game keepers experienced in it, combined
with the national preference for field shooting combine to make the in-
stances rare.
THE HISTORY OF ALLAMUCHY.—tThere is one spot in this coun-
try, however, in which pheasant driving was done on a large scale and
most successfully for a number of years. I refer to the adjoining estates
of Winthrop Rutherfurd and the late Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, at Alla-
muchy, N. J., in the hill country that characterizes the northwestern sec-
tion of that state. Here it was that the ringneck was introduced into east-
ern United States by Mr. Stuyvesant, as has been stated, and here Messrs.
Dunean Dunn and Adam Scott, head game keepers respectively for Messrs.
Stuyvesant and Rutherfurd, made possible through their skill the first
demonstration of real pheasant driving that this country had ever seen.
Here foregathered in the fall many of those best known in the society of
that day and no sporting event of the year was more eagerly looked for-
ward to than the shooting at Tranquillity Farms.
Mr. Stuyvesant was enthusiastically working out plans for an enlarge-
ment of the shooting, so successful had it been, when death fell upon him.
With his passing the glories of Tranquillity Farms from a sporting stand-
point departed.
A GREAT PRESERVE DESPOILED.—I recently motored to this
spot in company with Mr. Adam Scott and grieved to see how it had fallen
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Figure 19.—Keepers gathered about the day’s bag after a pheasant drive in the “good
old days” on the estate of Winthrop Rutherfurd, Allamuchy, N. J. Duncan
Dunn and Adam Scott are, respectively, second and third from the right.
into decay as a preserve. The utilitarian hand that now has charge of
the place has actually removed some of the beautiful artificial coverts,
not hesitating to destroy the many beautiful native tamaracks that abound-
ed in these and had attained splendid growth. Cows and sheep now graze
the hills where once the deafening whir from scores of impetuous wings
of driven birds was heard.
Stem LY DISD,
There are several ways of organizing for pheasant shooting that suggest
themselves:
1. The first of these is the Clove Valley method, where men
from the city, for the most part, have combined, secured control
by purchase or lease of a large tract of typical pheasant
country, a club house has been built and a head game keeper and
several assistants have been employed. ‘The club is more than two
hours from New York City, where many of the members live. This
plan has been so thoroughly discussed that it needs no elaboration
further than to state that under it each member is afforded an
opportunity of taking pheasants, mallards and fish exceeding in
market value the sum of $200 which is paid in annual dues.
2. In any section where the owners of a number of adjoining
estates wish to take up pheasant shooting, these estates, under the
New York law, can be combined as a preserve, stocked with hand-
reared birds, and fine sport can be assured. I have recently been
asked for advice regarding organization under just such conditions.
Among my suggestions were:
First: Form an incorporated association or club consisting of
the owners of the estates to be combined in the preserve.
Second: Take out a breeder’s license.
Third: Secure a game keeper, one versed in the Clove Valley
Club’s method of stocking covers preferred, and arrange for the
breeding of ringnecks on the estate of one of the members.
Fourth: Post land composing the preserve with frequent signs.
The above will be discussed seriatim somewhat in detail.
HOW TO FORM AN ORGANIZATION.—To form an association
or club in New York, hold a meeting of those interested and adopt a reso-
lution to incorporate, written in duplicate and signed by at least five of
those present. File one copy of this with the Secretary of State at Albany
and another with the county clerk, after having first presented it to a
justice of the Supreme Court for approval.
Five or more persons may become a membership corporation under
the laws of New York, by making, acknowledging and filing a certificate
stating the particular objects for which the corporation is to be formed,
each of which must be such as is authorized by law; the nameof the proposed
corporation; the territory in which its operations are to be principally
conducted; the town, village or city in which its principal office is to be
located, if it be then practicable to fix such location; the number of its direc-
tors, not less than three nor more than thirty; and the names and places
of residence of the persons to be its directors until its first annual meeting.
Se Va
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An unincorporated club, society or association organized for purposes
for which a membership corporation may be created, may, by unanimous
vote of its members present and voting at a regular or regularly called
meeting thereof, authorize its directors to incorporate for the same pur-
poses, with a corporate name adopted at such meeting, if notice of such
intention so to incorporate be given at least thirty days before such meet-
ing, personally or by mail, to each member of such association, whose post-
office or post-office address is known.
Such corporations cannot issue certificates of stock or be organized
for profit.
The proper form of resolution authorizing the directors to incorporate
is as follows:
WHEREAS, is an unincorporated club (society
or association), organized for the following purposes, namely,
and
WHEREAS, thirty days prior to the date of this regularly convened
meeting notice of the intention to incorporate under the general provisions
of the laws of the State of New York relating to membership corporations
was given to each member of said club (society or association), whose resi-
dence or post-office address is known, and a quorum being present,
NOW, THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded and unani-
mously carried,
BE IT RESOLVED: That the directors of said
be and they hereby are authorized
to incorporate the same, for the same purposes, namely,
under Article IIL of the Membership Corporations Law of the State of
New York, with a corporate name of
which is hereby adopted as the
name of such membership corporation.
After such a resolution has been adopted the corporation must be
organized by the directors, by five or more of them executing and filing a
certificate of incorporation. The members of such club or association then
become members of the corporation and all of the property or assets of
the association become the property of the corporation.
The fees of the secretary of state are approximately $12.50. A form
of constitution suited to the purposes of such an organization as is sug-
gested will be found in the appendix.
It is obviously impossible to give information similar to the above for
any considerable number of states and New York was selected as affording
as good an example as any. In nearly every community will be found a
sportsman attorney who will furnish information to any group of enthusi-
asts wishing to organize along the lines indicated.
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DTaP MS3V, ~,, 105
We will assume that the owners of fifteen estates have thus joined
forces in an association in order to secure ringneck shooting. At the meet-
ing held to incorporate, a sinking fund for the first twelve months’ expenses
should be provided for in the form of dues. It would be necessary to
rear for purposes of sport 60 birds for each member, making 900 birds in
all, but, in order to make the venture at least partly self-sustaining, extra
birds should be reared for purposes of sale.
THE FINANCIAL SIDE.—Suppose we assume that the club will
endeavor to rear twice as many birds as it wishes for purposes of sport,
making 1,800 in all. Estimating the cost of rearing each bird at $1.50, it
will be seen that the total would be $2,700, but to this should be added at
least $1,500 for the purchase of breeding stock, construction of pens and
coops and the erection of fences the first year. We thus have a total of
$4,200 to be divided among the fifteen club-members, a per capita of $280.
In organizing it would be well to provide for $300 dues the first year, pay-
able in equal installments in January, March and July, and $200 there-
after, payable in January and July.
Basing calculations on the estimates pretty generally agreed upon
by experienced game keepers, it would be necessary to procure 180 pheas-
ant hens as breeders and 36 cocks to produce 1,800 birds. This estimate is
based on the bringing to maturity of 10 birds for each pheasant hen em-
ployed as a breeder. As most game keepers consider that, year in and year
out, a good man can be expected to bring to maturity an average of half
the birds placed in the rearing field, it would be necessary for the club in
question to have hatched 3,600 birds. These will take all the time and
energy that a head game keeper and two assistants can give them.
Assuming that 1,800 birds are reared the first year, the club’s balance
sheet at the end of the twelve-month would read about as follows:
Debit Credit
Cost of rearing 1800 birds 900 birds placed in covers
ee ONEACH. ses 6 58 $2,700 for shooting at $3 each. .$2,700
Equipping plant for rearing 720 birds marketed at $2.50
petra rete each iy 95 8 ag att 1,500 Cache eee eee 1,800
180 hens retained for next Sale of 1500 eggs at $20 a
year’s breeding stock at hundred) ie asf es a aise 300
cho) GEC LOA en ae 540 $4,800
36 cocks purchased to re-
new blood at $3 each.. 108
$4,848
SOME PROFIT FROM EGGS.—In order to hatch 3,600 pheasant
chicks it would probably be necessary to place 5,000 eggs under hens. This
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is estimating approximately a 75 per cent. hatch. As the pheasant hens
would almost undoubtedly lay 1,500 eggs in excess of the number needed
for incubation, the sale of these has been included as one of the sources of
profit in the year’s work.
After several years of breeding, the covers of the various estates form-
ing the preserve would become well-stocked with wild birds, but it would
always be necessary to rear a considerable number if they were to be well
shot over each year.
It is assumed in the above that the Clove Valley Club plan of plant-
ing birds in covers would be followed and in this connection it is well to
emphasize the importance of having fences and hedge-rows with sufficient
cover about them to hold the birds when they are shot over a dog. The
present-day tendency to keep fence rows clear of all growths has much to
do with the scarcity of game, and cover such as this is Just as necessary
for pheasants as for quail.
The New York law specifies that pheasants reared under authority
of a breeder’s license may be killed at any time in any manner, if reared
on a wholly enclosed preserve or entire island owned or leased by the
breeder. The scheme suggested above seems to come well within these
provisions. The breeding would be done under a license issued to the
club that would be formed and the birds that were reared would be planted
in the covers of the various estates of the members of the clubs, the shoot-
ing rights on which would have been leased to the club for a nominal sum.
A wholly enclosed preserve is defined in the New York Conservation law
as follows:
“WHOLLY ENCLOSED LANDS” DEFINED.—* Where
lands are referred to as ‘enclosed’ or‘wholly enclosed,’ the boundary
may be indicated by wire, ditch, hedge, fence, road, highway, water
or by any feasible or distinctive manner which indicates a separa-
tion from the surrounding contiguous territory, except as otherwise
provided.”
In forming a club, it would be necessary or, at least, highly advisable
to post at intervals of fifty yards or less around the boundaries of such
lands as it was proposed to shoot upon, a sign reading as follows:
“Trespassing, shooting or fishing on this wholly enclosed pre-
serve is prohibited under penalty of the law.”—Game Protective
Association.
This is the sign used by the Clove Valley Club. It is shown in the
illustration in Figure 21. Paraffined paper has been found a durable and
inexpensive material for signs of this character. They are tacked to a
board, as will be seen from the illustration. As previously stated, the
Clove Valley Club uses for shooting only 2,000 acres of the 10,000 or 15,000
that it owns or controls. It is around the smaller area only that these
signs are placed and a single strand of wire surrounds that portion of it
which has no other distinguishing boundary mark.
3. A third method of organizing for pheasant shooting consists
in an organization of the land owners in any neighborhood with
the burden of rearing birds for shooting distributed among them.
The labor and expense of rearing 50 birds is very small indeed, and
any rural community adopting this method and planting its birds in
covers after the Clove Valley plan would be assured good shooting.
Here, too, it would be a good plan to form an association and do
the breeding and posting of the land in its name. Any members
so situated that they could not help in the rearing of birds should be
assessed for their share of the total reared.
In this plan the expense of a game keeper and, to a large extent, of
pen construction, is done away with, the several members doing the work
of the game keeper. Where only a few birds are reared it is seldom neces-
sary to use any enclosure for them and this cuts out the expensive item of
wire poultry netting. In any scheme of pheasant shooting a minimum
of 200 acres of land, including forty or fifty acres of swamp, if possible,
should be controlled.
There are few sportsmen’s organizations that could not with profit
use some modification of the Clove Valley plan. Perhaps the most feasible
method for these would be to engage a sufficient number of farmers to
rear the birds that would be needed. The privilege of planting and shoot-
ing birds thus reared on the farm of their nativity would doubtless be
granted, and many an organization that today is more or less moribund
could be galvanized into activity if only a few of the members addressed
themselves seriously to the matter of securing pheasant shooting along the
lines that have been so fully detailed heretofore. Once the sportsmen of
the United States awake to the ease and inexpensiveness with which
pheasant shooting can be secured, it will, in my opinion, rank second to
none in their field activities.
4. The fourth and last method I have to suggest relates to
the individual sportsman resident in village or city who wants a
little sport and who, under present conditions, is not able to obtain
his wish in very many parts of the country.
SHOOTING FOR THE AVERAGE SPORTSMAN.—Anyone so
situated should gather about him fifteen or twenty or even more of his
fellows, get in touch with the farmers or farmers’ wives of the surrounding
territory, and fix up an agreement whereby the latter will rear an average
WE %
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LASS De 09
of fifty or sixty birds for each of the sportsmen joining in the movement.
A dollar for each bird brought to the middle of September would be about
the right price for this service.
Each farmer entering the agreement should be furnished with 100
eggs for incubation. These may be bought outright or breeding stock
may be purchased and placed with one of the farmers party to the agree-
ment and the eggs obtained in that way. The latter method is much the
cheaper. If breeding stock is purchased, estimate an egg production of
twenty for each hen.
Let us suppose that ten dwellers in village or city who cannot afford
a club or private preserve determine on this method of obtaining sport,
practically at their doors.
SIXTY BIRDS PER CAPITA.—As sixty birds will furnish a good
season’s sport, the endeavor should be to have raised 600 birds for the
group of ten. Bearing in mind that fifty per cent. of the eggs placed
under hens should result in matured birds under average conditions, we
see that 1200 eggs would be called for for incubating purposes under the
present scheme. At $25 a hundred this would mean an outlay of $300 if
this method were followed. If, however, sixty hens and twelve cocks were
purchased at $3 each the expense would be $216, plus the comparatively
small cost of pen construction, care and feed, and this number of hens
should produce the 1200 eggs needed.
Estimating the cost of rearing the 600 mature birds that should result
from the 1200 eggs at $1.50 each, we have a total cost, if breeding stock is
used instead of eggs to effect a beginning, as follows:
Cost. of 72°breeders ........: $216.00
Cost of rearing 600 birds... .. 900.00
Add for incidentals.......... 100.00
Total Costes. whe pee $1216.00
This is an average of $121.60 each for the ten sportsmen joining in
the scheme. If the birds are planted after the Clove Valley method, each
sportsman should bring 75 per cent. of the birds released for him to his
gun. This is an average season’s bag of 48 birds for each individual. Let
us suppose that our man elects to keep 12 of this bag for his own uses and
disposes of the remaining 36 at $3.50 a pair to some club, hotel or retailer.
In that event he would receive in cash $63 which, deducted from his original
outlay, $121.60, would make the net cost of his season’s sport $58.60.
EXPENSE OF TRAVEL ELIMINATED.—When one considers that
all this sport could be obtained without going to much more expense of
travel than is involved in running out to the country for a game of golf,
it would seem that it offers the best solution that can be obtained for the
Sent OM
problem of furnishing sport to the man of moderate means who cannot
spare much time from his business for indulgence in his favorite form of
recreation.
Plans are under way whereby sportsmen situated as previously described
and farmers in surrounding territory wishing to take up pheasant breeding
may be brought together and individuals of either class who are interested
are invited to write the American Game Protective Association, Wool-
worth Building.
If a per capita of only 30 birds was reared, each sportsman would be
afforded a very fair season of sport, and the figures given above could be
nearly halved.
PRESERVES STOCK PUBLIC COVERS.—Wherever a large num-
ber of pheasants are raised and liberated, a considerable percentage of the
birds inevitably escape to covers to which the public have access. At the
Clove Valley Club the birds are bred in a large field surrounded by chicken
wire, and in the latter part of September and during the early part of
October, are caught and confined in aviaries. At this time, being nearly
full-grown, they no longer come to the hen mother, but return to the breed-
ing field only because of the protection and food which they find there.
A considerable proportion of these birds cannot be captured and when
frightened by attempts to trap them, they leave the breeding field and
never return.
“T have frequently, when hunting covers to the east and west of the
club preserve flushed pheasants,” said a member of the Clove Valley
Club recently, “and, with a view to ascertaining the conditions, have
questioned a good many of the farmers, for five or six miles north, south,
east and west of the preserve, and they have told me that since a year or
two after birds were released at our club, they have been fairly plentiful
within the radius mentioned.
“T hunted over the preserves of the Club for some six or seven years
prior to the time when it released pheasants,’ he continued, and never saw
or heard of any pheasants upon its preserves up to that time.
SPORTSMEN ATTRACTED FROM A DISTANCE.—“So plenti-
fully have the public covers been stocked from the club’s overflow that one
man living in Clove Valley makes it his business during the fall to enter-
tain and take out hunters who shoot on the borders of the preserve. Among
those who enjoy this shooting are a number of New York City policemen.
“Karly in November I was in Poughkeepsie, on my way to Sullivan
County, when a farmer stepped up to my car and asked me where I was
going to shoot. I told him in Sullivan County. He said there was better
shooting nearby. I asked him where, and he said, ‘off to the east over
SRC
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toward Pawling.’ He said that he was out with another man a few days
before and that they killed four cock pheasants near the Clove Valley
Club.
“T know personally of several men from New York who shot a num-
ber of pheasants this season near our club and I have been told by people
around Stormville, which is about six miles south of the club preserve,
that a good many shooting parties come in there during the fall and kill a
considerable number of birds. One farmer to the north of the club pre-
serve told me there were some twenty pheasants on his farm. The man
owning the adjacent farm told me there were about a dozen on his farm.
“Just how many birds leave the club preserves yearly it is impossible
to tell, but it is certainly several hundred.
POLICE SPORTSMEN KNOW A GOOD THING.—“ Recently one
of our members motored into New York City from the club with his bag
of pheasants, taken the preceding day, in plain view on the running board
of the car. As he was held up at a Broadway crossing by the traffic, a
patrolman stepped up to him with the remark, “I guess you have been up
to Clove Valley. I am going up next week.’ I think that shows pretty
clearly how effective any preserve is in stocking the public covers about it.”
OPEN SEASONS ON WILD PHEASANTS.—The law in New York
regarding the taking of wild male pheasants (not captive-bred birds both
sexes of which may be taken at any time under conditions previously out-
lined) reads as follows:
Wild pheasants may be taken and possessed on the last two
Thursdays in the month of October and the first two Thursdays
in the month of November and possessed during the period of time
between the first open Thursday in October and the last open
Thursday in November, inclusive. Only wild male pheasants may
be taken. A person may take and possess not to exceed three
wild male pheasants in the open season.
In addition to the above, a close season till October 1, 1916 is provided
in the counties of Herkimer, Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Oneida, Mont-
gomery, Lewis, Washington, Warren, Schenectady, St. Lawrence, Frank-
lin, Clinton and Essex, and until October 1, 1917 in Cattaraugus and
Chautauqua.
Open seasons on ringnecks in other states (1915) are as follows:
ALABAMA. 2 3&2 November 15—December 14.
CONNECTICUT ....October 8—November 24.
ELORTD Ae 25.5 Bae December 1—December 19.
ILEINOISs 423). October 1—October 5. (Cocks only)
EOUTISTANAl See December 1—December 31.
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Sem t LOD
MARYLAND........ November 10—December 24.
MASSACHUSETTS. .Conservation Commission may declare open sea-
son in its discretion.
INEW JERSEY. ;.... November 10—December 15.
OREGON? = 3225 a.. October 1—October 31. (Applies only to Chinese
pheasants and to Coos, Curry and Josephine
Counties.)
October 1—October 10. (Applies only to Chinese
pheasants and to Jackson and Union Counties.)
PENNSYLVANIA... .October 15—November 30.
TENNESSEE ....... December 1—December 31.
WASHINGTON ....October 1—October 14. (Applies also to Mongo-
lians and Reeves, but there is no open season in
Mason and Thurston Counties and territory East
of the Cascades.)
September 15—October 31. (Applies only to
Chinese pheasants.)
October 1—October 15. (Applies only to Chinese
in Benton, Spokane and Yakima Counties )
October 1—October 10. (Applies only to Chinese in
Kittitas County.) With above exceptions, there
is no open season on Chinese pheasants in
territory East of the Cascades.
All of the above dates are inclusive.
Where no sex is specified, either may be taken.
Ficure 21.—Trespass sign placed about
the boundaries of wholly enclosed pre-
serves in New York.
CHAPTER XIX
THe StTATeE’s INTEREST IN GAME PROPAGATION
I am indebted to Mr. John B. Burnham, president of the American
Game Protective Association for this chapter. The highly — suc-
cessful New York State Game Farm was established under the direc-
tion of Mr. Burnham, and it was due in large measure to him that it was
secured. No one is better qualified to speak on the subject of State Game
Farms than he:
In this country we hold the wild game as a community asset. Our
courts have said that such game is the property of all the people. Prop-
agated game, while in private ownership, however, is private property.
Why should not the state which administers the wild game for all the people
also propagate game to supplement the increasing shortage in native spe-
cies? In other words, is there any good reason why the same funds which
are now used by the state for purposes connected with maintaining the
supply of wild game should not also be used for increasing the supply by
embarking in the business of game propagation?
THE HUNTERS’ LICENSE.—The hunters’ license law which, as
developed in this country, is a peculiarly American measure and which
has within the last few years become all but universal, has resulted in the
accumulation in the various states of the nation and provinces of Canada
of considerable funds which the authorities of the different sections are very
generally using for the benefit of sportsmen. While a certain portion of
these funds are being used for the purpose of enforcing game laws, there is a
notable tendency to use another portion of the funds for game propagation.
The hunters’ license is a special tax upon sportsmen who are in no
way relieved from the general taxes (county, town and state, etc.) levied
upon other citizens. It is logical therefore that the license tax should be
used for objects which directly benefit the sportsmen and that it should
not be devoted to highways, schools or similar purposes, as has been done
in some sections of the country.
I am very firmly of the opinion that the growing tendency to use a
portion of the game fund for game propagation should be encouraged. I
also believe that no game should be put out for stocking lands which may
be posted against public shooting and that a proviso should be added to
the laws of the states which are propagating game that no land shall ever
be posted which has been stocked freely by the state.
STATE AND PRIVATELY PROPAGATED GAME.—It is already
very generally recognized that there is a clear distinction between game
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privately propagated and game propagated by the state. The latter
class naturally falls under the more or less rigid laws governing the wild
game of the state. With regard to privately propagated game, however,
the authorities are quite generally accepting the ruling of the Court of
Appeals of New York in the case of the People vs. Fargo, which virtually
holds that a private owner has similar property rights in propagated game to
the rights he enjoys in other classes of live stock. The trend of public
sentiment is in favor of giving owners absolute control over their privately
propagated game—at any rate to the extent that their actions do not en-
danger the supply of wild game of the state. For practical purposes
licenses are required which are in effect an insurance that the licensee will
not interfere with the state’s supply of game and after that he is allowed
to do with his own game as he sees fit.
The sooner game laws are made to conform with these principles the
better it will be for all concerned. The state should encourage the men
who have the necessary means to interest themselves in game propagation
for pleasure or for profit and-on the other hand it should also interest itself
effectively to increase the supply of game for the benefit of those paying
the license tax who have neither the time nor the means to devote to this
object. It is with this latter phase of the subject that this chapter has
to do.
HOW STATE FARMS ARE STARTED.—The method of initiating
the enterprise of starting a state game farm varies with the state. In
some states the law permits the game commission to use funds at its com-
mand for this purpose. In others, the state constitution specifically pro-
vides that all the receipts of the state must go into a general fund and be
reappropriated for specific purposes by vote of the Legislature. In any
case, provided the Game Commission and the sportsmen’s associations or
individual sportsmen co-operate, it is not generally a difficult matter to
secure the necessary action.
It is not my purpose to go into detail as to the starting of state game
farms, but simply to point out a few necessary or desirable features in
connection with their establishment. It must be borne in mind that
propagating plants are not put up upon rough untillable land; reasonably
level, well drained, fertile soil, is a prime requisite.
GOOD SUPERINTENDENT ESSENTIAL.—A good superinten-
dent is absolutely essential. By this I mean a man of experience who has
demonstrated his ability to get results. While it is conducive to a whole-
some pride in the enterprise, it is not essential that the propagating plant
should be elaborate or expensive. Circumstances alter cases, but as a
general principle where there is a generous appropriation I think it is wise
SE %
AOS Sree
a
to use it in establishing several small farms rather than to put it all in an
elaborate show place.
It is essential that the business be carried on just as any other private
business would be run on a basis to show a profit at the end of each year.
Where too much money is invested in overhead charges this cannot be
done. As a general proposition it is not good business to turn out birds
at a state farm at a cost greater than the same birds could be purchased
in the open market. Sometimes, however, this item may be neglected
where the state turns out better birds or birds better adapted to the locality.
CAUSES OF FAILURE.—It is a well recognized fact in the history
of state propagation of pheasants that some states which have started game
farms have been successful and others unsuccessful. I have been at some
pains to investigate the causes which lead to failure and from the facts
which are available I have come to the conclusion that aside from poor
management there are so far just two causes of failure which stand pre-
eminently above all others. These causes are the failure to protect the
planted birds from pot hunters and the failure to select stock which will
produce birds capable of rearing their young and protecting them against
vermin.
The protection of birds put out for stocking purposes from law viola-
tors is an administrative function of the game protective department and
it is also an educational function of that department and of sportsmen’s
organizations. A handsome and unusual bird like the pheasant attracts
the attention of ignorant shooters who will often exert more energy in kill-
ing off the birds in violation of the law than they will in hunting legitimate
game found in the same covers. In my experience in game protection
I have found numerous instances where broods of pheasants which had
overcome natural disadvantages and gained a promising foothold in a
section were annihilated by local pot hunters. It is therefore of particu-
lar importance in localities where pheasants are stocked that the local
sentiment be educated and that incorrigible game law violators be ferreted
out and punished.
I believe, however, that the most glaring cause for the failure of cer-
tain states to stock successfully their areas with pheasants has come from
selecting as breeding stock birds which are too highly specialized as egg
producers under the modern system of hand rearing.
THE ENGLISH PHEASANT.—I have no brief against the English
pheasant. It has sterling advantages for many purposes and is undoubt-
edly the best for many clubs that raise the birds each year which they
intend to shoot. For the purposes of a state propagation plant, however,
where only a limited number of birds can be sent to any one locality and
at @=
( Coy?
EDNe rererersren AS M3,
where the success of the experiment must be determined by the natural
increase from the seed birds, it is to my mind essential that the stock used
be as near as possible to the wild stock of Asia.
CHINESE PHEASANT RECOMMENDED.—My advice to state
game farms is to center their efforts on the Chinese pheasant. This
pheasant is the English sparrow of the game world. It is shrewd and hardy
and if given even half a chance will gain a footing for itself and increase
under any kind of fair shooting. We have no place in the United States
too cold for it, though there are places in the north with insufficient and
unsuitable food and it will not thrive in spruce or pine forests. As to its
southern range, experiments carried on in this country have not yet demon-
strated its southern limit, but the indications are that it will flourish over
the greater part of the United States.
Many breeders are prejudiced in favor of the English pheasant be-
cause the stock is more easily obtained and also on account of its really
desirable characteristics. It is a larger bird, a more prolific egg producer,
and in other ways better adapted to the purposes of the game farm.
On the other hand English pheasants have in degree lost the mother
instinct and many of the birds when released will either not set on their own
eggs or if they do will not successfully hatch them, and still others which
have brought off young broods do not know enough to take care of them and
in storms are content to wander off with a few members of the covey and
leave the rest to perish.
Instances of all these failings can be found in the books of English
game keepers. It is natural that a bird which has been developed through
a great many generations along the specialized line of great egg produc-
tion, a bird which in most instances is not allowed to set on its own eggs
and which has not known what it is to be looked after by a mother or
to mother its own young, should not be an ideal bird for stocking game
covers.
NEW YORK’S SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE.—I have yet to learn
of the state which has used the Chinese pheasants for propagating pur-
poses which has not met with success in stocking its covers. Central New
York was stocked with Chinese pheasants during the six years prior to
1904. In this period the State Forest, Fish and Game Commission sent
out an average of something less than two hundred birds a year to appli-
cants in various counties. Of these birds Monroe County received one
hundred and thirty-five, which was the largest number apportioned to
any county. In 1909 an open season for pheasants was given in New York
in sixteen counties, of which Monroe was one, for cock pheasants only. A
number of thousands of pheasants were killed, but despite this fact and
See Ve
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without any further stocking, the pheasants continued to increase. The
Rochester Democrat during the season of 1910 printed an article under the
heading “Pheasants are Increasing.” This was before the county had
received any additional stocking from the present state game farm at
Sherburne.
At the conference last March on game breeding and preserving Mr.
H. M. Brigham of the Clove Valley Club made the interesting statement
that the manager of a large New York wholesale firm dealing in sporting
goods had told him that Rochester, the principal city of Monroe County,
had become one of the best places in the United States for the sale of shot-
gun ammunition, despite the fact that prior to the introduction of the
pheasant there was no game to be found in that neighborhood aside from
cottontail rabbits.
All through this section the pheasants have steadily increased despite
the fact that they are subjected to persistent hunting of a character that
would exterminate any other game bird in a single season.
CHINESE BIRDS IN WEST.—Washington and Oregon, as is well
known, were stocked with Chinese pheasants. Even in these natural game
states the imported birds have today largely superseded native species in
the sportsman’s programme.
The states which have failed to make the pheasant a permanent in-
habitant after a fair trial have all used the English stock. Therefore
when the sweeping statement is made that pheasants are not adapted for
stocking any particular locality, it is well to inquire first if a fair experi-
ment has been made and then if the right kind of breeding stock has been
used. The demonstrated successes achieved by certain states in stock-
ing with pheasants have made it no longer possible to say that it cannot
be done. The state game farm should be a success. If it is not look for
the reason and correct it.
ST
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CHAPTER XX
GAME KEEPERS
This term is not wholly correct as applied to the majority of men
employed in game breeding in the United States if by “game keeper”’ we
mean the individual so designated on the other side of the water. There
pheasants are shot in large part under drives with beaters and with the
aid of an elaborate system of coverts. Very little of that sort of shooting
is done in this country and a majority of our best known “keepers”’ are to
be found on the state game farms of the country and engaged in the breed-
ing of pheasants on a commercial basis. Therefore, the average American
keeper would be completely lost if charged with the duty of rearing birds
for shooting under drives. It is highly important, however, that our
keepers be taught some method of planting the birds they raise so as to
afford the maximum of sport for the owner. — Possibly the Clove Valley
Club method, as heretofore detailed, approximates what we are coming
to in American pheasant shooting. However that may be, it behooves the
present day game keeper to study the situation and devise some method
of furnishing sport with the birds he raises.
EXPERIENCED MEN SCARCE.—One of the great handicaps in
American game breeding is the lack of a sufficient number of experienced
men. ‘This is an activity that is still in its infancy despite its remarkable
growth within the past few years, and we have had to depend, on keepers
from the British Isles to a large extent. These are of two classes: intelli-
gent, capable men of high character and ability; and failures, dead-beats,
and men whose habits are such that they have sought another country in
the hope that they can more successfully impose upon employers where
they are not so well-known. Again, it does not absolutely follow that a
keeper who has been fairly successful abroad will be equally so here under
all conditions. This is a large country, with great divergence in climate,
with varying and, in many cases, unusual vermin problems to be solved.
A man from the other side brought up suddenly against such unlookedfor
conditions needs great courage and ability to solve the problems he
will encounter.
Again, birds in our climate, in my opinion, at least, cannot stand as
rich feeding as in England. Unless the newcomer can gauge such things
correctly, he is due a good deal of trouble, to say the least.
We have, of course, a good many native born game keepers and many
of the best and most successful men are to be found among these.
MR. WALCOTT’S TRIBUTE TO GAME KEEPERS.—Speaking
See Va
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vA LA SOS Pemeeene 3
at the first national conference on American game breeding, held in March,
1915, in New York City, the chairman, Mr. Frederic C. Walcott, paid
this tribute to the game keeper:
“We get most of the good things of life from our brothers
across the Atlantic, the Germans and the English, including the
Scotchmen and the Irishmen. All of our present success in game
keeping really originated with the small handful of men that the
elder MacVicar brought over for the late Rutherfurd Stuyvesant.
One of the first if not the very first of these was Mr. Duncan Dunn.
He brought also his son, Mr. A. G. MacVicar, Mr. Adam Scott,
Mr. Monroe and one or two others. We don’t appreciate how much
we owe these men. They form the nucleus of the intelligent, hard-
working, resourceful game keepers that we have today. Mr. Harry
T. Rogers and Messrs. Samuel and Wallace Evans are a few of the
many successful men native to this country; but we owe this first
man that came over a great deal, and it gives me pleasure to make
acknowledgment of the debt.”
The state game farms and the larger clubs are doing a valuable work
in educating game keepers. Raising as many birds as they do, they must
employ a number of men, all of whom have full opportunity to graduate
into experienced keepers.
EXPERIENCED MEN REQUIRED.—It does not follow, however,
that a man capable of bringing a field of 1500 birds through a season in
good shape under the direction of a superintendent or head keeper will
necessarily be a success if placed in charge of breeding operations at some
other place. The two things are widely different. Engaging a game
keeper, then, is a good deal of a lottery at the best but, even so, it is
surprising to see how easily deceived many estate owners are in employing
this class of help. In a recent instance that came to my notice, a keeper
who had deserted a rearing field filled with young birds for three days dur-
ing the absence of the head keeper had no trouble in securing employment
immediately on his discharge on the estate of a wealthy New Yorker.
The most cursory sort of investigation by the second employer would
have brought forth these facts, but it was not made.
REGISTRY FOR EXPERIENCED KEEPERS.—The Department
of Game Breeding of the American Game Protective Association has a
registry list for experienced game keepers of good character, which is open
gratis to all who can qualify and keepers are invited to register. At the
same time those wanting to employ a keeper will be served without charge
and they are invited to make use of the Department’s information on this
subject. Address 2273 Woolworth Building, New York City. No
keeper is recommended without searching investigation as to character
and ability. Being in touch with the principal head keepers of the coun-
try, a man’s record is usually easy to get.
DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH.—May I be permitted a word to
employers? Do not expect too much of your keeper. For instance, 1200
to 1500 pheasants is all one man can reasonably be expected to attend to in
the rearing fields and he will have time for nothing else when he has these
on his hands. Game keeping makes heavy demands on the nerves during
the rearing season. It is the part of wisdom for the employer to let the
keeper go his way with as little interference as possible at this time. An-
other suggestion—don’t ask your keeper to attempt too many species.
This greatly multiplies labor of feeding and housing. Newcomers at the
gamé are specially prone to err in this matter.
The pay of the keeper of average experience runs from $50 to $75 a
month, sometimes with board or house furnished. In the latter instance,
milk, butter and vegetables are generally supplied gratis. Head keepers
are paid anywhere from $900 to $2,000 a year with house furnished.
LASS See TA
CHAPTER XXI
Tue Economic Position OF THE RINGNECK
In whatever part of the country the ringneck has been introduced, it
has almost invariably called forth a protest at first from some part of the
farming community by reason of its alleged destructiveness to crops. In
no instance, however, I believe, has this bird failed to win the friendship
of the majority of the farming element in any community in the end.
In 1913 the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game of Massachusetts
were directed by the legislature to make an investigation of the habits of
pheasants with speciai reference to crops, planted fields and other property
and as to their insectivorous qualities, particularly with regard to the
brown-tail and gypsy moths.
SURVIVES SEVERE TEST.—In the course of this investigation the
Commissioners collected seventeen pheasants killed in the very act of
destroying farm products, and sent their stomachs to the Bureau of Biolog-
ical Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, for examination.
Following is the Bureau’s report on this very severe and rather unfair test:
Avoiding fractions, 22 per cent. of the total food was grain,
including barley, wheat, oats and corn. The evidence is pretty
clear that all this was waste, except in the case of one bird, which
had fed entirely upon fresh corn, apparently taken from the ear.
Twenty-one per cent. of the food consisted of green and ripe toma-
toes, and all of this must be recorded against the birds. Twenty-
three per cent. consisted of weed seeds, including such pests as rag-
weed, burdock, foxtail and barnyard grass. Fourteen per cent.
consisted of the seeds of buttercup and root stocks of trillium.
This is of neutral import. Fifteen per cent. of the food consisted
of insects, mainly grasshoppers and caterpillars of hawk moths.
The weed seeds and insects, together 37 per cent., count in the
pheasants’ favor. The tomatoes and corn referred to above, in all
about 27 per cent., are against the bird. The remaining items are
practically neutral.
HARMFUL INSECTS DESTROYED.—The Commissioner’s investi-
gation proved that pheasants ate in large quantities the following
serious pests:
Pests of the Market Fruit Pests Tree Pests and
Garden Codling moth, adults and Others
Tomato or tobacco worm larvae. Tussock moth.
(Sphinx). Apple maggot, adults and —__ Elm-leaf beetle.
White grub, adults and larvae. larvae. Tent caterpillar.
ommmmmn LY ISB,
Pests of the Market
Garden
Striped cucumber beetle.
Black squash bug.
Parsnip web worm.
Wire worms, adults and larvae.
Cut worms, adults and larvae.
Potato beetle.
Green cabbage worm, larvae.
Corn louse ant.
Asparagus beetle, adults and
Fruit Pests
Tent caterpillar, adults and
larvae.
Tussock moth, adults and
larvae.
Cherry lice.
Plant lice.
June bug.
Adults of tree borers.
Curculio on plum, peach
and apple.
Tree Pests and
Others
Mosquitoes.
Flies, house,
larvae.
Flies, blow,
larvae.
Gypsy months and larvae.
Brown-tail moths and
larvae.
Rose bugs.
adults and
adults and
larvae.
It was found that mosquitoes and house flies were destroyed in large
numbers, three birds, less than five weeks old having been observed to eat
nearly 300 of the latter in the course of half an hour.
In one part of their report the Commissioners state that “there is no
question that in certain localities where pheasants have increased abnor-
mally very great damage may result unless an effective check is applied,
and while in many instances real damage has been done to crops, we have
many unsolicited testimonials to the fact that pheasants, though numer-
ous, have never done appreciable damage.”
RINGNECK PROVED VALUABLE.—The report presents its main
conclusion interestingly and briefly as follows:
In conclusion, therefore, we are of the opinion that the pheas-
ant on the whole is a beneficial bird; but to secure the benefits to
the full extent, provision must be made for utilizing the surplus
annually as food, and for recreational shooting in_ specified
localities. The young birds are entirely insectivorous.
The adults are likely to do damage to growing crops, to the
extent at most of 25 per cent. of the food. Practically all the
damage to the crops is done by adults, and most often by adult
males. Special care must be taken to prevent the cost of support-
ing the public stock of pheasants from resting too heavily upon the
individual. The farmers should, therefore, be recompensed for
obviously excessive damage, and, in cases, provisions should be
made for killing or trapping the pheasants which are doing the
damage. The surplus males, therefore, since the bird is polygamous,
should be killed off annually in the autumn, taking care to reserve
enough adults for breeding stock for the next year.
The young birds should be raised in the largest possible quan-
tities for the purpose of destroying as many as possible of the insect
pests which are levying a heavy tax upon Massachusetts agriculture.
The mature birds should be utilized for food. The propagation of
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these birds may be carried on by women and children, and to those
properly equipped, should bring a profitable income on time and
capital. The pheasant crop of England is an exceedingly impor-
tant one, not alone from the money value derived from the sale of
the birds, both at home and abroad, but particularly in controlling
gypsy and brown-tail moths, army worms and other pests which
have devastated large areas where the bird population was ab-
normally deficient.
RINGNECK VERSUS QUAIL AND GROUSE.—tThe belief that
the ringneck will drive out quail and ruffed grouse will probably never
quite die out, but I have investigated carefully every such report that has
come to my attention within recent years and have yet to find one that
would hold water. Within the past year I was told that ringnecks on the
island on which the United States arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois, is lo-
cated furnished conclusive evidence of the driving out of quail by ringnecks.
A letter to the commanding officer at the arsenal brought forth a detailed
and interesting reply which was published in full in the July, 1915, number
of the BULLETIN of the American Game Protective Association. This
gentleman, Lieutenant-Colonel George W. Burr, a thorough sportsman
and keen observer, stated that the quail on the island had greatly diminished
in numbers in recent years and that during that period the ringneck had
increased, but he found himself unable to conclude that the quail had fled
before the attacks of the pheasants.
COLONEL BURR’S CONCLUSION.—The situation was summed
up by him in the following words:
I am inclined to regard the increase of the pheasants and the
diminution of the quail as a coincidence and not as cause and effect.
My personal opinion is that the quail leave the island more
readily than do the pheasants, and to me the statement is rather
plausible that they may prefer to live some place where they do not
have to share their feeding grounds with the pheasants, but that
there is any real antagonism between the two species or that the
pheasants in any way actively drive away the quail, I do not believe.
MASSACHUSETTS’ EXPERIENCE.—The Massachusetts Com-
missioners have this to say on the relation of the ringneck to grouse and
quail:
Many verbal complaints have been made relative to damage
to quail and to ruffed grouse, but almost invariably they take the
form of the statement that ‘before the pheasants became so numer-
ous we had large flocks of quail and partridge feeding on our grounds
through the winter months. The pheasants, however, have driven
them away, and a quail or partridge is a rare sight in this vicinity
at the present time.’ In the great majority of instances, however
these are to be ascribed to incomplete observations. In the neigh-
borhood of cities and towns quail disappear on account of the
multitude of cats and other enemies. The ruffed grouse disappear
with the destruction of the covers, and their place is taken by the
pheasant, which has the power to increase under conditions so un-
favorable that quail and ruffed grouse have been extirpated. Over
against this testimony is the observation in Oregon, where in the
Williamette Valley there is a dense bird population, made up of
pheasants, ruffed grouse and at least two varieties of quail, all of
which are living together in harmony. In places, however, where
there would be a competition for food, doubtless the pheasant,
being the stronger bird, would displace the quail, though in general
there should be abundant food for both these species.
Still more conclusive evidence is found in the fact that British records,
carefully kept, show that there has been no diminution in the numbers of
native grouse and quail despite the enormous numbers of pheasants that
are bred on the isles each year. It must be remembered in this connection
that the pheasant is no more native to Great Britain than to the United
States.
Ss
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CHAPTER XXII
PREPARING THE PHEASANT FOR THE TABLE
The meat of the pheasant is white and short-grained. The breast is
large and plump and a brace of these splendid birds furnishes ample food
for a family of four. The pheasant is usually roasted, though it may be
prepared in other ways.
There follow some receipts that friends of long experience in pre-
paring pheasants for the table and high rank as housekeepers have been
good enough to furnish me. The first of these is from Mrs. Duncan Dunn,
wife of the superintendent of the New Jersey Game Farm, who acquired
the art of roasting the pheasant to a turn in her native Scotland:
MRS. DUNN’S RECEIPT.—“ Kill your bird by wringing its neck
but do not sever the head nor let it bleed. Hang by the beak four to seven
days in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Be sure not to let the body of
your bird come in contact with ice and do not pluck or draw till you are
ready to cook your bird. Pluck the pheasant dry and prepare it for roast-
ing as you would a hen. No dressing is placed within the fowl but some
cooks place an onion inside.
“Place three strips of fat pork over the breast of the bird, put it in a
covered roaster, and it is ready for the oven. No water or butter is needed
for basting and seasoning is done to taste. The time of roasting varies
with the size of the fowl, but it usually requires an hour. The oven should
be fairly hot to start with but care should be exercised in this, as the breast
of the bird is very thick and there is danger of overcooking the outside of
the breast before it is done through.
“The sauce is prepared by placing an onion in a pint of sweet milk
and taking the vessel off the stove when the milk comes to a boil. Stale
bread crumbs are immediately added and care must be taken not to make
the sauce too thick.”
MRS. ROGERS’ RECEIPT.—Mrs. Harry T. Rogers is not only an
authority on the cooking of pheasants, but the rearing of them as well.
She is the only woman on the Committee on Pheasant Breeding of the
American Game Protective Association’s Department of Game Breeding,
and she has well earned her appointment to that important body of pheas-
ant experts. Mrs. Rogers’ receipt follows:
“Remove the crop of the bird as soon as it is killed, as the food remain-
ing in it will ferment otherwise. Draw the bird forty-eight hours after
killing and pluck dry. Use a Scotch kettle for cooking the pheasant.
This is the old-fashioned iron kettle of our childhood. First place in the
See
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kettle a tea cup of hot water and a heaping tablespoon of butter. When
this is very hot, place the bird in the kettle, put the cover on, and add hot
water from time to time as the supply gets low. Just before the pheasant
is finished, add salt and pepper. By the time it is done, the liquid in the
kettle should have been exhausted, and the bird should be well seasoned.
HOW PHEASANTS ARE PREPARED AT THE WALDORF-
ASTORIA.—Mr. Oscar Tschirky, maitre d’hotel of the Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel has consented to the reproduction of the following receipts from
the well-known “Cook Book by ‘Oscar’ of the Waldorf.”
“BRAISED PHEASANT.—Prepare and truss a pheasant as for boil-
ing. Line a stew pan with slices of fat bacon and one or two thick slices
of veal, put in the bird, season it well with salt and pepper, add a few
sweet herbs, cover it with more slices of bacon and veal, cover the stewpan
down perfectly air-tight, and put it in a moderate oven and cook for two
hours. When done place it on a hot dish, strain over it some of the gravy
that will have run from it while cooking, garnish it with sliced lemons,
and serve.
“BROILED PHEASANT.—Cut the bird in four pieces and fry them
in lard; when browned all over and half done through, take them from the
fire, drain the lard from them, brush over with besten egg, roll them in a
paper of breadcrumbs mixed with salt and cayenne, put them on a hot,
well-greased gridiron and broil them for ten minutes over a clear fire.
“ROASTED PHEASANT.—Singe and truss the bird and put inside
a shallot and a lump of butter; lard the breast close with thin strips of
bacon, and tie a thin strip of bacon over the larded part. Roast the bird
in a hot oven, basting it often with butter. Five minutes before taking the
bird from the oven remove the slice of bacon and brown the larded part.
When cooked place the bird on a hot dish, strew over it some crumbs of
bread that have been fried brown in butter, and serve it with a sauceboat-
ful each of rich brown gravy and bread sauce.”
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LAM Set
APPENDIX
There is given below a form of constitution that may be used as a basis for any group
of sportsmen who may wish to combine their efforts to secure adequate pheasant shooting.
ARTICLE I.
This Association shall be known as the........................ and its office shall
be located(in ‘thevertiyO8. vs cccc ade soo noses ogaine cices aan ena eh ene oe Oa
ARTICLE Il.—OBJECTS.
The objects of the Club shall be to create and foster a public sentiment in favor of the
protection of fish and game; to protect fish and game..............; to enforce the game
laws of the State, to procure the stocking of streams and woods with fish and game, to breed
game for shooting, and for sale, and to purchase or lease wholly enclosed lands for shooting
and breeding.
Section 1. The number of Directors of this Club shall be.........., of whom........
shall constitute a quorum. The names of the directors until the first annual meeting are:—
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Club,
and shall hold their office and discharge the duties thereof for the term of three years and
until their successors have been elected, five of whom shall be elected each year, provided,
however, that at the annual election, held the..............in..............there shall
be five Directors to serve one year, five two years and five three years.
ARTICLE IV.—OFFICERS.
The officers of this Club shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer,
all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the
annual meeting. They shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors have
been elected and qualified.
ARTICLE V.—MEETINGS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The stated annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be after and at the close of
the annual meeting of the Club. They shall proceed forthwith, at such meeting, to elect the
officers of the Club, and any member of the Club shall be eligible to election.
ARTICLE VI—ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting and election of the Club shall be held the .............. of. .....
. .In each year at the office of the Club.
ARTICLE VII—PRESIDENT.
The President, or in his absence or inability to act, the Vice-President shall preside at
the meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors, and in the absence of both, a Director
shall act as President.
ARTICLE VIII—SECRETARY.
The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Club and the Board of Directors,
preserve proper files and records of the same, and make and preserve the minutes of the pro-
ceedings of all meetings. He shall collect and receive all moneys belonging to the Club and
hand them over to the Treasurer and take his receipt therefor; he shall keep accurate accounts
with each member, preserve all records, books and papers of the Club, and deliver them over
to his successor at the expiration of his term of office.
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ARTICLE IX.—TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall receive from the Secretary, and have the custody of all moneys and
other funds of the Club. He shall pay all the debts and obligations on the written order of
the President and Secretary. He shall make a written report at each annual meeting of the
Club of its income, expenses and the amount of money remaining on hand. He shall execute
a bond to the Club in such penal sum as the Board of Directors may determine, and shall
deliver over to his successor at the expiration of his term of office all funds, records, books and
papers pertaining to his office.
ARTICLE X.—POWERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the control and management of the
property and affairs of the Club, and perform such duties as may be delegated to them at
meetings of the Club.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have power to fill any vacancy which shall
occur from death, resignation or otherwise, and any appointments so made shall be valid
until the next annual meeting and until their successors have been chosen.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall hold meetings whenever summoned by the
President or upon the request of three members of the Board. Two days’ notice of such
meeting shall be served personally or by mail by the Secretary upon all Directors not sign-
ing the call for the said meeting.
Section 4. No expenditure or expense in excess of $25 shall be made or incurred by
the Board of Directors unless the same shall have been previously ordered or ratified by vote
of the Club.
ARTICLE XI—FISH AND GAME COMMITTEE.
Section 1. The Fish and Game Committee shall have charge of the propagation, care
and releasing of game birds and animals and game fish upon the Club preserves, and shall,
subject to the approval of the Board, make such rules and regulations with respect to shoot-
ing and fishing on the Club preserves as they may deem proper.
ARTICLE XII—MEETINGS OF CLUB.
Section 1. The regular meetings of the Club, other than the annual meeting, shall be
Rie AR eae par arses MOI CHO soe MP ei geacee oe Ob eias Dice inte a yee ale ela ole
at which any business may be transacted except the election of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of the Club may be called by the President upon the
written request of ten members directed to the President. Only the business specified in a
call for a special meeting shall be transacted thereat.
Section 3. The notice for a regular or special meeting shall be served by the Secretary
personally or by mail at least three days prior to the time of holding said meeting.
Section 4. At any annual, regular, or special meeting fifteen members shall be neces-
sary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 5. The hour for calling to order all meetings shall be eight o’clock p. m. unless
otherwise directed in the call for a special meeting.
ARTICLE XITiI.—DUES.
Section 1. Every member shall pay the annual dues of $.... to the Treasurer. (Here
specify date or dates on which dues are to be paid.)
Section 2. The Secretary shall notify each member at the time of sending out the
notice for the annual meeting of the amount of his dues, and if the same be not paid within
three months after such notice, such member, at the expiration of the said three months,
EF Vi
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: SA SOY TE
shall cease to be a member of the Club, but may, however, be reinstated by a two-thirds vote
at any regular meeting by paying all arrears of dues.
Section 3. No member in arrears for dues shall vote or participate in the election of
Directors or in any meetings of the Club.
ARTICLE XIV.—ELIGIBILITY TO MEMBERSHIP.
SecTIon 1. Candidates for membership shall be at least eighteen years of age, and must
be proposed by a member of the Association at a regular meeting thereof, and seconded by
another person acquainted with the candidate who can vouch for his good character and
standing, and such proposition must be in writing, giving the name, residence and occupa-
tion of the person proposed.
SecTIon 2. The election to membership shall be by ballot at a regular meeting of the
Club, and... .....negative votes shall be necessary to reject.
Section 3. The membership of the Club shall be limited to residents of............
or persons who are domiciled therein, except that non-residents of the county may become
members of the Club by unanimous vote, but shall not be entitled to hold office in the Club.
ARTICLE XV.—ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The order of business shall be Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting, Application
for Membership, Reports of Officers, Miscellaneous Business, Bills and Accounts, Election
of Officers, Reading and Approving Minutes of Meeting.
ARTICLE XVI.—VIOLATIONS OF GAME LAW.
It shall be the duty of each member of the Club to report to the President any viola-
tion of the fish and game laws which shall come to his notice. The Board of Directors are
empowered to prosecute offenders against the fish and game laws, and to offer rewards from
time to time for such amounts and under such restrictions as they may deem best for the
detection of illegal devices for the capture or killing of fish or game and the conviction of
the offenders.
ARTICLE XVII—EXPULSION FOR VIOLATION OF LAW.
If any member of the Club shall be guilty of a violation of the fish and game law he may
be expelled from the Club by a majority vote at any meeting thereof after he shall have been
given notice of such intended action and the nature of the charge against him—such notice
to be given in each case as the Board of Directors may deem sufficient.
ARTICLE XVIII—RESIGNATIONS.
Any member may resign from the Club by giving notice in writing to the Secretary,
provided he shall not be in arrears for dues or under charges at the time. For ungentlemanly
conduct at the meetings or for an intentional violation of the purposes of the Club, except
as hereinbefore provided, a member may be suspended, expelled, or otherwise punished by
a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting upon due notice to the member of such intended
action.
ARTICLE XTX.—RULES.
The ordinary rules of parliamentary practice in debate shall be followed except as other-
wise provided in this Constitution.
ARTICLE XX.—AMENDMENTS.
This Constitution or parts thereof may be altered or amended by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the members present at an annual or regular meeting, provided that notice of
such amendments or changes shall be given at a previous regular meeting, and provided
further that the proposed amendments may be entertained at any annual meeting without
such notice by unanimous consent of all members present.
APPENDIX II
TWELVE GauGcE Loaps SUGGESTED FOR
FIELD SHOOTING
It is not possible to make positive recommendation as to the best
loads for shooting different kinds of game, because there are no general
rules that apply under all conditions. A load that is very effective in most
guns may be less so in some particular gun. In cold regions, birds are
usually more heavily feathered than in warm climates and consequently
it takes heavier loads to kill them. The following table represents the
average for 12 ga. guns, but it may prove advisable to modify it under
varying circumstances. The table of comparative loads on the next page
affords a basis for determining the proper charges for different gauges.
POWDER SHOT
GAME
| Tafaltibe | aie rae | Quantity Size
RARDIN ieee eo ee er \] 24 grains | 3 drams 11g 0z. | 6 or 7
Scumnrel mare seas ae errs acne J
Qh a aeenebes See ee ees Wikies pants Peer jeaoe: yes
SOD WiMTbe yh aonis S.orerne ni Sen cles j
22 or 234 or lor
f < 9 or 10
Vf < |
Wioddcock *) $2.2 tic etc ae ss Wh, tedvarentne Siaeaans 14 oF.
Snipes sefarest asietraecnd O% eq eraina eae 134 62: Sano
| FIORE, cree cece cho ten Reece ciate
Ruffed Grouse, Pheasant or ) 24 or | 3 or 1 or ee
ATU COM n artes erences Ae ) 25 grains 314gdrams_ | 114 oz. a
Duck (| 26 or 314 or f
TKS ERE TAT afar tie) everest ae : ; | 11 oz. 4, 6
UU as grains 3% drams ae BOs
(REESEMMT TN yeicns ceretaere nee mas 28 grains 316 drams 11% oz. 1,2o0r3
DOAN ie caneiycstedarate say ene tole oats , .
aan 28 grains 316 drams 114 oz. Torl
UTK eC Vara craven elec rege = A
Praimie Chickeni.s.. 046.00... ) 24 or 3 or 11% or Mth
or
Binnated Grouse eas aces «o- S| 95 grains | 3! drams 114 oz.
SS Va
Poems
win. See
Ip
D
ZAKS
i“
COMPARATIVE LOADS
Infallible is a “dense”, and E. C. is a “bulk’’, smokeless shotgun
powder.
This distinction is important, because a smaller quantity of a dense
powder will produce a given explosive force, than would be required to
produce an equal force with a bulk powder. Bulk smokeless powders and
black powders are loaded by measure and dense powders by weight. If a
shooter, who was accustomed to measuring three dram loads of bulk smoke-
less or black powder, made the mistake of using the same load of dense
powder, the results might be disastrous.
. Now that factory loaded shells are almost universally used, and that
those who still load their own shells understand the different powders,
this danger is practically eliminated. For most shooting, Infallible and
E. C. give equally satisfactory results and a choice between them is a mat-
ter of individual preference. However, if shells are to be stored in very
damp climates, or exposed to excessive moisture, those loaded with In-
fallible are preferable because Infallible is absolutely waterproof, while
any bulk powder will absorb a certain amount of water.
The comparisons in the table below show the commonly used loads of
Infallible, both by weight and by measure, with the E. C. and Orange
Extra loads of corresponding strengths. If you are shooting three drams
of E. C., or any bulk smokeless or black powder, you will readily see by
referring to the table that the equivalent load of Infallible is 24 grains.
Any of these powders can be secured in your favorite brand of shells.
Weight
; Measure oe =
Infallible Ay geet sean Equivalent in Strength to
14 grains or 34 dram ..134 drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
28 Gauge Loads 16 = “ “ee sy “ce Q = a i743 “e “ce ee oe ee
¢ 8 Pc
24 Gauge Loads 16 grains or 7 dram ..2-~ drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
g' §
16 grains or 7 dram ..2 drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
20 Gauge Loads 18 77 “ec 1 “ee . Qly ee ee se “se oe “ “e
18 grains or 1 dram ..214 drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
16 Gauge Loads ne : iz aN
20 “ec “e 1% “e F Ql ly “ “c “ec “ce
20 grains or 1!¢ drams. .21% drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
92 “ ce 14 “ Q34 “ “ce “e ee “ “ “
12 Gauge Loads D4 ‘“é “ec 134 “é 3 “cc “ec “cc «<< “c “ec “ce
Cc .
95 “ce “< 1 i “ec 3l4 «“ “ec “ce “ce “e “e “
16 978
26 “ec “ee 14 “ : 314 “ ce “< “ “ “ “
26 grains or 114 drams. .314 drams of E. C. or L. & R. Orange Extra
10 Gauge Loads 298, “e “se 1% “ce 3814 “ec “ce “< “e «“ ey ME Eo Oe 32
Rats
see Vermin
RECEIPTS
Dunn; Mrs.. Dtinean.. « 4.356%. ee eee 124
Rogers, Mirs.. Harry Pn: ie eee ee 124
INDEX—Continued
Page
Recerets—Continued
Brest tmipevmO seas os Soe AS. ot Pcie inae eer seal eis cole ae x oP eee 125
WEN HIS ea UVAAUNEY © gi... L chzina mic Sse pels 1+ tel whale aiaaie ato alee to Det eene pes tor ote 68
Rovup
see Disease
Runs
ROEM) leat tslOn CMOS 25.15 eee, 2 el na Sana nye de ro ney NENG eee he oa Eee 87
HOASEHEITIO HENS! *.21.% 0) hrs 4. te Ce a eines eens eee te 25
S
Sertinc Hens
see Incubation
SHIPPING, PHEASANT
see Marketing
IIS CCUSHEMREAE are ay ph la ohn Nee ita e ee ad ee ete
ECE ERS REM OLS ose oP co ya cies aloe crak are ache aera eee 19
LOH AE Sea PH nS Sree en a MLSs Sls D Cetoiss: le Se as a eo ove cea 78
SHOOTING
AO lowre aN cal leva leanic. pe 3 A yee een tse ae = os et tees dag ae 86
GPPCIUSECAS OMS ue wee 5 aces yteitey hse Nineteen Sek nt a, eat A aca 110
preserve-bred birds may be taken at any time................ 106
SSDP g ES MBCAETI HY AUSARIN 1? httan rset SS cen bas een ie be e 2 heheh th. Spee se eee eee ee (3
STOCKING (PRESERVES)
Glave gviallevap lam sp. 22s oho Ao arc creas a TCE 86
aerhis hierniana Cae mre 2 cre iar Dice a wae -caes, 2 ne 2 Ae ae, eee 94
Nema Vonkis1expenlemcei. om ic !inirs ae Rive eee Woe secede ae See 15
Placinieshentwitky LOO. 9 fo) cake gets ashe a oes Mes cuore 96
public covers stocked by preserves. ....2..-.:.-.. +> Mie >>: 109
UO MCN CONETES A SE Maley s bors aur iawn ee cee LS ne oleae 95
SRC CRMITC UM OOS MI eA, Symes. ooo. 8 Wah ai pars Sunitee neal Gale Bae ocean ae 86
Via] OMIA VE COT oT 0) Fi Vee eer al ea ice mma Lc HP RAR OR RAPE SS, 97
T
TABLE (PREPARATION OF PHEASANT FOR)
see Receipts
TAGGING
see Marketing
TRAPS
[Gu DISET Pe Reker wea CAE Pee ngee Maen aay aan eRe eRe et ds 45
SRI EVIMN NMI a a ack Sc) Bee onenre Tatary Re ion eects nthe Seater e heaters ures cele 49, 53
in yA Rt a sre TN aan AE Ss Tee oe ae 106
Se
¢ ) 7)
AEM o) See
INDEX—Continued
Page
V
VERMIN
CALS? sorb fe eoe LRG oes Bia reac Oiiwiake acai gl Saat be mete ko) 6 saath eae trae 48
decoy Owl. iio Dain Kista Bea eo settee DO
dogs used in:combatting: ...o2 45... {2.2 fe eee et eee 52
dynamite ,c.06 bce. ao fads Pails dees Soe ee eee 53
feathered is: «0 600m io See hE oS AA ee 55
fue AON Soa. 7 oslo fo ee eed » eee De ees ee 52
POLSOMPTOR. 9.05 2 9 e554 SAL scr eerie anes ee aoe 50
TASS Pees ie Sach eee reese tee AUS Eyed a ieee alana ee 49
PAU VIEWS! os Seog sant Risk Sed cone eee ee ce 50
(G2) Os iene ee eee ae rear ar ir ON arava net Sr TRL cee tise soc A 49, 53
Versicouor PHRASANT * 70. Bo ss nese cc ee Ane eae ee 71
Ww
WATER
see Rations
MECESSATY. LO: PRESELVIES 24 5ys txsicatiey ote) ewe cetera nte pole 84
Wire Nettinc (see Fish Nettine also)
“Ap
i
r
: bk Me
tt weet a 4%
SF es inet °
wh ie eR
WINN