File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17968852628).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS
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Two types of Pheasants—the Golden Pheasant and the Mongolian Pheasant Keeping a Few Pheasants By E. I. Farrington Photographs by Thomas Ellison and others T INE feathers do make fine birds in the case of pheasants, in spite of the old adage. These birds are bred for their fine feathers and for nothing else when kept in confine- ment, although they are of special value in destroying insect pests when allowed their liberty, and for that reason are being propagated on a large scale by several of the states, which have established extensive pheasant farms. All over the country there are people who keep just a few birds because they admire their beautiful markings. Probably more people would keep them if their general care were better understood. Newly hatched pheasants are extremely delicate, but mature birds are hardy and strong. Pheasants do not suf- fer in cold weather, for they have a very heavy covering of feathers, but dampness and draughts must be avoided with the utmost care. The aviary should therefore be constructed with one side or end entirely open, except for inch-mesh poultry netting stretched over it. A canvas cur- tain may be dropped if necessary to keep out beating rains. The floor should be built up at least a foot higher than the outside ground in order to make sure that it will always be dry. A dirt floor is as good as any, but should be cov- ered with gravel two or three inches deep, which should be replaced at least twice a year. Pheasants are exceptionally neat and the amount of labor needed to keep their pens in a sanitary condition is not great. It is most important to keep out rats and other maraud- ing animals, for the birds often choose to roost on the floor. The best protection against rats is a cement foundation wall reaching to the frost line. Hemlock boards painted with a commercial preparation offensive to rodents may be used instead, or inch-mesh poultry wire may be sunk into the ground a foot or more deep all around the house. As pheasants are exceedingly shy, it is well to make a retreat in their pen, where they may find seclusion. This may be done by boarding off a corner, with a small entrance hole made in the bottom board, or by placing a few short evergreen bows in a corner. A perch or two will complete the equipment so far as ordinary requirements are concerned. There should be a yard attached to the house, if possible, but it must be wired over or the pheasants will soon leave it by the air route. Netting with inch-mesh is the best for use, as it will exclude sparrows, which vagrant birds will otherwise consume more grain than the pheasants. Being covered, these runs need not be high—four feet is ample. It is not wise for the amateur to attempt hatching pheas- ant eggs until warm weather is established; if he does, he will almost certainly suffer so many losses as to be discour- aged. The first of June is sufficiently early in the northern states to have the young birds make their appearance. On the other hand, they ought to be out before the excessively warm weather comes on. It is necessary to give the young- sters every advantage. From 21 to 26 days are required for incubating the eggs, according to the variety. Bantam hens are used almost exclusively as sitters. Pheasant eggs are so small that twenty of them may be put under a hen of ordinary size, but it is better to use a light hen like a Bantam, and to give her not more than ten eggs. Then the poults will stand a better chance of surviving the manifold dangers of infancy, for if there are many young birds, some of them are almost certain to be stepped on or to stray away. The hens are commonly set in boxes in the bottom of which a shovelful of earth or an inverted sod has been placed. It is well to set two hens at the same time, so that if many of the eggs prove infertile when they are tested on the seventh day, those which remain may be given to one hen and the other hen released from her task. It is a common practice to remove the eggs from the hens just before they are due to hatch and to place them in an incubator, raising the poults in a brooder. The reason lies in the fact that hens frequently transmit a disease known as white diarrhoea to chicks, which does not affect the old hens to any appreciable extent, but is considered fatal to young birds. If the poults are then raised on the ground where poultry has not run for four or five years, they are not likely to contract either disease or lice until old enough to resist infection. This plan is really the secret of raising- young pheasants and when it is remembered, success follows.

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