The Glenwood post., 1907-11-30
PHEASANTS Will THRIVE ON WESTERN SLOPE
No Better Country on Earth for the Propagation Of These
Beautiful and Toothsome "Roya|' Birds
By William R. Collier.

tccted birds and animals. Under pres
ent conditions, however, some improve
ment in the way of enforcing the state
game laws has been noted.
The Kendrek pleasantly is located
in prominent section of City park,
Denver. 1t includes large aviary in
which there is room for many hundred
show birds. Adjoining this aviary are
the breeding pens, 100 in number, and
IN each pen are to be seen one cock and
from four to six hens. The birds, par
ticularly those of the Chinese variety,
are prolific layers in captivity, it be-
ing said that in captivity they lay
great many more eggs than in the
wild state. They are extremely hardy
and after reaching maturity extreme
heat and cold alike have no i'll effects
upon them. Pheasants have been known
to roost in trees at times when their
backs were covered with half an inch
of snow, and the temperature down to
zero.
Each breeding pen is fifty feet long
six feet high and six feet wide, enclosed
completely with chicken wire and hay
ing door at each end and small
shelter for the birds at one end. The
sides are boarded up to a height Of
four feet from the ground, this being
done so that the cocks in each pen will
not see each other During the breed
ing season the cocks, if permitted to
come together in the presence of hens,
fight viciously. Even if they see each
other through the chicken wire they will
dash furiously against the wire in at
tempts to engage in combat.
AS Easy to Raise as Fancy Poultry.
The stock feed for the old birds is
cracked grain and, in season, plenty Of
the products of the truck garden. They
are quite fond of dandelions, beets, let
tucc, and will be in excellent condition
if given these vegetables quite FIRE
quently.
In the wild state large part of the
food of the pheasant consists of insects
and bugs. 1t is estimated that by the
introduction of this bird generally in
America, millions of dollars annually
will be saved by the farmer. The eggs
are taken out twice n day from the
breeding pens whore the are dropped
indiscrminately by the hens, and with
out undue delay are placed under com
mon hens. Now, it is a strange fact
that the common barnyard hen makes
better mother for young pheasants
than their own natural mother The
few young chicks that the hen pleas
ant will bring into the world from
setting lead precarious lives. The moth
leave her young to their fate. When
they follow her through the grass she
will be content as long as she hears
single one chirping behind her, though
at the same time others of the family
may be hopelessly lost and unable to
find their way.
Light common hens should be EN-
ploycd to hatch the eggs and to watch
the chick pheasants after they appear.
The period of incubation is 81 to "a
days and as soon as the young are dry
they are removed to the field with their
foster mother. AT the Kendrick rear
ing farm the coops are placed upon
runs cut through an alfalfa field and
are moved few feet every day so
that the chicks will have fresh ground
on which to feed. The old hen is con
fined in the coop and for the first three
days there is placed in front of the coop
runway open at the top so that the
chicks will learn to answer the call of
their foster mother. AS soon as the