The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-06-28

In. Small eyergreena may be grown
inside with decided advantage. 0i cut
branches OF evergreen or deciduons
trees may be placed within II grow
ing grass OF alfalfa cannot be con
venIently provided tn the pen, a piece
Of sod should be placed there occasion
ally The birds enjoy tearing sod to
pieces for seeds. insects and grass
which It contains.
Nests should be kept clean Broken
eggs and all other refuse should be
removed and the remaining eggs
washed If soiled The hen should, how.
ever be disturbed as little as possible.
When an egg has Clipped but the
chick is unable TO break out IN eight
hours it may be assisted by placing
the egg in shallow pan Of water Cat
blood heat) for a minute OF two. chip
ped part uppermost and out Of the
water, to avoid drowning the chick,
The chick should never be drawn out
Of the shell by hand, but should be al
lowed to emerge naturally
Care of Young Pheasants.
The young should 80 without food
for twenty-four hours after Matching.
as during that time they derive all
needed nourishment from the yolk.
which they are then absorbing. There
after begins the most critical state Of
pheasant life, and for two or three
weeks watchful and unremitting care
is necessary Extreme cleanliness
must be observed Drinking and feed.
ing vessels should be washed and
scalded daily, weather conditions must
be noted carefully, and every precau-
ton taken to prevent exposure Of the
chicks to dampness or direct and ex-
cessiye sun heat; the slight disorder
in the young must be treated promptly
and decisiyely. In time Of severe
drought the grass near the coop should
be sprinkled.
Near each coop there should be a
leafy branch to furnish shelter and
sade for the young, The runs may be
retained throughout the rearing season.
if there is danger from hawks or crows
but in this event they should be as
large as possible
The hens may be kept cooped and
the young allowed to run at large, in
which case the front Of the coop must
be covered with a large mesh wire net
ting or baTE; or both hens and chicks
may be allowed the liberty Of the field
In this, as in many other matters, the
choice depends on local conditions.
Thus It might be advantageous to al
low the young pheasants to run In
vegetable garden, which would be ma
terially damaged if the hens were
given the same privilege II sometimes
happens, too, that the hen when at lib
erty loses one or more Of her brood
When possible, however. it IS better
to leave the hen free to 80 and come
with the chicks
While the young chicks require plen-
ty Of sunshine tits important also that
they be not exposed to the direct
rays Of the sun in very hot weather
They should be given water that Is
fresh and cool. and precaution should
be- taken that they do not drench or
drown themselves in their drinking
Shallow pans Of water in
which are placed stones the size Of
hickory nuts will avoid this danger
Food for Young Pheasants.
Successful pheasant raisers agree
that suitable food is most important in
pheasant rearing. and each has his
own formula. Certain general princi-
ples which should always be kept in
mind, are embodied in pheasant feed
ing. AS with the old birds. Il is better
to err on the side IL too little food
than too much Never feed more than
The birds will eat up clean. In select
Ing food two things must be remem-
bered that variety tempts appetite
and that gradual transition from soft
10 hard food is required. Even seed
eating birds, such as sparrows and
other finches, feed their young at first
almost exclusively on soft-bodied in
sects. Young pheasants pick up many
insects in the rearing field, but the
supply must be supplanted. It is Gus
omary to depend on so-called ants
Eggs (really the pupae of ants), mag
gots. meal worms or finely ground
neat. Almost any soft-bodied insects
would satisfy the need If they could
,e secured in sufficient quantity Ants
Eggs are much relished BY young
)heasants and are excellent food; but
Z is difficult to obtain enough Of them
ind unless they can be obtained