New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06
RAISING "W|LO' GAME
PheasantS Bred by Thousands
for Private Preserves.
HENS USED FOR MATCHING
Remarkable Farm Near Chicago
Where This Industry
Is Followed

Little does the fortunate guest OF the
millionaire owner Of big game preserve
realize how much ne is indebted to the
meek and lowly hen for the success of his
days "sport"l For the ordinary, speckled
or unspeckled female member of the species
chicken has become the stepmother OF
fashionable hunting. the willing and ready
provider of victims for the wealthy, indo-
lent hunter who would save himself the
all day tramp Of the oldtine sportsman by
doing his Shooting" in a nice, shady
place. tc which he is conveyed in a mod
ern motor car, with man to load his guns
and clean them and another to locate the
game anu drive IL toward him.
In several sections of the country there
are located game" farms where wild
birds are raised by thousands to be sold TO
the owners of big country estates so that
their game preserves may DO stocked with
every imaginable species OF fowl, those OF
the water, Of the field and Of the woods
depending on the nature Of the country
included in the estate.
From quiet residence suburb Of Chi
cago thousands OF crates and baskets are
shipped each year, the crates inclosing
! pheasants, wild geese and wild ducks and
the baskets containing eggs of the various
game birds bred on a game propagation
farm situated on the east bank of the Des-
! PLANES River.
The owner OF this farm, when only fifteen
years old, commenced raising q few game
birds IN his back yard. in Oak Park, H.
and after one year the business prospered
SO that it became necessary to acquire
some additional space, equal TO several
town lots. After a few years even the
enlarged grounds became too small, and
he removed to his present location, start
ing with one hundred acres and to-day at
the age of twenty-five. he has $40 acres OF
land under his control. improved with a
re sidence. gristmill. electric light and water
plant and several gamekeepers' cottages and
harms Nearly two million square feet OF
wire fencing is used for runs, aviarieS and
other Enclosures. Some idea of the extent
of this enterprise can be gained from the
statement that for Matching purposes alone
fifteen hundred setting hens are used.
Common barnyard hens are used for
Matching eggs and caring for the chicks
Of pheasants and most of the wild water
fowl: this makes the young quite tame
The old barnyard hen is quite a sensible
old lady. and can always be depended
,lpon. She is not easily startled or driven
from the nest. as is the case with pheasant
hens in captivity.
The baby pheasants follow their proud
foster-mothers and mop their wings IN imi-
tation Of their real parents. Before many
DAYS have passed the little pheasants'
wings must be clipped or they would use
their birthright and 90 on 10y flies The
nonds. where they can swim and play.
Mother hen stands on the bank astonisneo
bevond understanding when her offspring
take 10 the water
In the fields may be seen flocks or young
golden and silver pheasants about year
old, the plumage Of the males just sug-
costing the variegated colors that Will be-
come more distinct and gorgeous as they
grow older. The older birds IN all their
magnificent spendor, occupy numerous
runs.
The female pheasant's plumage Is almost
sombre beside that of the male, but what
the hen lacks IN brilliant cooring she
makes up in grace and quiet elegance.
There are scores of varieties OF pleas
ants. but after much experimenting 1t has
been found that the English, Golden, Sill
yer. Lady Amherst and Reeves are the
easiest and most profitable to handle In
great numbers.
Besides numerous small breeders. there
are in this country about FIVE large farms
on which thousands of pneasants are raised
each year. Twelve or more state agricult-
ural departments are actively interested in
propagaung English pheasants, and while
some states have a short season for shoot
ing, others are closed until 1873 and in
some cases until 1915.
Like agriculture or chicken raising
pbeasant breeding opens the door 10 indie
pendence and assures a substantial income
Anv one who has had successful experience
raising domestic fowl is qualified TO under
take pheasant breeding. Young pheasants'
however. because Of their nervous lem
permanent, need more attention than chick