The Pheasant Rearer's Manual - A Handy Book of Reference on Pheasant Rearing - Comprising a Routine of Management for the Successful Rearing of Pheasants

By Anon Anon

Originally published in 1903, this book comprises a detailed guide to setting up and maintaining a routine of management for the successful rearing of pheasants. Written in clear, simple language and full of handy tips, “The Pheasant Rearers' Manual” represents a timeless guide for all with a practical interest in the subject keeping wildfowl for pleasure or sport. Contents include: "Pheasants and Sport", "Concerning Eggs", "Aviary Construction", "Catching up Pheasants", "Equipment", "Sitting Fowls", "Management", "The Rearing Field", "Removal to Covert", "Coverts", "Diseases", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on shooting wildfowl.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Oct 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447492825

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PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION, 1903.

THIS little work, first issued twelve years ago, has already passed through many editions in its original state, and we have good reason for knowing that it has met with general approval, but the present one has been revised, enlarged, and altogether brought up to date, and we trust it may now still further merit the approbation of its readers.

THE

PHEASANT REARER’S MANUAL.

CHAPTER I.

A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THE PHEASANT AND

ITS ADAPTABILITY TO SPORTING PURPOSES.

THE native home of the pheasant is the region east and south of the Caspian Sea, although the different varieties of the genus Phasianus are also to be found widely distributed over the southern portion of the continent of Asia. The pheasant was certainly known to the Romans at the time they visited England, for impressions of the bird have been found in tiles discovered amongst ruins of Roman villas, but it is possible these may have been made from recollections which the warriors brought with them. Certainly, the man responsible for the introduction of the bird to this country is not known. Perhaps he was some fastidious epicure returning to his native land, to whom the very idea of existence without the luxurious food which the pheasant provides would be a misery. Or, perhaps, he was a lover of nature, desirous of adding one more ornamental feature to his native woodland scenery; but, whoever he was and whatever might have been his motive, he was then little aware of the important part his introduction was destined to take, both in covert and on table. It would be waste of time for us to describe the pheasant here, as it is now widely disseminated throughout our country; and even those unable to admire this splendid bird as it roams its native woodland, must have noticed its shining plumage when hanging in the gamedealer’s shop. There are three kinds of pheasants now largely preserved, these being the dark-necked variety (Phasianus Colchicus), the ring-necked (P. lorquatus), and the Japanese variety (P. versicolor). However, all three have now become so interbred, that few pure birds of each are to be found. An uncontaminated strain is rarely to be procured without importation. Many sportsmen are in favour of the dark-necked bird as the most valuable from a sporting point of view, giving as their reason that it flies faster and strays less than the other kinds, but this is not altogether our experience. Taking everything into consideration the ring- necked bird is equally as good, and a cross between the two has on a large number of estates been encouraged with most satisfactory results. However, we will allow each reader to have his own opinion.

Without doubt, the pheasant is the king of sporting birds, although a few may consider it as holding but a second place to the partridge; yet, when we consider the ease with which it can be reared by experienced hands, the celerity with which it attains its natural wildness and timidity after leaving the rearer’s care, and its propensity for staying at home when encouraged to do so by suitable and abundant food, even the most biassed of sportsmen will pardon us for placing it first on the list. Placing aside all its merits as a means of providing sport, what dish is more toothsome than a daintily-roasted pheasant? The epicure would be fastidious indeed who turned up his nose at a delicate slice from its breast. As an article of food, the pheasant is now in universal request, and after a big shoot, a brace may be obtained from the local gamedealer’s at a price which is merely nominal, and which places this dainty bird within the easy reach of all classes of the community. This is entirely owing to that love of shooting which is so prevalent among our sportsmen, and which induces them to rear annually a large head of game with the object of providing entertainment for themselves and friends. Vast sums are annually spent on the rearing of these birds, and in what better manner could it possibly be expended than in providing food, amusement, and employment to a vast army of our population ? It is impossible to form an estimate of the number who find employment in some way connected with the preservation of game. The keepers and watchers, gun and ammunition manufacturers, netting makers, and those who supply food, are all more or less indebted to the pheasant. Without taking into consideration the loss of luxurious food to the community, just fancy the numbers who would be thrown out of employment should game preservation, by unworthy legislation, be banished from our midst. The abolition of the game laws is supposed to be the consummation of the poacher’s hopes; yet, well he knows that, unless some very stringent trespass laws were passed, a few seasons only would suffice to exterminate game. We are afraid that in his love of excitement and plunder his attention would soon be turned to other objects, and his depredations would then affect a larger portion of the community, and, perhaps, those less able to bear either the trouble and expense of watching or the losses he might occasion.

As season succeeds season, the artificial rearing of pheasants is becoming more general among game preservers. This is owing to several reasons. First of all, it cannot be denied that The Ground Game Act is the principal cause of the serious and increasing diminution of the ground game. Doubtless, a few instances could be asserted in which tenants had been victims to over-preservation, but such sweeping legislation was not at all necessary to effect reform. This Act has conferred no real and lasting benefit upon the agricultural classes, and has been the cause of strained relations between many a worthy tenant and excellent landlord. But that is neither here nor there.

To return to our subject. Their inability to preserve ground game has caused gentlemen to turn attention to the preservation of winged game, and of this class the pheasant is most amenable to artificial rearing. Although the native of a much warmer climate than our own it is indisputably hardier than the partridge, especially during the first fortnight of its existence. The love of fox-hunting is another reason why artificial rearing has become a necessity. Wild birds cannot be relied upon to increase to any great extent where foxes abound; but, thanks to the improvements in foods and appliances, the birds may now be carefully guarded during the most dangerous period of their existence. Under any circumstances the hen pheasant is but a poor mother, and the male bird is of no help whatever to her. The meagre attention which the female pays the young when hatched does not seem at all consistent with the devotion with which she incubates. So soon as the little birds are able to travel, away she goes, the youngsters cheeping after her. Should the little things be unable to surmount any obstacle which lies in her way, this does not in the least retard her. Over she flies, and as long as a few of the strongest are able to follow, on she goes utterly regardless of the remainder left crying behind. If the keeper should come across a wild brood just hatched, it is much the best for him to pick up all he can, and place them with those of a corresponding age under a hen in the rearing field. This is best done at night after the hen has settled down, and she will not notice the addition when morning comes. Of course, the brood must be confined to the yard for a few days, or away will wander the wild members. During a continuously wet and cold season, it is seldom that half a wild hatch survives. Exposure kills many, and others get their little feet clogged with balls of mud which they are unable to remove. On they struggle after their parent, the balls increasing with every step, till at last the birds fall behind perfectly exhausted and are left there to die. The above are a few of the most prominent reasons why hand rearing is desirable and, we may say, necessary.

The pheasant is almost harmless to the farmer. Certainly, a hundred birds busily engaged unearthing the seed from a freshly-sown wheat field is not a pleasant sight, but the habits of the pheasant are such that the most simple of contrivances effectually frighten it from the field. With a very suspicious eye does it regard anything afresh. A bright bit of tin swinging and flashing in