Pheasants of the World: Their Breeding and Management

130 Pages·1993·88.238 MB·English

by  Keith Howman

PHEASANTS
Pheasants:
Their Breeding & Management
The keeping and breeding of ornamental pheasants
has grown considerably in recent years and with it
the need fora basic, yet comprehensive, book on the
subject to guide newcomers through the many
aspects of selection and management of these birds.
In this volume will be found answers to most
questions likely to be asked in respect of housing,
feeding, breeding, general care and aiso on the
species themselves.
The author has been involved with pheasants for
many years and in his superb aviaries keeps and
breeds many species. He is the Secretary of the
World Pheasant Association and has travelled
extensively throughout the world in his quest to
study the many species in their natural habitat and
also to meet other enthusiasts.
Illustrated throughout with both colour and
black/white photographs this book will prove an
invaluable reference work for those planning to keep
their first pheasants, whilst being of more than
passing interest to those who arc already experienced
in keeping these beautiful birds.
/ hf author and a favourite Satyr Vragopan cock.
£4.75 (U.K. Only)
END A NG ER ED PHEA 5/1A T
Broun Earcd-Pheasant
(Crossopiilon manlchuricum)
Eduards’ Pheasant
(Lophura edwardsi)
Western Tragopan
(Tragopan melancephalus)
Sclatcr’s Monal
(Lophophorus sclateri)
PHEASANTS
1 heir Breeding and Management
I he Scclum V alley Azad Kashir excellent Pheasant country.
1
PHEASANTS
Their Breeding and Management
K. C. R. Howman
Series Editor
Dennis Kelsey-Wood
The Bird Keeper’s Library
Books Lid. Edlingion,
Horncastle. Lincs. England
© K & R Books Lid
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means
without the prior permission, in writing, of the publishers.
First published 1979
by K & R Books Ltd.,
Edlington, Lincolnshire
Cover Painting: Golden Pheasant by Esdaile Hudson
ISBN 0 903264 35 8
Typeset by Woolaston Parker Ltd, and printed in Great Britain by
Litho Letterpress Service, both of Leicester and bound in Edinburgh by
Hunter & Fouhs Ltd.
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
Acknowledgements vi
Preface vii
1 Introduction 1
2 Aviaries: Practical
Considerations 5
3 General Management and
Husbandry 21
4 Feeding 29
5 Choice of Species and
Stock Selection 35
6 The Breeding Season 39
7 The Pheasant Species 65
Appendices
I The World Pheasant
Association 110
2 Bibliography 112
Indexes
I Scientific names 113
2 Common names 114
3 General 115
/I CKNO WLEDGEMENTS
1 would like to record my thanks to those many people who have
helped and encouraged me in the hobby of keeping ornamental
pheasants, in particular my colleagues in the World Pheasant
Association with their President, Dr Jean Dclacour, to whom we all
owe so much. To their Secretary, Major lain Grahame and DrT. W.
I. Lovel my special thanks for their help, assistance and advice in the
writing of this book.
My thanks also to my secretary, Pat Skelton, for many long hours
of patient typing from my pages of horribly-written manuscript - but
particularly my thanks are due to my wife Jean who spent many
hours after midnight reading, correcting, re-reading and advising -
and who was always correct!
K. C. R. HOWMAN
Editor's A ckno wledgements
Whilst endorsing my thanks to all those people mentioned by the
author might 1 add also the following people without whom the
hnished book would have been the poorer. Esdaile Hudson, for his
masterly paintings, Jean Howman for her superb photography, A. D.
Forbes-Watson for his research on general authors and dates, Alan
Webster for his line drawings and finally to John Gaten whose
counsel is always worthwhile.
PREFACE
I was delighted to accept the invitation to write this book because I
remember so well that when I first began to keep ornamental (as
opposed to game) pheasants there was an almost total dearth of
practical advice available at a reasonable price in a written form.
This book is not intended in any way to be a scientific book, nor is it
expected or intended to become a standard reference on the subject.
My own experience is that each year 1 learn something new either
from the birds themselves or from fellow enthusiasts.
I have attempted to provide enough information to enable a beginner
to start with confidence. My advice to any reader is not to take any of
the information given as infallible, although it is I hope sound, but
be prepared to experiment - within reason.
Finally, may I wish readers of this book as much pleasure and
satisfaction from their hobby as I have had and continue to enjoy
from the keeping of these fascinating birds.
K. C. R. Howman
Shepperton
1978