Watering in covert

 Where it is well known that wild pheasants will get along quite well without any water supplies, reared birds must be able to drink freely - particularly if they are being fed on dry grain and 'left-over' pellets in covert - until they are completely acclimatised to life in the wild. And, like wild partridges, wild pheasants will often take advantage of water if it is provided.

Polythene agricultural piping has simplified the watering problem on many estates, but where such facilities are not available, here are two suggestions which may be helpful: on a dry, sandy shoot in Holland, a network of shallow cement pools, rather like dewponds, has proved most successful for pheasants, wild boar and deer. They are situated at the lower end of a sloping ride so as to take up surface rainwater. Large stones should be placed in. the pools as safety islands so that chicks cannot drown. Temporary pools can be made with thick polythene sheets placed in shallow depressions, weighed down with heavy stones round the edge.

The second idea is a home-made drinking fountain. The 2-in. (5 cm.) deep water tray is made from the base of a square 5-gallon (23 1.) drum. 'The round drum is filled with water, the tray placed on top and both are then turned over. The water will flow from the drum until it covers the cap when the flow will cease until the birds drinking from the tray reduce the level. The drinker thus uses the same principle as the old-fashioned jam jar drinker - simple and cheap.

 

 To the Home Icon owners page.