. Cyclopedia of farm animals. Domestic animals; Animal products. Fig. 591. Ruffed grouse cock about five months Fig. 592. Ruffed grouse strutting. sleep, however, invariably outside, either perched in the brush, preferably a thick mass of spruce, pine or hemlock branches, or in snow burrows that they dig whenever the snow is deep enough. In the spring the flock must be carefully watched and the cocks must be put each into a separate cage as soon as any signs of fighting appear. The hens may be kept in a cage together, at least until mated, when it will probably be best to give each one a
. Cyclopedia of farm animals. Domestic animals; Animal products. Fig. 591. Ruffed grouse cock about five months Fig. 592. Ruffed grouse strutting. sleep, however, invariably outside, either perched in the brush, preferably a thick mass of spruce, pine or hemlock branches, or in snow burrows that they dig whenever the snow is deep enough. In the spring the flock must be carefully watched and the cocks must be put each into a separate cage as soon as any signs of fighting appear. The hens may be kept in a cage together, at least until mated, when it will probably be best to give each one a cage or run to herself. When the cocks begin to drum, place the hens with them and tney will mate immediately. The hens should then be removed, as it seems to be the rule for a cock to peck a hen to death if confined with her after mating. Difficulties in the way of domesticating ruffed grouse. It is usually stated that the ruffed grouse is untamable, and this is given as the reason why the species has not been successfully domesticated. The experience of the past five years has entirely disproved this theory. It has also been asserted that it is too nervous to submit to the necessary confinement of domesticated fowls. This, too, is disproved. If actually hatched under domestic conditions, the birds are quite as tame as barnyard fowls, and remain so ; and they are quiet, show no abnormal restlessness and appear quite as contented as ordinary fowls. The real reason why the Ameri- can partridge—and this probably applies to the bob white and other native grouse—has not been brought under domestication is, that the species succumbs to a disease, generally present in the domestic fowl. The disease is caused by a parasite which produces the "black-head" or "favus" of the turkey. This disease has made the rear- ing of turkeys over wide areas impossible on ground contaminated by the domestic fowl, and will render the rearing of grouse with fowls impos- sible in
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbaileylh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1922
