HAND REARED 'tHUNKIES" 
SUCCESSFUL IN MICHIGAN 
The use of imported wild trapped 
Hungarian Partridge for propagation 
at the Mason Game Farm proved to be 
an almost complete failure. The im- 
ported birds laid almost no eggs. But 
handreared birds from native eggs are 
now laying well, according to a report 
from the Game Farm operated by the 
Michigan Department of Conservation 
at Mason. 
Two years ago the State imported 
100 Hungarian Partridge at a cost of 
$6.50 each. Although many of the birds 
paired off in the Game Farm pens, the 
wild birds laid only a dozen eggs and 
only four of these hatched. These four 
birds, however, continued to thrive so 
that no difficulty was found in feeding 
or rearing the chicks. 
Last year eggs were taken from the 
nests of wild birds in Lenawee County 
and set under Game Farm bantams and 
from these six "tame" hens and two 
cock birds survived. This spring four 
cock birds from those imported last 
winter in cooperation with the Shiawas- 
see  Conservation  Association  were 
taken to make up six pairs. The re- 
sults of these six matings have been 
beyond expectations. One of the hens 
has established something of a record 
by laying over 30 eggs so far this year 
and she is still laying. About 130 eggs 
have been laid so far by the six hand- 
reared hens, and have been placed 
under bantams for hatching. The first 
hatchings were successful and others 
are due during the next two weeks. 
Obtaining the eggs and getting them 
hatched  has apparently  been  more 
difficult than the rearing of the young 
partridges, according  to the  Game 
...Division. No seriouS trouble has been 
found to date in feeding the young 
birds or with parasites and diseases 
in the home-reared birds. 
Since more wild eggs fro'n Len. wee 
County have been obtained azain thisi 
year and seem to be hatching well, 
present prospects are that over 100 
Hungarian Partridge chicks will be 
saved and will be available to continue 
and expand the experiment.