A2O-lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 17,1994
MIRIAM WERT
Juniata Co. Correspondent
REEDS GAP, (Juniata Co.)
Don and Roseann Woodward can
show you a partridge (but not in a
pear tree!), two turtle doves; three
French hens; (but no calling birds
whatever they are), and no swans
a-swimming, but their total of 70
species more than make up for
those discrepancies in the 12 days
of Christmas gifts.
The Woodwards play a cassette
tape of many types of birds
singing and calling as the tour is
made of (heir bird area, making it
the perfect accompaniment for the
sight of beautiful and unusual
birds.
Some people have a hobby of
crafts or flea market sales, so that
the sale of their items pays the
expenses of their hobby. So it is
with the Woodwards. Their hobby
started with collecting rare and
exotic pheasants and doves which
they bred, and selling the offspring
to help pay the expense of keeping
the collection.
The Woodwards fell in love
with other birds they now own
70 species of rare or fancy breeds
of small pigeons, doves, ducks,
pheasants, quail, partridges, pea
cocks, chickens, and other birds.
With all of these, they keep pairs
which then mate and lay eggs so
that (heir offspring are sold to help
pay for the expense of feeding and
housing the collection. Most are
sold to other collectors/breeders,
but some are sold to two commer
cial dealers in California and West
Virginia who, in turn, sell birds to
the public.
Don and Roseann’s collection
totals 70 species of exotic birds.
Their collection is of a good size
now, but larger in the summer,
when thi have 300-400 birds.
Rare or fancy breeds of small pigeons from Egypt and India.
12 Days Of Christmas On Exotic Bird Farm
The Woodwards have a friend
in Lewistown who also has a col
lection, and they go together to
bird shows, meetings, and bird
“flea markets” in other states.
Both developed, their own formu
la for feed pellets. A feed mill in
Reedsville, makes the pellets
according to their selected ratio.
The Woodwards believe this is
more economical than buying
brand names because they use
such a large volume.
Don and his Lewistown friend
went to Canada last year and pur
chased some pheasants, of which
there are only 10 in captivity.
To buy and sell endangered
species of pheasants, a permit
must be obtained from the state
and sales must be reported. Permit
cost is $25 a year, but the time
involved is the worst part. Photos
must be sent in to show where the
birds are to be housed and the size
to be provided, etc. Then the state
determines whether or not they
will grant the license, which can
be revoked if eligibility is not
proven each year. A permit is also
needed to raise quail and ringneck
pheasants, and a migratory permit
is needed to raise ducks.
Long, one-story buildings with
separate small rooms for different
species arc provided. Many rooms
have evergreen trees that will be
replaced after Christmas. Dealers
will provide leftover fresh trees
that have not been in heated homes
for the birds. One room contains a
live rhododendron bush. The
Woodwards must be selective in
the types of plants or trees as cer
tain types could be poisonous to a
specific breed of bird. Some
breeds need heat during winter,
and some need cold.
The Woodwards have a book
filled with information, containing
Green-winged Fruit Doves and Diamond Doves.
Don v Roseann Woodward stai
the farm in the base.
photos of beautiful pheasants,
titled “Pheasants of the World -
Their Breeding and Management”
by Keith Howman. Colored pho
tos in the book are breathtaking.
One of the Temminch Tragopan
front
shows the brilliant blue and red stances but especially so with the
bib that the male displays during bib displayed. The Woodwards
the mating season, after which the have two pairs of this species.
bib rolls up out of sight. He is
beautiful under normal circum-
noon to 4.
Blue-eared Manchurian pheaaant from Chinaffibat.
Their Christmas present to each
(Turn to Pag* A 22)
eggi