Bog Myrtle & Peat

If you’re not careful, shooting and countrysports can take over your life. As a freelance journalist and writer, I am lucky that I have the freedom to shoot, fish and spend time in the countryside whenever I want, and turning my hobbies into my work has meant that almost everything I do is related in some way to sport. It means that I can fiddle away with sporting projects while generous and benevolent editors and clients pay me to document my findings for the reading “pleasure” of the wider public.

Having set the scene, I would like to introduce my newest writing project. I’ve been working with Solway Feeders Ltd (purveyors of the finest gamekeeping equipment) as a copywriter on and off for almost three years, and when they mentioned in passing that they were looking to test a new brand of incubator, I suggested using some pheasant eggs. One thing led to another, and I soon found myself responsible not only for testing the incubator, but also for rearing any subsequent chicks into adulthood.

I will be honest at this stage and say that I am totally out of my depth. I don’t know anything about incubation, and only spent a few weeks working in the rearing fields of a modest local shoot almost eight years ago. The pheasant eggs (donated by a friendly game farmer) go into the incubator tomorrow, and the dominoes will start to fall. I will only be responsible for a small number of birds, but given that my only experience of animal husbandry to date is based upon caring for two overweight and somnolent ferrets, I find  the whole idea extremely exciting.

This pheasant project may sway from the central grouse theme which this blog was intended to cover, but seeing as it will have to do with birds, the countryside and shooting, it’s not too far out of line. Also, it ties in with my general opinion that if you don’t know how to do something, start doing it at once.

Experienced staff members from Solway Feeders will be on hand to help with this project, but comments, advice and suggestions will certainly be welcome.