60 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



has not been brought very prominently forward of late. 

 That it is a good suggestion few will be prepared to deny, 

 for birds in a state of nature find all the protection they 

 need in trees, as there are no houses or sheds to shelter 

 them. But, of course, they are not restricted, and can 

 keep themselves warm by exercise, whereas those that have 

 not this liberty must have some artificial protection ; and 

 the plan of putting birds in open runs, where they are 

 restrained by wire fencing, without any corner to which 

 they can retire, so as to be out of the reach of wind and 

 weather, is foolish in the extreme, and we cannot wonder the 

 birds do not thrive at all well. 



It is best as a rule, when planting runs in this way, to 

 use large fruit trees, such as apple, pear, plum, and, in 

 suitable places, cobnuts. These are generally regarded as 

 a source of profit in themselves, for land is given up to them 

 alone ; but, when this is so, they are nearly always planted 

 too closely to suit poultry, at least in wet weather, and thus 

 ordinary orchards cannot be looked upon as more than 

 occasional or extra runs. If there are these near to where 

 the poultry are kept, they will be a great boon, as in such 

 places there is an abundance of insect life, which is highly 

 beneficial to the birds. They also provide shelter during 

 very hot weather, and protection from storms, the chief draw- 

 back being that a closely-planted orchard or wood is nearly 

 always damp, and therefore not suitable during the winter 

 and late autumn. 



We have recommended the planting of large trees, but as 

 they take a few years, to get into full fruit bearing condition, 

 and cannot be easily removed, some may prefer to use bushes, 

 such as gooseberry or raspberry. These afford a capital pro- 

 tection, as they are low, and thick near the ground, which is 

 not the case with large trees. They, however, have one dis- 

 advantage, and that is, the birds pick off the fruit when they 



