especially during cutting winds. No one with any experience 

 with fowls would expect eggs under such conditions, of course. 

 But the ducks were doing well enough otherwise, and happy 

 as larks, even on the snow, as soon as it began to thaw. I 

 judge them to be hardier in some respects than any breed of 

 hens I have had experience with — and that is a great many. 

 "They do not require any shelter after they are grown," is the 

 testimony of another breeder. Nevertheless, all who expect to 

 get eggs at the north in the colder months must provide shelter, 

 and see that the birds do not stay much in cutting wind. Too 

 close shelter is not desirable, especially for breeding stock. 



All poultry yards, whether for hens or other birds, should 

 have shelter on the sides toward the prevailing winds ; this is 

 only common-sense. Hedging, shrubbery, low-branching trees, 

 farm buildings — any of these may afford the shelter needed. I 

 think there is no doubt that the Runners would prefer a shelter 

 consisting only of a roof, with thickly-branched shrubs for one 

 or two sides ; for they are very suspicious, and are miHch wilder 

 when enclosed than when free to go about. Whether this would 

 be warm enough to permit laying, I am not sure; think it doubt- 

 ful, at least in the three worst months. The breeders who report 

 that their birds lay "remarkably well" during the winter do not 

 house them on the hither side of an iceberg; though even that 

 would be more comfortable, it may be, than an open sweep of 

 cutting winds. Think a minute! Even in your dweUings, unless 

 very warmly built, a keen gale will make 40 degrees difference, 

 next the windward side. How much more bitter will it be out- 

 side ! 



One needs to handle Runners for some time, and learn theit 

 typical carriage and their habits of behavior at different periods 

 of growth not only, but at different stages, in order to criticise 

 them fairly. Probably it has occurred to very few that it is almost 

 impossible for a laying bird to hold her typical carriage and form. 



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