end and on the sides of this alley, were, I think, seven pens for 

 ducks. The cat was not there to be "swung," but I am sure 

 there was not room in any one of these divisions. Yet, the ducks 

 seemed to be doing well enough. The matter that saved the sit- 

 uation was that the shelter stood at the head of a steep slope, 

 and there was running water at the bottom to which the mature 

 birds had continual access. Such confined quarters ("sevenths," 

 rather) are not to be advised; but the story shows how especial 

 good conditions in one direction may offset, when necessary, 

 some neglect or lack in another. 



Duck houses are of the simplest construction, and about the 

 only need is a roof with three or four walls, and some rather 

 deep, clean litter. Many times, they prefer to sit out, entirely 

 exposed to the weather. But this is a matter which affects their 

 breeding value much, in some seasons. A valuable breeding bird 

 requires comfort, and if she have not a comfortable shelter and 

 warm litter, many of her eggs will be wasted through chilling, 

 during the early part of the year. One should not forget that, 

 although ducks are water fowl, they need dry shelters and drained 

 soil, at least near their sleeping place. I have seen ordinary pud- 

 dle ducks, probably once kin to the Rouen aristocracy, sit all 

 night in the dead of winter on a pond, just where it was fed from 

 a living spring. But these ducks were not expected to lay 

 until March. 



The foregoing remarks indicate the general handling which 

 goes to the making of a vigorous breeder, or a vigorous layer. 

 The market duck is handled differently while growing, especially 

 in the matter of feed. The very sweeping statement has been 

 made that there is only one duck for profit, as that one is so far 

 superior to all the others. But this statement was penned a 

 dozen years ago, when the very name of Indian Runner was prac- 

 tically unknown in this country. More recently, an extensive 

 grower of the big, market ducks has told me that, in his opinion, 



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