good litter, about covers the real needs, as to shelter, for the 

 breeding ducks, or the layers. At the south I would board only 

 on the side of the prevaiHng wind. 



Concerning the. most deeply interesting point, as to how free- 

 ly the Indian Runners will lay in the "off" season for hens' eggs, 

 testimony varies so much as to convince me that it is quite a mat- 

 ter of handling. 



The H — ducks lay during the moulting season, and on into 

 the extreme cold months. The report is, 75 per cent of them lay- 

 ing by February 1. And that the (large) flock averaged 99 eggs 

 per duck in 108 days ; also, that the eggs laid during the five 

 poorer months of the year will "more than pay all expenses of 

 feed, shipping baskets, printing and advertising for the entire 

 year." 



Mrs. Brooks's birds lay during the moult (to a lesser extent 

 than in spring, of course) and she ships eggs for hatching in 

 November, the sparsest month of the year for hens' eggs. One 

 breeder, writing in November, says: "Every mail brings re- 

 ports of ducks from my eggs laying." 



Judge Clipp says that he sees duck eggs in the exhibition 

 ■coops of the Runners at midwinter (even after trying shipments). 

 The early hatched may begin to lay in July, and "anybody's" will 

 lay in February. Mr. Hurt says that the very slender neck, long, 

 thin body and alert carriage characterize the best layers. "The 

 White Queen," my original female, may well serve as a model for 

 those who would fix the correct type firmly in mind. Compare 

 Tier with Walton's ideal sketches, published in this country in 

 May, 1910, and see how little she lacks of meeting them. Is she 

 not, in fact, far more beautiful? 



Having a good, laying type, one needs to provide comfor- 

 table housing at night, a spot sheltered from winds during the 

 days, and liberal rations, with a goodly proportion of meat. 

 This sums up the matter of the egg harvest. 



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