19 



REARING OF CHICKS. 



Chickens hatched in an incubator can be reared either with hens 

 or with a brooder. Some people are able to make good hatches with 

 their incubators ; but they are unable to rear the chickens in brood- 

 ers. In this case I would advise the use of broody hens for mothers ; 

 and the same would apply to those who have an incubator, but do 

 not care to invest in a brooder. 



The best plan I know of to get the broody hens to take the 

 chicks, is to give the hen two or three eggs out of the incubator on 

 the 18th or 19th day and allow her to hatch them. When your incu- 

 bator hatch is over take a dozf^n or fifteen chickens and put them 

 under the hen after dark. Even if they happen to differ in color from 

 those she has hatched, she will mother them all the same. If you 

 give them- to her in the day time she may not do so. Never neglect 

 to give the hen a thorough dusting before giving her any eggs. If 

 there is one thing more than another that requires careful attention 

 in rearing young chickens, it is to keep them free from lice. If lice 

 get upon them, from the hen or elsewhere, a large proportion of them 

 will be almost sure to die. 



There are many good brooders upon the market which are well 

 described in the manufacturers' catalogues ; hence a description here 

 is unnecessary. Personally, I am in favor of a three-compartment 

 brooder, as it admits of keeping the chicks in near the heat when 

 young, and on stormy days. The brooder lamp should always be 

 arranged so as to give little chance of fire. 



If the brooder can be placed in a small portable house, it is a 

 good plan, as the brooder is thus protected from stormy cold winds 

 in the early spring ; also from the heat later on. The house protects 

 the chicks f i om rain, and serves as a roosting coop after they become 

 too large to stay in the brooder. 



Chicks should not be fed until they are at least 86 hours old. 

 It is a serious mistake to feed them earlier. Too early feeding is the 

 cause of indigestion and bowel trouble in many cases. We try to 

 keep the temperature of the brooder between 90 and 95 degrees 

 throughout the first week. After the first week the temperature is 

 gradually lowered, generally speaking, about 1 degree a day. When 

 the chicks are put into the brooder, it is well to remember that 

 every 15 chicks will raise the temperature of the brooder 1 degree. 

 Be careful not to get } our brooder too hot, nor yet so cool as to chill 

 the chicks. This is very important, especially during the first 10 

 days. 



The floor should be covered with dry sand or clover chafi" before 

 the chicks are put into the brooder. Luke warm water should also 

 be put into the brooder for drink just before the chickens are taken 

 from the machine. I have had best success in starting young chicks 



