508 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Brooding involves incessant attention upon the part of the 

 attendant. To be successful one must not only be able to observe, 

 but he must appreciate the nature of the chicks, what their feeds 

 should contain, and also an understanding of their habits. Close 

 attention to detail and patient, continual labor are necessary for 

 successful brooding. Neglect to fill the small holes, carelessness in 

 dropping tacks or bits of tin, failure to close the house at night, 

 often result in scores of deaths which could be easily avoided. 



Brooding is done by artificial and natural means, both of which 

 are satisfactory, the former being adapted to the one who is rais- 

 ing chicks in greater numbers. Hens as brooders do not require as 

 great attention, being able to teach the chicks to eat, and the ques- 

 tion of heating is eliminated. 



The greatest fault with brooding with hens is the question of 

 lice. Hens used for hatching purposes should be absolutely free 

 from vermin. This is accomplished by treating with insect powder 

 before the hen is put on the nest and repeating the operation, in 

 about ten days. In general it is not considered advisable to dust 

 the chicks before they are ten days old, because of the injurious 

 eff'ects of some brands of insect powder. With the use of hens 

 there is also greater probability of head lice which should be 

 treated with some kind of grease such as lard or vaseline. Chicks 

 that do not appear to be doing well should be examined for head 

 lice, and if found, the head and the back of the neck should be 

 greased thoroughly. 



Brooding is usually done by the use of individual brood coops 

 scattered around the yard. These, when they are in large num- 

 bers, are the cause not only of unsightly places but, also, of con- 

 siderable labor to properly take care of as soon as the brooding sea- 

 son is over. The most popular coop is perhaps the A coop with the 

 back completely closed, slats being used to confine the hen. Small 

 shed-roof coops are used, but possess little advantage and are 

 difficult of construct. Barrels placed on their side and covered 

 with roofing paper are used to good advantage and can be destroyed 

 as soon as the brooding season is past. 



To do away with the great number of small coops, the 

 University is using a combination hatching and brooding coop as 

 is shown in the drawing. This coop is used to set the hen. By 

 being divided into four divisions four hens can be set at the same 

 time. Their care is very slight, feed and water being kept in the 

 small runway in front. As soon as the chicks hatch, the parti- 



