THE INCUBATOR-BROODER METHOD OF RAISING GROUSE 491 



All feed for the young grouse should be separated from other feed. Likewise, there should 

 be no exchange of feeding equipment or accessories unless they are adequately sterilized. 



Doors and windows in the battery brooder room and in the colony house are best fitted with 

 tight screens to prevent the entrance of flies. The outside run, used in connection with the 

 colony house, also should be screened. 



Control of mice and rats is important. The latter occasionally kill chicks. The former are 

 not predators but their raiding of feed hoppers might possibly aid in spreading disease. Then, 

 too, the unmistakable signs of mouse travels are left for the young chicks to pick up. 



Rearing of the Young BraDS 



As soon as the young grouse can do without artificial heat during cool nights, usually be- 

 tween the fifth and sixth week, they may be transferred to the more spacious rearing pens. 

 The brooding unit, while providing sufficient space for chicks, is costly to build if one makes 

 it large enough to furnish the space desired from this time forward. 



At the onset of summer, birds are more likely to pick feathers or become cannibalistic. 

 These, in fact, are the most likely causes of loss during this otherwise quiet growing period. 

 Contrary to common belief this trouble may result as much from over-crowding or from fail- 

 ure to keep the birds occupied, as from inadequate feed. 



Since grouse seldom develop a strong desire to dominate their penmates until the early 

 fall they can be re-grouped in any desired combination in the rearing pens. During this 

 adolescent period it is normal for tlie birds in tlie close social entity of the brood to devote 

 most of their time to the business of growing up. In fact, at no other period, except when 

 they are in the wintering pens, do the birds require less attention. 



The summer is, however, not without its dangers unless the requirements characteristic of 

 it are properly understood. The type of rearing unit, the feed, the disease precautions and the 

 recognition of the danger signals heralding the onset of unrest and aggressiveness in the 

 young birds must all be considered if the rearing period is to pass without untoward difiS- 

 culties. 



Rearing Fields and Units 



The ideal field, in which to place rearing pens, is a level, well drained site protected from 

 strong winds and partially shaded. A properly situated apple orchard provides an excellent 

 combination, for the trees may be judiciously trimmed all summer and the leafy branches 

 placed in the pen to furnish satisfactory inexpensive roughage. Woodland glades have not 

 proven satisfactory locations because of the number of grouse predators frequenting such 

 locations and the difficulties of finding an occasional escaped bird in the surrounding under- 

 growth. 



The field need not be large, for the rearing u.iits can be left permanently in the same loca- 

 tion. To deter roving dogs, cats, rats and skunks and to keep curious visitors at a safe dis- 

 tance, the area may be surrounded by a 6-foot poultry netting fence. The lower third should 

 be %-inch mesh galvanized wire with the bottom anchored firmly in the soil to lessen access 

 by rats. A few tunnel traps, properly screened with 2-inch poultry netting to discourage en- 

 trance by escaped young birds, placed along the outside of the fence will catch many predators 

 while they are following the fence. 



