THE INCUBATOR-BROODER METHOD OF RAISING GROUSE 



493 



The colony brooder units proved not too satisfactory because of the large proportion of 

 enclosed house in comparison with the small run. It was found that the requirements of the 

 older birds were best met by providing a minimum of 12 square feet of floor space per bird, 

 in contrast with but four square feet needed by the younger chicks. As the birds grew older 

 the periodic cleaning required in the brooder houses also was time consuming. 



iiarilintr Bump 



BIRDS MAY BE KEPT IN THE ALL-PURPOSE PENS IN THE REARING FIELD UNTIL WELL INTO THE FALL 



Of the three field rearing pens tried, only the smallest proved too limited in space. Under 

 normal conditions, eight birds may be safely reared in the 8 feet x 12 feet x 3 feet unit, and 

 ten to twelve in the larger one. If the pens are joined end to end and the intervening wire 

 panels removed, still greater freedom of movement is provided, while maintaining the mo- 

 bility of each unit. 



To provide shelter and to keep the birds busy, it is wise to lay small evergreens, butt up, 

 in one corner of each pen. 



Rearing pens may be placed in rows at 8-foot intervals. A greater space between each 

 pen sometimes facilitates the control of certain diseases but increases the time necessary to 

 service each unit. 



Feed and Feeding Techniques 



The shifting of the birds from the brooder to the rearing field entails more than merely a 

 change of pens. The moult from juvenile to adult plumage has already begun. 



