78 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



frames and the coops may be moved once a week or 

 oftener so as to provide fresh ground for the chicks. 

 Their runs should include both turf and tilled soil if 

 possible. Thus they are able to get fresh growing grass 

 for green food and can scratch in the fresh turned soil 

 for grubs and worms. They also like to wallow in the 

 mellow dirt and, by their dust baths, they reduce the 

 chances of annoyance by body-lice. The chicks are 

 allowed to run with the hen until well feathered. 



ABTIFICIAL METHODS OF BROODING. 



Whether hatched under hens or in machines, chicks 

 may be brooded artificially. The essential requisite is 

 to have them well hatched. If hatched by hens and it 

 is desired to set the hens again on fresh eggs there is an 

 evident advantage in having the means at hand for 

 brooding the chicks artificially. Whether this shall be 

 done by means of small indoor or outdoor machine 

 mothers, by using a brooder house having hovers warm- 

 ed by a hot water pipe system, by keeping the chicks in 

 rooms heated by steam radiators (or stoves) or by any 

 other method depends upon the poultryman, the loca- 

 tion, the availabilities and the object in growing the 

 chickens. 



Whatever system is followed the essential factors, 

 so far as shelter is concerned, are temperature, ventila- 

 tion and moisture, which must, for successful brooding, 

 be always under complete control. 



To secure uninterrupted growth the chicks must be 

 kept continuously comfortable, they must have abund- 

 ance of pure air without direct drafts blowing upon 

 them and the moisture of the atmosphere should be 

 neither excessive nor deficient. Cleanliness in the brood- 

 ing quarters is necessary. The banishment of mites, 

 lice and disease germs is very important. Security, com- 

 fort and convenience are the attendant conditions of 

 successful, satisfactory brooding of little chicks. We 

 seek to secure by artificial means all of the essential, 

 favorable conditions which attend a brood of chicks un- 

 der the care of the mother hen, free to range out of 



