Essentials of a Good Brooder 201 



a separate lamp for each small flock. Oil lamps 

 require close attention, and even then they are 

 likely to give more or less trouble by some im- 

 perfection in the burner or deposit of soot or 

 carbon in some parts of the flue, which may 

 lead to overheating and, in some cases, may 

 produce disastrous results. Brooders, and even 

 poultry houses, have been set on fire by careless 

 or improper handling of brooder lamps. 



Some of the most important requisites of a 

 good brooder may be enumerated as follows: 



1. Capable of maintaining a proper tempera- 



ture. 



2. Be easily cleaned. 



3. Provide good ventilation. 



4. Of such form that all the chickens may 



readily be seen. 



5. Must be dry. 



6. Economical of heat. 



7. Easy of construction. 



(1) A satisfactory brooder must maintain a 

 proper temperature for delicate little chickens. 

 It will be necessary to maintain an even tem- 

 perature, from 90 to 100, for the first week. 

 After that a somewhat lower temperature will 

 be required. Breeds of fowls that feather early 

 in life do not require so high a temperature 

 in the brooder after two or three weeks. The 

 temperature should always be so high that the 



