366 ARTIFICIAL BROODING 



understand the fixtures, the size of the pipes, and the running of 

 the boiler to secure the required degree of heat in a given type of 

 building. The construction of the building and the amount of 

 glass or muslin in front will influence the amount of heat re- 

 quired. In a brooder house one hundred feet long the best plan 

 is to run tv/o coils of two-inch pipe one on the back wall and one 

 on the front, each coil containing two flow pipes and one return, in 

 addition to the hover heat. In most conditions this should maintain 

 a steady temperature of from 60° to 75° in all kinds of weather. 

 In a brooder house in which the hovers are heated from a central 

 heating plant, so much wall pipe may not be necessary, since con- 

 siderable heat will be given off by the hover pipes themselves. 



Before starting up the fire at the beginning of the brooding 

 season, one should make sure that the system is full of water; 

 if so, there will be water in the bottom of the glass in the expansion 

 tank. If the air valves are not automatic, all of them should be 

 left open when water is flowing into the tank, so that the air 

 may escape from the pipes and permit them to fill with water. 

 Neglect of this precaution, and starting the fire with too little 

 water in the system, may burst the boiler. 



A good practice is to start the fire and get it well under way 

 before putting any coal on it. The use of coal is recommended, 

 since it burns longer, gives a more uniform heat, and does not 

 require much attention. To make the fire burn briskly, the pipe 

 damper should be open and the upper door closed. When the 

 fire is well started and there is a good bed of coals, and the water 

 has reached the desired temperature, check the fire by closing 

 the pipe damper and the damper in the ash-pit door, and leave 

 the upper door ajar — how much ajar can only be learned by 

 practice. This depends on the type of boiler, the varying amounts 

 of water in the system, and will also be influenced by weather, 

 wind, and rain. Never let the water in a hot-water system reach 

 a temperature of 212°, for steam will then be formed, the water 

 in the system will be greatly reduced, and there is danger of its 

 boiling away and leaving the boiler dry. When it approaches 

 this degree of temperature, the water should immediately be cooled 

 by banking the fire and cutting off all drafts. If steam should 

 form in the coils, some of it must be allowed to escape by opening 

 the air valves, then let fresh water into the system gradually. 

 It is best to have automatic valves. All ashes should be removed 

 from the ash pit daily, for if they are allowed to remain they will 



