70 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



protected, anatomically. Surrounding the spinal column 

 and projecting in between the ribs, the lungs of a small 

 chick are covered only by a bone so thin as to be partially 

 transparent, and by the skin with its accompanying 

 down. When a chick becomes cold, its lungs are apt to 

 be the first organs affected, and, unless they are soon 

 warmed, a cold may be contracted and the lungs may 

 become inflamed or congested. In many cases, the 

 congestion may become so acute that the tissue is broken 

 down, with the formation of small nodules of a cheesy 

 consistency. Thousands of brooder chicks die annually 

 from this cause." His conclusion is that top heat, with 

 little or no bottom heat, contact top heat, if possible (or, 

 as next best, radiated heat from above), is a necessity to 

 the best brooder system. The Prairie State Universal 

 hover and the Cornell Gasoline brooder are named by 

 Professor Atwood as the ones he has used which best 

 meet these requirements. 



The fireless brooder can be used by any one, probably 

 with greater safety than any other brooding device, 

 provided it is used in a room of moderate temperature 

 at night, and in sheltered, sunny positions during the 

 day, if in very early spring. Any kind of a grocery 

 box may be the foundation. The larger the floor space, 

 the better ; but if this space is large, it is better to par- 

 tition off a room at one end for the sleeping apartment ; 

 while the chicks are still very small. After two weeks, 

 or as soon as the chicks begin to prefer coolness to heat, 

 the partition may be removed. The best cover I know 

 consists of two sheets of soft cheesecloth, cut some 

 inches larger than the top of the sleeping room. At its 

 best, it may be padded with feathers ; or, with cotton, 



