the buildings could be used occasion- 

 ally at remote places without chang- 

 ing power units or wiring. The in- 

 genious farmer will find many more 

 jobs to increase the earning power of 

 such a stand-by generator. 



The practicality of mounting these 

 units on the tractor has been demon- 

 strated, but the time required for in- 

 stalling present mountings is con- 

 sidered excessive. The studies will 

 continue until a design is found which 

 one man can install alone in five 

 minutes with a minimum of tools. 



B. P. RiNES 



Infrared Brooding of 

 Chickens and Poults 



As a result of many inquiries 

 about infrared brooding, tests were 

 conducted during the winter and 

 spring brooding season to determine 

 its application to New Hampshire's 

 climate. 



The work began on January 25 

 on 500 chicks under a rectangular 

 unit of eight 250-watt lamps and 

 four thermostats as was being recom- 

 mended by various poultry magazines 

 at that time. During the first extreme 

 cold period experienced, it was found 

 that five 375-watt lamps arranged in 

 a circle made the chicks more com- 

 fortable even though the total watt- 

 age was less. 



Observations made during the first 

 trials indicated no advantage in 

 changing height of lamps above lit- 

 ter after the initial setting (18 inches 

 for 250-watt; 24 inches for 375- 

 watt), and this was confirmed on 

 poults during the spring where height 

 remained constant. 



iCrooked toes were prevalent 

 among the chicks brooded in the 

 winter months, and as a safeguard 



against this, floors were kept warm 

 or well covered with litter. 



The use of thermostats to control 

 one or more lamps in a unit in- 

 creases first cost but reduces operat- 

 ing costs. The period of use and the 

 management practices of the operator 

 (as they affect cost of manual con- 

 trol) determine the number of ther- 

 mostats which can pay for them- 

 selves. It is hoped that future in- 

 vestigation will provide a means of 

 control superior to the individual 

 thermostat for the small poultryman. 

 Thermostats and thermometers can- 

 not measure infrared radiation di- 

 rectly, but only its effect on the sur- 

 rounding atmosphere. 



Since one of the effects of these 

 lamps is to warm the air directly 

 beneath them, strong convection air 

 currents are set up in the house 

 with the rise of air occurring at the 

 lamp support. In the work on poults, 

 two units with bafiles (or semi- 

 hovers) were used with success in 

 slowing down these convection cur- 

 rents. As a resuh, the comfort of 

 the birds was noticeably increased, 

 and energy consumption lowered. 

 These baffles were so designed that 

 the advantage of seeing all chicks 

 at a glance was retained. 



Mounting the lamps in swivel sock- 

 ets proved a most satisfactory way of 

 changing the radiation pattern as the 

 birds grew. 



Other points to keep in mind 

 using infrared lamps for brooding 

 are (1) some means of heat reten- 

 tion, or a stand-by generator, is 

 necessary insurance against power 

 loss and (2) for economy the house 

 should be well insulated. 



B. P. Batcheldeu, Jr. 

 W. C. Skoglund 

 B. p. Rines 



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