22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



85 to 95 per cent should be secured. The commercial plant 

 doing considerable winter brooding, especially where winter 

 broilers are produced, will find that an intensive brooder house, 

 with a central heating plant and pipe running under the hovers, 

 will have certain advantages. The colony brooders seem 

 to be, at the present time, the most economical solution to 

 the brooding problem. They should be placed in a rela- 

 tively large house, never smaller than 12 by 14 feet, preferably 

 of two rooms, one room containing the heater or hover, in 

 which a fairly warm temperature is maintained, and an adja- 

 cent room in which the chicks can be fed and take their exer- 

 cise. This colony system of brooding allows the chicks from 

 the beginning considerable range, and cuts down the cost in 

 permanent equipment and labor. It also enables the use of 

 the house continuously throughout the year, for after the 

 chicks have gotten old enough to do without heat, the stove 

 can be removed and the house used for a colony house during 

 the growing period, in which the pullets can be left until they 

 attain maturity. During the winter the houses can be used 

 for a short period for special breeding flocks. 



The proper feeding of the artificially brooded chick is im- 

 portant, since the digestive system during the first four weeks 

 is very delicate and easily upset by improper feed. The gen- 

 eral practice should be to feed the chick the first few weeks of 

 its growth without forcing, allowing to develop a vigorous con- 

 stitution with a good body growth, and after that time it can 

 better stand forcing for a rapid meat growth when desired. 



When planning the rations for the youngsters, and when 

 determining the method of feeding, it is important to ; ppre- 

 ciate that the first feeds should be easily seen and should con- 

 tain much nutriment. It is also well to practice a restricted 

 or retarded early feeding in order that their delicate digestive 

 organs may not be overcrowded. Grit and shell are important 

 essentials in the chick ration, and fresh water should be pro- 

 vided in large amount. Dry cracked grains are safer, for the 

 first few weeks at least, than wet mashes. Wheat bran is an 

 important addition to the feeding practice, as it contains ash, 

 is slightly laxative and is relished by the birds. Ash in the 

 form of phosphoric acid can be secured in the form of dry 



