CHAPTER XV 



ARTIFICIAL BROODING 



Artificial Brooding of chicks means furnishing them 

 with proper temperature conditions by either natural or 

 artificial heat during the stage of their growth when the 

 heat of their bodies is not sufficient to maintain life. After 

 they pass the age when they no longer require extra heat, 

 the term brooding does not apply. 



The Length of the Brooding Period is about six weeks. 

 The period varies, depending somewhat on the season of 

 the year, or the weather. Successful brooding depends 

 very largely upon so adjusting the brooder temperature 

 that the chicks are able to do without artificial heat at the 

 earliest possible stage. The temperature must be gradually 

 lowered, so that the chick becomes gradually accustomed to 

 colder air. 



Brooding Temperature. The chick is hatched in the 

 incubator at a temperature of 103 degrees. Before it is 

 taken out of the incubator, which should be within a day 

 after the hatch is completed and the chick dry, this tem- 

 perature should be reduced. The nursery under the egg 

 tray is several degrees colder than the hatching tempera- 

 ture. The incubator should be kept at a temperature of 

 about 100 degrees until the chicks are removed, but extra 

 ventilation should be given. After the chicks are all hatched 

 and dry the door of the incubator should be left partly 

 open to furnish sufficient fresh air. The width of the open- 

 ing will depend upon the temperature of the incubator 

 room. The best guide is the behavior of the chicks them- 



320 



