ARTIFICIAL BROODING 321 



selves. The skilled attendant knows from the appearance 

 of the chicks whether or not they have both heat and fresh 

 air enough. If the chicks pant, the temperature is too high 

 or the ventilation is insufficient. On the other hand, if the 

 temperature is too low they will crowd together. It will 

 be found -that this is the only safe guide to follow in regu- 

 lating the temperature and ventilation of the brooders. It 

 is impossible to raise chicks successfully where the chicks 

 are not comfortable at all times, or where the temperature 

 is allowed to go too high or too low at any time. 



The brooder should be thoroughly warmed up before 

 putting the chicks into it. The temperature should be 

 about 95 degrees about an inch from the floor before the 

 chicks are put in. There should be a gradual daily lower- 

 ing of the temperature until at the end of about four weeks 

 it should be about 75 degrees, at which temperature it 

 should be kept for two or three weeks, when artificial heat 

 may be discontinued. There should be always sufficient 

 heat during the day so that the chick when it gets cold 

 may go to the hover or heater and get warmed quickly. 

 If the temperature is too low they will get chilled and 

 crowd together. The safe plan is to furnish sufficient heat 

 so that the chicks will not crowd, but at the same time it is 

 important that they have room to get away from the heat. 

 They should have access to cool air as well as warm air. 



The brooder temperature will vary some according to 

 the style of the brooder. With bottom heat the brooder 

 floor will show a higher temperature, but an inch above the 

 temperature should be lower than in a brooder with top 

 heat. But the guide for the attendant should, in all cases, 

 be the comfort of the chicks. If the chicks do not suffer 

 at any time from either too much or too little heat there 

 will be little danger of a high mortality, if other conditions 

 are right, and if chicks of good vitality are put into the 



