ARTIFICIAL BROODING 



327 



to transfer the chickens to free range in open houses, where 

 the purpose is to produce breeding stock or layers. "When 

 this is done the cost of producing the mature pullet is 

 greater than is necessary. The colony brooding house 

 system is more economical. 



Stove or Room Brooding. This system is used where 

 large numbers of chicks are hatched. A specially con- 



ROOM OF STOVE BROODING A NIGHT SCENE 



At a certain radius from the stove the chicks find the proper temperature. 

 (Oregon Station.) 



structed oil-burner stove set in the center of a room about 

 20 x 20 feet, furnishes the heat for 1,000 chicks or more. 

 Sometimes a coal-burning stove is used. There are no par- 

 titions or hovers. The heat is regulated so that at a dis- 

 tance of about 2 feet from the stove, and in a circle around 

 it, the chicks find a proper brooding temperature. Closer 

 it is too hot, farther away, too cold. At night the chicks 

 cover a space of about 12 inches wide and 2 feet from the 



