90 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



somewhat similar forms with a deep tank heated by a small 

 lamp. We give a figure of Mr. Christy's " Hydro " form of 

 rearer, to be periodically filled with hot water ; and on the 

 whole this is the most convenient plan for many people.* 

 The greater volume of water, kept stagnant, enables a more 

 moderate heat to be kept up with facility. 



Even with these forms of apparatus, however, much mor- 

 tality was at first found, which was discussed for some time 

 with little amendment. By the kind assistance of many frierds, 

 however, we were able to make something like an exhaustive 

 investigation into the matter, and the results were remarkable. 

 In searching for the best returns, we gradually found we almost 

 always came at the same time upon the lowest temperatures 

 employed. "We found that a heat under the mother which 

 seemed only nicely warm to the hand, and was in fact only 

 that of a hen, was simply murder to the chickens ; and with 

 this discovery most difficulties were cleared away, and artificial 

 rearing became a general success. One cause of the great 

 difference in result between the heat of a hen's breast and 

 the same heat in an artificial mother, it appeared, consisted 

 in the closed sides of most mothers as at first constructed. 

 The heated and foul air escapes on all sides from under a hen, 

 whereas in all the early machines it was confined by closed 

 ends of board. It will, accordingly, be seen that the apparatus 

 figured above, as in most others now constructed, is open upon 

 tlvree sides for the passage of chickens and the admission of air. 



We also found that cramp and weakness in the feet the 

 usual precursors of loss under this method of rearing were 

 general where there had been too much confinement and 

 coddling, often combined with too little earth on the floor. 

 The chickens which had free run in any weather did better 



* The inconvenience of providing hot water for renewal is not felt to 

 neaily the same extent as with an incubator, the temperature required 

 being much lower, and much less quantity being therefore required. 



