Mar., 1938] Electric Brooding of Chicks, II. Heat Requirements 5 



up-draft ventilation through a central flue was provided. Brooder No. 

 2 was of square design with manufacturer's rating of 400 chicks. The 

 heating unit of 800 watts was laid in grooves between two layers of 

 black sheet metal. Center flue ventilation (natural up-draft) was pro- 

 vided. Brooder No. 3 was of circular design having a manufacturer's 

 rating of 350 chicks. The heating unit of 550 watts was mounted at 

 the inside periphery of the brooder at the junction of side wall and 

 ceiling. It was enclosed in perforated porcelain tubes, mounted end to 

 end, forming a single continuous element. Natural up-draft ventila- 

 tion was provided, exhausting by way of a channel at the periphery of 

 the brooder connected to a cylindrical tower head at the apex of the 

 brooder. 



Conditions for Use of Brooders 



The brooders were set up as in 1933-34 except that the pads of in- 

 sulating board on the floor were not used. The first run was made 

 with No. 1 brooders in Houses 13 and 14, and No. 3 brooders in Houses 

 15 and 16. The second run was made with No. 2 brooders in Houses 

 13 and 14, and No. 1 brooders in Houses 15 and 16. In order to ob- 

 tain some comparative cost records of operation a coal brooder was set 

 up in House 17, which was of similar construction to House 13. 



Brooder Management Schedule 



Days 1- 7 : Chick confining ring set I-IV2 f^et from edge of brooder. 

 The first day chicks stay mostly under the brooder volun- 

 tarily, and feed is supplied underneath. Water containers 

 remain at outer edge of hover. On the second day chicks 

 come out in considerable numbers and are fed and watered 

 outside. 



Days 7-18 : Ring set three feet from edge of hover. Feeders and wa- 

 terers spaced accordingly. 



Days 18-25 : Front part of ring removed but rear half retained. This 

 is pushed back against rear wall to round off house corners. 



Days 25-42 : Ring entirely removed and chicks allowed use of complete 

 floor area. Cockerels removed. (Floor area per chick 

 approximately doubled by this separation.) 



Feed Consumption and Management 



A total of 2,971 New Hampshire chicks were placed under brooders 

 in this experiment and fed the New England College Conference ration 

 for growing chicks. The original lot was started on December 4, 1934, 

 and the final lot started on February 7, 1935. The period of brooding 

 was six weeks. Grain feeding was started on the fourth week in all lots. 

 Granite grit and oyster shell was supplied in metal wall-type hoppers 

 from the start. Total feed consumed per chick varied in Trial 1 from a 

 low of 2.376 pounds in House 15 to 2.878 pounds in House 14. In 

 Trial 2 variation was from 2.236 pounds in House 13 to 2.640 pounds in 

 House 15. No consistent differences, however, were noted. The meth- 

 ods of handling and caring for chicks in the several houses were similar 

 to those explained in Station Circular 46, 



