No. 4.] POULTRY KEEPING ON THE FARM. 347 



The chief difficulties in chicken culture come before and after 

 incubation. They are found in the successful breeding of 

 fowls to lay eggs that possess strong fertile germs, capable 

 of producing vigorous chicks, and in successfully raising the 

 creatures, after hatching, to marketable size or to maturity. 



Artificial Mothers. 

 A study of the brooder problem at the Rhode Island Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station sheds considerable light upon 

 the subject of the artificial raising of chickens. According 

 to Bulletin No. 61 of this station, the causes of the numerous 

 deaths of incubator chicks raised in brooders may be grouped 

 under : — 



(a) Heredity, or to environment during the period of 

 incubation. 



(b) Mechanical causes, 

 (o) Imperfect sanitation. 

 ((/) Improper feeding. 



Under the first heading («) a hint is given that successive 

 alternate periods of heat and cold during incubation are re- 

 sponsible for a large proportion of abnormalities in chicks. 

 Experiments recently undertaken in Germany have strongly 

 emphasized this matter. 



Among mechanical causes (b) are included crowding and 

 huddling, which, though inexcusable, are for too prevalent, 

 because of the ambitious desire of the poultry man to keep 

 under one hover as many chicks as i)ossible. The remedy is 

 evidently to be found in not crowding. Twenty-five chicks 

 are as many as the novice, at least, should attempt to accom- 

 modate under one hover. 



Under imperfect sanitation (c) is included lack of pure air, 

 .sunlight and cleanliness. Tuberculosis, for example, is by 

 these conditions given an excellent opportunity to attack the 

 little creatures. Prevention is in this case the best ]ilan. 

 The hovers should be removable, and, if placed out of doors 

 on bright days in the fresh air where the sunshine can get at 

 them, the germs of this dread disease soon succumb. Care- 

 ful spraying of the interior with a one per cent solution of 

 carbolic acid helps to keep the conditions sanitary. 



Under the head of improper feeding (d) very striking 



