77 



After the chicks are old enough to do without heat, we remove 

 the hoovers and partitions, and store them, then put in temporary 

 roosts and droppings boards, and the house is occupied by the chicks 

 until they an i'ully iimtured, and through the winter months until 

 they are needed again as brooders. Then roosts are removed and the 

 hovers pul back in their proper place. When the chicks are first 

 placed in these houses we put a temporary two-foot fence around 

 thru! to confine them in this small yard until they know the way in 

 and out. 



BROODING CHICKENS IN LARGE NUMBERS, IN FLOCKS OF 

 250 TO 300, IN THE NEW YORK STATE GASOLINE- 

 HEATED COLONY HOUSE. 



One of the most important factors in the construction of a colony 

 house, is to provide heat so that a uniform temperature may be se- 

 cured, as this has to do with the health and comfort of the chicks. 



Temperature. It is natural for the chicks to seek such place in 

 the colony house as they find to be w r arm and comfortable. The kind 

 of heating outfit which is used in the house does not make very much 

 difference, so long as the heat is applied evenly at all times. 



Pure air. We must see that the colony house is properly venti- 

 lated to allow sufficient fresh air, and at the same time avoid any 

 draughts in the house. Nothing is more necessary to the health of 

 the chicks than fresh air. If the house is not kept sanitary and well 

 ventilated, such diseases as leg-weakness and white diarrhea are 



sure to result from improper 

 ventilation. 



Exercise. The objection we 

 have to the small indoor or 

 outdoor brooder is that they 

 do not furnish sufficient space 

 so that the chicks can be 

 confined in cold or bad weather 

 and still have sufficient room in 

 which to exercise. In these 

 heated colony houses the chick 

 < ,in find all temperatures. If he 

 finds it too warm under the 

 hover, he can get into the house 

 ;ind away from the heat if he so 

 desires. The exercising part of 

 the house should be about the 

 The latest type of gasoline colony brooder temperature of the average liv- 

 ing room. The floor should be 



covered with a litter of fine cut straw, clover or alfalfa hay. Allow 

 not less than one-fifth of a square foot of floor space to each chick. 

 Light. Be sure to provide plenty of windows, so that light and 

 sunshine may reach all parts of the house. It is a good rule to allow 

 one square foot of glass space to ten square feet of floor space. 



The "A" shaped gasoline-heated colony brooder house is espec- 



