BROODING OF CHICKS 



111 



No matter where the hover may be placed, whether in 

 a coop made for the purpose, or in a box, a small house, 

 or an outbuilding, the floor should be covered with dry 

 sand over which should be scattered a coating of 2 or 

 3 in. of cut straw, hay, alfalfa, or chaff of some kind. 

 There should be sufficient of this on the floor to protect 

 the chicks from the cold during severe weather, and 

 enough of it so that the curtain of the hover will rest 



FIG. 3 



on it. Cleanliness, care, and proper, feeding are always 

 necessary for success in the growing of chicks. 



A brooding coop well suited for one or two hovers is 

 shown in Fig. 3. This coop was made from two piano 

 boxes placed together, the roof being covered with ordi- 

 nary roofing paper. There are two doors in front; one 

 is a frame door covered with wire cloth, the other a 

 glass door, which is kept open when the weather is 

 warm and the sun shines bright; but on very cold days 

 and at night it should be closed. A brood coop of this 

 kind can be safely used during the winter months. It 



