CHAPTER XIII 

 ARTIFICIAL BROODING 



ARTIFICIAL brooding of chicks presents similar 

 problems to artificial incubation. The general prin- 

 ciple is to substitute in an artificial way the same 

 heat supplied by the hen. Although it does not 

 require as uniform a temperature as does incuba- 

 tion, still there must not be any too marked changes. 

 To almost roast the chicks part of the time and then 

 chill them the balance of the time is bound to pro- 

 duce bowel trouble and death. Variations in the 

 heat to a reasonable extent will not do much harm, 

 but it is best to have the brooder regulated so as to 

 maintain a uniform temperature throughout the day 

 and night. 



Most of the good brooders heated by lamp have 

 a regulator attached, very similar to that used upon 

 incubators, and with such an arrangement the 

 degrees of temperature can be easily kept at a uni- 

 form point. Such brooders require less watching 

 and save considerable labor to the busy poultry 

 raiser. 



Brooders must be properly ventilated, and to 

 secure that degree of ventilation necessary with- 

 out seriously affecting the temperature is a problem 

 which ofttimes presents itself to the inexperienced 



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