626 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



from the time they are hatched until fully matured, and should be readily 

 convertible into a breeding house or fattening pen. 



The brooding device which best meets these requirements is a portable 

 colony house 6 by 8 feet to 8 by 15 feet in size, equipped with portable 

 hovers, gasoline brooder heater or a coal-burning brooder stove. 



Management of the Brooder. — During the first two weeks a tem- 

 perature above 90° and below 100° F. should be maintained two inches 

 above the floor in the warmest part of the brooder, that is, beneath the 

 hover. After the second week the temperature should be gradually 

 reduced, the exact temperature to be maintained being determined from 

 the actions of the chicks. If the temperature is right, the chicks when 

 at rest will be spread out around the outer edge of the hover. Any evidence 

 of crowding is an indication of a lack of heat. If the temperature under 

 the hover is kept a degree or two higher than the chicks actually need, 

 there will be very little crowding. 



The brooder must be kept absolutely clean at all times. The floor 

 should be covered to a depth of several inches with clean, dry litter, such 

 as short-cut clover, alfalfa, straw or chaff. The litter should be removed 

 whenever it becomes damp, dusty or soiled. 



Ration for Chicks. — A good ration for chicks consists of a grain mix- 

 ture of 30 pounds finely cracked corn, 20 pounds cracked wheat and 

 10 pounds pin-head or cracked hulled oats. With this should be fed a 

 mash consisting of 30 pounds wheat bran, 30 pounds wheat middlings, 

 30 pounds corn meal, 20 pounds fine beef scrap or granulated milk and 

 10 pounds of bone meal. This ration should be supplemented l:>3 r a liberal 

 supply of succulent food such as alfalfa, clover, sprouted oats or beets. 

 Fine grit, finely crushed oyster shell, charcoal and clean fresh water should 

 be before the chicks at all times. If skim milk is available, the chicks 

 should have all they will consume. 



The grain should be scattered in the litter on the floor of the brooder 

 in order to induce the chicks to exercise. Grain should be fed early in 

 in the morning, at noon and later in the afternoon. As much should be 

 fed as the chicks will clean up from one feeding time to the next. If anj' 

 considerable amount remains in the litter, a feed should be omitted and 

 the amount reduced. No definite information can be given as to the 

 exact amount to feed, as the needs of the chicks vary from day to day. 

 The poultryman must study the appetite and actions of the flock in order 

 to feed intelligently. 



The mash should be fed dry. Shallow pans may be used for feeding 

 the mash while the chicks are small. Small feeding hoppers should be 

 used as soon as the chicks are large enough to feed from them. Chicks 

 should never be without the dry mash. 



This method of feeding should be continued until the chicks are large 

 enough to do without artificial heating or are weaned from the hen, with 

 the exception that the cracked wheat should be gradually replaced by 



