86 POULTRY BREEDING 
brooder every day and do not put too many chicks in 
one brooder. Fifty may be kept in one 2’ square for two 
weeks, but it is better to make them a little smaller and 
put about 25 in each brooder. The chicks require a little 
attention until they have learned to go into the brooder, 
when they begin to feel cold. They soon learn this if 
not allowed to hover together in the sun outside. 
Fig. 1 shows a house adapted to keeping two of these 
brooders in. It is 6’x8’ and 5’ high in front, the whole 
front being protected by wire netting, except the space 
taken up by the door. A muslin curtain is fastened at 
the top of the opening to roll down in very cold weather. 
This curtain should have the bottom weighted so as to 
hold it down when in use. This can be accomplished by 
fastening a shingling lath of the proper length to the bot- 
tom edge, using this to roll the curtain on when it is not 
in use. In this brooder the chicks rest on the litter in 
the bottom and push their way under the sag in the hover 
which keeps them warm. If they get too warm they 
spread out as chicks do when under a hen. If this 
brooder is not used too early in the spring it is unneces- 
sary to line it around the sides. The top and the door 
in front may be hinged with leather hinges. The total 
cost of such a brooder made from a soap box need not 
exceed 25 cents to any one who can use a saw anda 
hammer. 
BROODERS — HOME-MADE.—WVe_ have used a 
home-made brooder with perfect success. This was made 
from a common pine packing box about 30” square and 
20” deep. The top was sawed off in such a manner that 
a sloping roof was put on it, this roof being hinged so 
it could be lifted up with ease or fastened down with a 
hasp and staple. On the higher side a door 6” square 
