SUCCESSFUL POULTRY KEEPING 



To prevent possible disappointment to beginners, we must 

 explain that such results are possible only when all the conditions 

 of chickenhood are favorable. First the eggs must be from 

 stock of sound hereditary constitution; stock must be grown on 

 free range, and mated and housed for strong fertility. The 

 eggs must be incubated under natural conditions. That is to 

 say, in a machine constantly supplied with fresh, pure air, and 

 supphed correctly, so that it does not dry up the life's blood of 

 the embryo, and then vainly seek to correct the matter by pour- 

 ing in water. We have operated most of the standard incuba- 

 tors in Europe and America, and we never were able to grow a 

 large percentage of chicks until we secured the "no-moisture 

 machines." All these conditions have a direct influence upon 

 the vitality of the chick, and we want to impress upon the be- 

 ginners that it is only when all the conditions are about correct 

 that we are immune from disease and death. 



Where our brooder house differs materially from others is 

 that we depend entirely upon the internal heat of the brooders — 

 of course, for winter brooding this would not do. It is a cheap . 



"PROGRESSIVE BROODING" FROM SIX DAYS TO 

 SIX WEEKS 



Method is the great labor-saver in all things, more especi- 

 ally in the care of chickens. We believe in a methodical arrange- 

 ment of the brooder house, so that the chicks shall have as 

 nearly as possible, the exact temperature suitable to their res- 

 pective ages, the space most suited for them, and so forth. 

 This cannot be done when the pens are all alike. Every think- 

 ing man knows that what are suitable accommodations for 

 newly hatched chicks, cannot be adequate for fifty six-weeks 

 chicks, and if the pen is large enough for the bigger chicks there 

 must be a great waste of room for the smaller ones. This is one 

 important fact poultrymen have ignored and continue to ignore. 

 It is, however, well for beginners to look this straight in the face. 

 We have to "fit the accommodation to the growth of the chicks" 

 — if we do not another potent factor will step in and promptly 

 "fit the chicks to the accommodation." When the incubator 

 room and brooder house are apart chicks are often chilled at 

 the start by exposure to the cold air while passing from one build- 



A GASOLINE COLONY BROODER AND CHICKS 



single boarded building (Fig. 2), wind-tight on the north, water- 

 tight, open on the south, and fitted with canvas shutters to be 

 used in bad weather to keep out snow and rain. The partition 

 between the brooder pen and the sheds is of matched boards, 

 with a door of similar boards, about two feet wide, leading into 

 each shed. Over this partition, between the two roofs, are con- 

 tinuous glass sash, hinged at the top, to open outwards, where 

 they are held by iron stays. If desired, a "green-house gear" 

 ould be used, by which all the sash would open or close simul- 

 taneously. These sash clap onto the outside of the upright 

 scantlings, and the roofing material is turned up at the bottom 

 inside of the sash, so the question of keeping the wet out is ex- 

 tremely simple. When the sash are all open they fit almost 

 close together, like one long sash, and will turn the rain and 

 keep the building dry whether open or closed. 



Our chicks have the warmth and comfort of the old hen 

 when in the brooder, and the freshness and purity of outdoor air 

 whether in or out of the brooder. We know by experience that 

 contact with fresh air quickens the circulation, invites to exer- 

 cise, sharpens the appetite and promotes health. 



ing to the other. Such a chill usually upsets the bowels and the 

 chicks are quickly pasted up in the rear and never get a fair ' 

 chance. We avoid the possibility of such a chill by having our 

 buildings connect. 



While the pipe system is a great labor saver, it is, we think, 

 a little too variable for the small chicks. We therefore start 

 off with six separate indoor brooders for the little chicks for the 

 first six days of their life. During the first day the chicks are 

 limited to a space of three by four feet. The second day^they 

 are permitted to run out to a cross board, giving them two feet 

 of the cool shed; this board is extended each day until they 

 have the whole of the eight-foot shed. These chicks have no 

 mother to guide their baby steps. We must therefore prevent 

 them straying too far from the warm brooder until we findthey ' 

 know their way back. The vitality of a flock is often destroyed 

 at this point by allowing them to stay out in the cold too long. 



Theoretically we start with a temperature of ninety-five 

 degrees and gradually reduce, until at the end of six weeks we 

 have dropped to seventy degrees. We say "theoretically" be- 

 cause a few degrees either way does not matter. For the first 



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