ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION 



185 



Before putting in the chicks heat the brooder to 

 ninety-five degrees and keep at that temperature for 

 several days. Then gradually lower it three degrees a 

 week. A degree variation from eighty-five to ninety- 

 five degrees at times, will liot hurt the chicks. Grad- 

 ually lower the temperature until the chicks are able 

 to do without artificial heat. In cold weather this will 

 be at from five to eight weeks ; in warm weather they 

 will need no artificial heat after the third week. 



FIG. 73 ^A BROODER HOUSE FOR FARMERS 



The brooder needs much the same attention as the 

 incubator and if located out of doors it wants even 

 more. . During bright days the sun will furnish much 

 or all the heat required, but as it goes down at night 

 or is obscured by clouds, the lamp must be turned up. 

 Failure to maintain a fairly even temperature in the' 

 brooder causes more loss of artificial chicks than any-j 

 thing else. The youngsters chill easily and quickly in) 



