ARTIFICIAL BROODING 



off in cold weather) always before the chicks. They will nor 

 overeat, and fed in this manner there is no danger of theit 

 going without food when they need it. In addition to this, 

 chick food should also be scattered in the litter. Fresh green 

 food like grain sprouts, lettuce, split beets, or apples should 

 be supplied frequently. Give them a grass run as soon as pos- 

 sible after they are a week or ten days old, and in any case pro- 

 vide an outdoor run, giving them a chance to use it during the 

 sunny part of every fair day. 



Cared for in this manner the chicks will grow sturdy and 

 thrive like hardy weeds; they will be always plump and in 

 good condition. 



HINTS FOR WEANING TIME 



Gradually reduce the temperature in the brooder until 75 

 to 65 degrees is reached; then on mild nights accustom the 



5S— CONTINUOUS OPEN FRONT BROODER HOUSE 



chicks to going ■nithout artificial heat until you are able to do 

 without the lamp altogether. When the chicks are from six 

 to eight weeks old they should be well feathered and well grown. 

 At this time if they have been hardened properly, and gradu- 

 ally used to doing without artificial heat, they are ready to be 

 transferred to the colony coops. These should be shed roofed 

 box coops of about 3 by 6 feet fioor capacity; 3 feet high m 

 front, and 2 feet high in the rear; the roof should be removable. 

 The front should be boarded up at the bottom for a little more 

 than half the height; the balance of the front should be wire 

 netting and provided with a framed hood on which is stretched 

 waterproof musHn or close-woven burlap. This hood should be 

 hinged at the top to swing outward and held in position by 

 wooden ratchets. The hood when closed should cover the whole 

 wire front. Provide a large door in the center of the front 

 and in the bottom of this make a small opening, for a chick 

 door, provided with a slide to close it. The floor of this coop 

 should be wood, kept off the ground by one inch cleats. In 

 such a colony coop the chicks may be safely kept from weamng 

 time until well grown and ready for the larger houses. 



After the chicks have become accustomed to. doing without 

 artificial heat, place one of these portable colony houses in a 



sheltered position, preferably in an orchard beneath a good 

 sized tree, and move the chicks to it in the morning of a pleas- 

 ant day. Place a small wire enclosed run about 6 by 10 feet in 

 front of the house and keep the chicks confined for a few days 

 until they become used to their home. Bed the floor of the 

 house with a httle sand and an inch or more of chaff, cut straw 

 or similar Utter. Run this house with the cloth hood closed 

 at night at first; as the chicks grow and the weather be- 

 comes warmer the hood may be left up on mild nights and 

 finally kept open all the time. 



Do not put more than 50 chicks in one flock at weaning 

 time, and when they are ten or twelve weeks old, thin the flocks 

 down to 25 in a colony coop. 



KEEP QUARTERS CLEAN 



Keep the chicks' quarters clean; if they are confined to small 

 runs remove to new runs often, always 

 plowing up and disinfecting the old 

 groimd from which the chicks were 

 moved. Airslaked lime (if thoroughly 

 slaked) will answer for disinfection if 

 a good top dressing of it is given before 

 plowing under. It will be well to plant 

 these old runs to rye or oats to sweeten 

 the soil and afford green food for fresh 

 crops of chicks. 



The colony house should be cleaned 

 at least once a week and kept clean, 

 renewing the sand and litter often. In 

 these houses use a ereolin disinfectant 

 or a good lice paint at frequent intervals. 

 Take the roofs off and sun and air the 

 coops often. A little hot whitewash 

 applied to the interior in the early morn- 

 ing of a bright sunny day, and a thorough 

 drying out afterward, is an excellent 

 means of sweetening the coops. Don't 

 let the chicks get lousy. If lice appear 

 use a lice paint on the woodwork and a 

 good lice powder on the birds. 



When the chicks are a little more 

 than half grown put roosts into the 

 coops for them. If they are healthy, 

 well-fed and well-nourished you need 

 not fear crooked breast bones. Pro- 

 vide shade and shelter for the birds to run 

 to in hot or stormy weather, but don't neglect to make the 

 proper use of Nature's best remedies, sunshine and fresh air. 



SOUND, PRACTICAL METHODS 



METHODS EMPLOYED ON ONE OF THE BEST 

 AND MOST SUCCESSFUL POULTRY FARMS IN 

 AMERICA— MUCH TOLD IN LITTLE SPACE 



H. J. BLANCHARD 



OUR White Leghorns have been hatched and reared in 

 large numbers continuously for many years by the arti- 

 ficial method, and we are satisfied it is by far the best 

 and most profitable way. Some few breeders still maintain that 

 artificially hatched and reared chicks do not make as large, 

 vigorous birds, nor as good layers, but our experience is 

 quite the reverse. Buy the best incubators and brooders 

 you can get, even though the first cost is more; the cheap 

 machines are usually 'made to sell' and would be dear as a 

 gift. Run your machines a few days before using so as to 

 become familiar with them and able tokeep them well under 



69 



