98 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
shines on a warm spring day little or no artificial heat will be 
required, but, of course, one must make sure that all is cosy and 
comfortable for the night. Make a point of always visiting the 
brooder and examining the lamp last thing before locking up for 
the night. 
A FiIrReLess BRoopER 
To rear a small number of chicks without hen or brooder may be 
done, but it is not always satisfactory, and that only in warm 
weather. 
Procure a box of the requisite size, with a few air-holes to allow 
the birds to breathe, and fill in to a depth of a couple of inches a 
layer of soft dry hay. The box should just be large enough to hold 
the chickens comfortably. A part of an old down quilt stretched 
on a wooden frame should fit inside the box and be supported by 
four jutting pieces of wood about six inches from the bottom. The 
quilt should just lightly touch the chickens on the back. Leave 
the birds for a time, remove the quilt and look inside. If the birds 
are spread out, breathing quietly and are dry and fluffy all is well. 
You can leave them for the night. If, however, the birds are 
panting for breath and moist with perspiration put on a lighter 
covering. A fireless brooder of this sort must be kept indoors 
during the night in all but the mildest weather. In the daytime 
the box should be taken out of doors, placed on the grass, and 
suitably guarded by wire, The chicks should be allowed to run 
in and out of a door made for the purpose. In extremely cold 
weather it may be necessary to keep the chicks indoors occasion- 
ally, but of course a fireless brooder is not adapted for a very low 
temperature. 
A fireless brooder such as described may be home-made and need 
not cost more than a shilling or two. A hot-water bottle may be 
handy for a fireless brooder in case of emergency. If it is neces- 
sary to increase the temperature the bottle should be filled with 
boiling water and wrapped in a blanket before being put into the 
brooder. 
