PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



Everything is now ready for the chicks. Only sound chicks 

 are brought to the brooder. Cripples and others. that were 

 helped out of the shell should not be saved. This is a time 

 when sentiment must be waived for the common good of the 

 brood. There is this consolation that, if not killed, they would 

 die a lingering death, but the chief reason is because they are 

 probably infected with disease germs and thus a menace to 

 the whole hatch. A merciful way to kill a chick is to pinch 

 it under the wings between the thumb and forefinger. After 

 the chicks have been in the nursery twenty-four hours, they 

 are then transferred to the brooder in a warm basket, every 



Another convenient ..broodjcoop 



precaution being taken to keep them from becoming chilled. 

 They are placed under the hover at once. To prevent any 

 danger of chilling and to get them acquainted with their foster 

 mother it is customary to place a guard around the outside of 

 the hover during the first day. This can be inade of muslin 

 or wire screen or even of boards. After the first day or two 

 it can be safely removed. No feed should be given on the first 

 day. On the second day milk can be set before them. At 

 the beginning of the third day they have been out of the shell 

 72 hours and it will be safe to give them solid food. This 

 should be rolled oats or pin head oats fed in shallow litter. 

 Sweet milk and oats constitute their ration during the first 

 week. On the sixth day after being placed in the brooder, a 

 dry mash is given in a self feeder on an elevated platform. 

 The chicks will soon find their way to it. Use the mash out- 



[149] 



