NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BROODING 105 



cases aim to keep the chicks comfortable. When too cold, 

 it will be noticed that they will crowd together and try 

 to get near the center of the hover. When it is found 

 in the morning that the droppings are well scattered under 

 the hover, it is an indication that the chicks have had 

 sufficient heat. When the chicks are comfortable, they will 

 distribute themselves evenly at night. Too much heat will 

 cause them to sweat and frequently results in their death. 



It is impractical to state for each style of brooder at 

 what temperature it should be kept to raise young chicks. 

 In most cases it should be run at from 90° to 100° F., when 

 the chicks are first put in and at an average of from 93° to 

 95° F., for the first ten days, the temperature being grad- 

 ually reduced to about 85° F., for the following 10 days 

 and then lowered to 70° to 75° F., for as long as artificial 

 heat is needed. In warmer weather and as the chicks grow 

 larger the lamps may be used only at night and later only 

 on cold nights. Care should be taken to prevent the chicks 

 from becoming chilled or overheated, as either chilling or 

 overheating . weakens them and may cause considerable 

 trouble. From 3^ an inch to 2 inches of sand and cut 

 clover or chaff litter should be spread over the entire floor 

 of the brooder. 



Management. Hovers and brooders must be cleaned fre- 

 quently, as cleanliness is very essential, if chicks are to be 

 raised successfully. When first put into the brooder, they 

 should be confined under or around the hover by placing 

 a cloth or wire frame 10 to 24 inches from the outside of 

 the hover proper. This practice does not apply to the 

 small indoor colony brooders. This guard should be moved 

 gradually further away from the hover and removed entirely 

 when the chicks are 3 or 4 days old, or after they have learned 

 to return to the hover. When weather conditions are 

 favorable, the chicks should be allowed to run on the ground. 



