26 CHICKS 



that they will protect the chicks from the cold when they 

 are outside the hover, must be run in a well-built house 

 yntil the moderate weather of the late spring arrives. It 

 must be remembered that whatever bmlding is used it 

 must be well ventilated, because when there is foul air in 

 the house the air is foul in the brooder. This condition 

 is responsible for the death of more chicks than is improp- 

 er feeding. 



Sunlight is of great importance and if the brooder can 

 stand so that it will be reached by the sun's rays a few hours 

 each day, that will do much to assist you to raise healthy 

 chicks and if the hover is removed so that the sun can 

 shine directly upon the brooding floor, it will do much to 

 purify the machine. 



If the brooder has been used before, even though nearly 

 a year has passed since it was last occupied, it should be 

 completely cleaned and the brooding apartment washed 

 throughout with soap and hot water in which is mixed a 

 little carbolic acid. This will thoroughly disinfect it and 

 the chicks will not be in danger of being attacked by germs 

 that may have been left by the last brood occupying the 

 machine. 



The best material for bedding the brooder is fine sand 

 for it not only provides good footing for the chicks but also 

 furnishes considerable grit. Some poultrymen prefer to use 

 dry bran and some use hay chaff. The writer has used 

 both and considers them good, but prefers the dry, fine sand. 



The temperature should be fairly stationary at ninety 

 degrees for twenty-four hours before the chicks are put in, 

 in order that the machine may be thoroughly warmed and 

 dried. When the chicks are put in, the temperature will 

 rise to from ninety-two to ninety-five degrees. 



Fifty Chicks to a Brooder. 



Not more than fifty chicks should be placed in each 

 brooder, or in each apartment of a pipe system apparatus, 

 no matter how large the brooder or apparatus may be. 

 ]\Iore than fifty chicks are always likely to crowd and do 

 themselves damage in other ways. Some of the most suc- 

 cessful poultrymen seldom put over forty chicks in one 



