i66 The Hen at Work 



With a hover of this type the warmest zone is 

 around the edge of the drum, where there is fresh 

 air, and no chance to crowd. Full directions will 

 come with each machine as to regulation and 

 temperature. About ninety-five degrees is usually 

 correct for the high point. 



The great advantage lies in the fact that the 

 chick is free to choose for himself, just how warm he 

 wants to be. On cold nights he will snuggle under 

 the curtain and stick just his head outside to get 

 fresh air. If the night gets warmer he will push 

 out a little ; and with a decided rise in the tempera- 

 ture he will move an inch or two away from the 

 rim, and the flock wUl lie on the litter in a big circle 

 all about the hover, like camels about a desert 

 caravan. 



If the brooder house is on the ground, be sure 

 to nail chicken wire, two feet wide with one-inch 

 mesh, to the bottom of the house, all round, and 

 bury it slanting out, a foot or so tmder ground. 

 This will keep rats from digging under. 



It may very well be that you do not plan to 

 raise more than a hundred chickens, nor to spend 

 ten or fifteen dollars for a large hover. For sudi 

 people a smaller hover is made in just the same 



