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POULTRY CULTURE 



Figure 171 illustrates the simple construction of a brooder. 

 The box is made 18 inches square and 8 inches deep. The 

 number and positions of these quilts are regulated according 

 to the weather and the number of chicks in the brooder. In 

 cold weather the quilts should sag so as to rest on the backs of 

 the newly hatched chicks. There should be little or no empty 

 space in the hover. From twenty to forty chicks are usually 



Fig. 171. — A cheap but efficient fireless brooder: a, Box; b, hinged lid 

 showing ventilator openings; (, the removable frame, covered with cheese- 

 cloth and on which a sack of feathers or woolen blanket may be placed as an 

 overhead protection. This cheese-cloth is made to sag in the center. 



placed in a fireless brooder. Under this method small lots 

 do better than large ones. A small amount of litter is placed 

 in the bottom of the hover and must be changed often. The 

 chicks must be watched closely to see that they are warm 

 enough and yet not too warm. If the fireless brooders are 

 used in connection with heated brooders, keep the baby chicks 

 in the heated brooder for ten days before beginning to cut down 



