456 POULTRY CULTURE 



Per cent, chicks that die first three weeks 15 per cent. 



Per cent, chicks that die after first three weeks 10 " 



Number eggs set to produce one pullet 5 eggs. 



Per cent, pullets reared not fit to keep 10 per cent. 



Per cent, eggs culled from those laid when selecting for 



hatching 5 



Cost to hatch one egg $0 . 013 



Average amount of hard coal per day for large brooder stove 



entire season 20 pounds. 



Per cent, to the total cost of producing eggs coming from the 



feed bill 50 per cent. 



Rearing Commercial Chicks. — -In raising birds on a commer- 

 cial scale it is most economical to brood them with a colony 

 hover which has a capacity of 500 to 1000 chicks (Figs. 178 

 and 181). 



The large deflector hovers may be heated by electricity, 

 coal, gasoline, or kerosene; most usually one of the two latter. 



The coal stove burns small nut coal best and may or may 

 not be a self-feeder. The self-feeders are provided with a maga- 

 zine or central tube which is filled at regular intervals with 

 coal. The small capacity stoves in cold weather may not 

 hold sufficient coal to run them through the night and thus 

 may burn all the coal and the fire disappear before morning. 

 In this case the chicks become chilled, and as a result many are 

 later found sick, becoming puny, and some die. ChiUing and 

 similar neglect is one of the chief causes of loss among small 

 birds. 



The oil heater has the advantage of the coal burner in that 

 it gives a constant fire. It is necessary to keep the charred 

 material or carbon away from the burner by brushing once a 

 day. 



If the chicks become cold they may pile up or crowd in a 

 corner and many of the birds on the under part of the pile 

 become crushed and smothered. 



The area about the hover should be kept at a temperature 

 of about 100° F. at all times so the birds do not become cold.' 

 They will then adjust themselves to the temperature most 

 adapted to them. 



A house 12 feet square is large enough for 500 to 1000 

 birds. Proper ventilation should be provided with an open 

 front at the floor level and a sliding window so that the netting- 



