Money in Broilers and Squabs. 35 



"Artificial assistance of chickens from the shell is seldom neces- 

 sary, nor is it generally advisable, yet occasionally one will be 

 found whose egress is hindered by an unnatural presentation, undue 

 hardening of the covering membrane, or other adverse condition. 

 In such case, a little judicious aid is effective, and serves to set the 

 prisoner free. Extreme care must always be exercised that no 

 hemorrhage be excited. Artificial incubation should always be 

 prosecuted as smoothly as possible. It is true that chickens are 

 sometimes hatched under extreme variations of temperature, yet, 

 It is very doubtful if they ever make first-class fowls; while we 

 know that many chickens are hatched every year, that, owing tc 

 some abuse (very possibly during incubation), either die young, or. 

 at least, develope into stunted and deformed runts. Hence it is 

 very essential that all natural conditions of incubation be fulfilled 

 to the letter, every time. 



"Some people seem to think that when the chickens are 

 hatched, the chief business is over, whereas, in reality it has jusi 

 begun. There are many who have success in hatching, who ex- 

 perience their trouble in rearing the chickens. Obviously the firsi 

 thing to be provided, especially in winter, is suitable quarters. They 

 must be warm, dry, well ventilated, and admit plenty of sunlight. 



"When a business is made of raising chickens and ducklings or 

 a large scale in winter, a Ic.ig narrow building is generally con- 

 structed, heated by hot water or steam pipes, and furnished on the 

 south side with an abundance of window glass. In this case, one 

 hot water boiler supplies all necessary warmth, and many chicks 

 being under the same roof are conveniently cared for. Thus the 

 cost of fuel for heating is reduced to its lowest figure, and labor is 

 considerably economized throughout. This style of brooder is not 

 adapted to the wants of the majority, however, who do a compara- 

 tively small business. For the latter, small brooders or brooding 

 houses, having a capacity of from fifty to one hundred chicks each, 

 are much more suitable. There are both hot water and hot aii 

 brooders, but the former are more generally used and are we think 

 much better. Speaking in general, the hot water brooder is pro- 

 vided with a small tank or boiler, which is filled with water and 

 heated by a kerosene lamp. The hot water being conducted bj 

 iron pipes throughout the brooder and then returned to be reheated 

 and sent on its way again. There are a great variety of kinds 

 which differ much in detail of construction, but the majority are 

 some modification of the above plan. As far as the best manner ol 

 application of heat is concerned, what appears to our mind as mosi 

 sensible and natural, is to have the most of the warmth dissipated 

 through the air above and around the chicks, with just enough bot- 

 tom heat to keep the floor a little more than blood warm. 



"Outside runs are of course necessary to give the chicks exercise 

 in the fresh air, on all pleasant days. These, for very young 

 chickens, had best be covered with glass, partially at least, as well 

 as the front of the brooder itself. It will be best in very cole 

 weather to have the brooder stationed in some room or house in 



