3^ Money in Broilers and Squabs. 



which the chill of the atmosphere has been taken off. If exposed 

 to the severity of the weather, it will be necessary to build it much 

 more warmly, as well as roomier, to allow greater freedom for the 

 chickens to exercise, for they will of necessity be confined much 

 more closely. 



"The floor of the brooder should be covered with dry loam, 

 ^ muck or fine sand. These are excellent disinfectants and absorbents, 

 especially the first two. This material will need to be frequently 

 renewed, in order to render the brooder sweet and wholesome. 



"The newly hatched chicken requires a temperature not much 

 below one hundred degrees for its comfort. This may be gradually 

 lowered as the age of chick advances. The chicks themselves will 

 indicate by their appearance, whether they are comfortable or 

 otherwise. If too cool, they will huddle closely together, and very 

 likely some will be smothered or at least pressed out of shape. On 

 the oth^r hand, if too warm, they will appear lazy and inactive, 

 weakness and disease being the result of such an evil. One of the 

 most common ills to which little chickens are subject is diarrhoea. 

 This is sometimes caused by improper food, but often it is the re- 

 sult of catching cold. Hence it is very necessary that an even tem- 

 perature exists at all times." 



The following pointers are taken from Poultry Keeper, 

 Quincy, Ills. : 



If the chicks do not come out of the eggs until the 22d day, 

 or longer, it indicates that the temperature of the egg drawer was 

 too low. They should begin to pip on the 20th day. 



If they begin to come out on the l8th day it indicates that the 

 average temperature was too high. 



If chicks come out weak it indicates either too high or too low 

 temperature, or that the eggs were from immature pullets or over- 

 fat hens. 



A young chick is naked, like a babe just born, the down being 

 no protection, hence everything depends on plenty of heat. Better 

 have the bfooder too hot than too cold. If tlie chicks are with hens 

 they must have a warm, light place, as a hen cannot raise chicks in 

 winter any better than it can be done artificially, as it is not her 

 natural period of the year for so doing. 



No thermometer is needed in the brooder, or under the hen. If 

 the chicks crowd together especially at night, they need more 

 warmth. When they shove their heads out of the sides of the 

 brooder, or from under the hen, the heat is just right. Whenever 

 the chicks do not sleep near the edges of the brooder, but get as 

 close to each other as possible, give more heat. 



When the chicks show signs of leg weakness, have clogging of 

 the vent, and bowel disease results, there is a lack of warmth in the 

 brooder, especially at night. The night is when the chicks meet 

 with the greater number of difficulties. 



When chicks have leg weakness, and the floor of the brooder 

 is very warm, the cause is too much bottom heat. Bottom heat is 

 excellent for chicks until they are a week old, but after that time 

 there should be only warmth enough on the floor to not have the 



