52 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
winter months, the artificial mothers are warmed b}' the aid of lamps, which supply hot air, carried 
by the medium of a pipe through the brooders on the top. (See Fig. 44.) When the chickens 
are two months old they are again drafted into still more commodious runs and houses, and 
still allowed to huddle together, as in the second instance given. This system of moving them 
about is carried still further until ihcy have arrived at the age of 4 months, when they are drafted 
into large open yards, and allowed to roost on perches provided in the houses attached. Trees are 
grown for shade, and a shelter-shed provided for inclement weather, the birds being kept out of the 
roosting houses in the daytime. The floor of the house is made of concrete, and covered with a 
sprinkling of sand, the roosts placed parallel with one another, about 18 inches apart, and not more than 
Fig. 42 —Feeding Trough for Chickens (Stehr). Fig. 43.— Feeding Box;;for Chickens (Wire Front). 
15 inches from the ground, and detachable. This allows cleaning operations to be done expeditiously 
each morning, and is of great benefit to the inmates. 
The use of a reliable Incubator becomes quite apparent where non-sitting breeds are kept, such as 
Spanish, Hamburgs, Leghorns, and Minorcas, etc. ; and under these conditions an artificial mother for 
the newly-hatched chicks must be provided, and it takes them but a short time to discover where they 
can obtain the requisite warmth. This has many advantages over a hen, the chickens being able to get 
warmed just as desired, not as often the case where the hen will not brood them, but is continually 
moving about ; and, as the temperature required is much lower than that provided by the hen, very 
little difficulty is experienced in obtaining the requisite amount of heat, which should not exceed 
Wm\\r 
Fig. 44 — Artificial Brooders, with Heat Attachments (Glass Fronts). 
85 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be found that excellent results will be gained by using artificial mothers, 
the risk of chickens being maimed or injured being reduced to a minimum. 
One of the best of these Foster-mothers is that manufactured by Mr. R. Johnston, Chappelow 
Estate, Hurstville, N.S.W. It is like most Incubators in having a body of water heated by a lamp which 
conducts the heat to the chicken-chamber, the chickens being located upon a loose bottom, which can 
easily be drawn out at the back, and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected without trouble. The sleeping- 
chamber has a glass door, to provide light for the inmates and expedite cleaning operations. Ventilation 
is secured at the top and underneath the tank rests, which have a strip of wood bevelled off to allow the 
air to pass out freely, though avoiding draught. The heat is registered by a thermometer placed in a 
perforated zinc receptacle, protected frorn interference by the chickens, The heat on top of them. 
