Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-05

The term "brooding" as appliod r.
young chickens means broadly the neces.
sary care Of them from the time thew
leave the shell in the incubator or under
the sitting hen until they reach an age
when they no longer need the care M
turally given them by the mother hen.
The length of time they require brood
ing depends upon when they are Matched.
that is, whether it be early or late in
the season. The amount of labor in
rolved is increased or decreased IN nro-
portion to the facilities one has for
handling his fpcks advantageously. and
this also Influences the number of chicks
the breeder can successfully bring to the
weaving age. Weather conditions everv
WHERE except in some portions of the
south, are such in February and March
THAT CHICKS matched at that time require
much greater care as regards warmth and
ousns imam II they are brought out
during the natural season of April and
May
Artificial brooding is almost a neces-
hi'y WIN eariy-hatched chicks, and this
Is uhquestlonably true If any consider
"ole NUMBER are to be handled Home
hiaoe prooders or crude appliances and
methods will suffice if no ATTEMPT is
maze to brood a greater number of
ehlcKs than can be given the special
attention and extra time necessary
Early Patches with hens may be handled
with fair success by allowing the hen to
brood the chicks If each hen with her
pfood is given ample room indoors and
where she will be unmolested bv other
io"is Later in the season the mother
hen can be depended upon entirely If she
Is given sufficient housing and otbor
protection from Indictment weather.
USE OF 1NCUBAToRs AND BROOD
ERS.
III several thousand chicks are to he
matched, It is absolutely necessary that
lhcuoators and breeders be used. Regard
less OF the season, if the greatest possible
Pfont and success are to be secured II
a Few hundred early-hatched chicks Ara
the object, an incubator and brooder are
desirable and profitable, and in many
Eases necessity. There are a number Of
patented brooders on the market at a
Ieasohapie price, and nearly all dealers
IN poultry supplies keep them in stock
lhey may also be bought direct from the
manufacturers, nearly all of whom give
the customer more or less printed mat
Ter containing much helpful information
upon the subject Of brooding chicks
Inc manufacturers directions for the
hahohng OF his particular brooder should
always be carefully followed. but methods
OF reeding and general care of the chicks
should be governed by experience or bv
the knowledge acquired by reading
authoritative literature upon the sub
5ect.
Some of the main features 10 he kent
pm mind are as follows: Avoid over
crowding; do not underfeed or overfeed:
provide adequately warm quarters: keen
the chicks active; see that they are free
from lice; do not feed condiments or
rich table scraps or wet, slopnv foods.
give plenty of fresh. clean water. pro-
vide good ventilation and pure air.
IL chicks are not being brooded nv the
mother hen In ,ate spring or summer
they must have artihclally heated quar-
tiers. A suitable homemade hover for
use In warm room consists of a box
with one side taken out and into which
is fitted false bottom with the under
es apart and which drop to within about
two inches of the floor or real bottom
of the box. This will provide a place
Tor the chicks to huddle and sleep.
good crude appliance, which will serve
as heated apartment, is the old plan
OF wrapping one or two thicknesses of
flannel around an earthenware Jug and
Keep the jug filled with quite hot water.
renewing 1t as often as necessary. The
Jug should be kept in "A box of average
size, such as may be obtained at anv
grocery store. A box two feet snuare
will accommodate to chicks until thew
are week or 10 days old. If pronerIv
cared for. but an outside RUNWAY &c ad.
vlsable, and this can be easily provided
by using inch mesh wire netting.
LITTER ON THE FLOOR
The floors of breeders, hovers and RIM
ways should be covered with suitable
litter to the depth Of about an inch. The
liter may consist of chaff from a hay
oft finely cut straw chopped clover or
alfalfa. or fine, dry sand. Anything sim
lar TO the aforementioned articles will
answer the purpose. The object is TO
provide "a soft, warm bedding that will
induce dryness, absorb the droppings
md furnish a place in which to scatter
Try foods where the chicks must scratch
or them. The litter should be renewed
bften and not be allowed to become con-
animated. Little chicks should be kept
Lctive and vigorous, as that condition
sure indication of health, and that
hay are growing and thriving Exercise