The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15

many years. II reduces labor, since one
heater serves a large number OF pens and
is also inexpensive to operate.
The latest addition to the broodcr
family is the coal burning stove or
colony broodcr. For many years the lead
ing poultrymen In California have been
brooding chicks In large iiocks with
stoves using as fuel heavy oil known
as distillatc. since such fuel is hard Ia
Ind In many sections the same plan has
been worked out with stoves Which burn
coal
Briefly described. these breeders are
iron stoves lifted with great heat de
Electors Some equipped with coal
magazines of sufficient size to hold
enough fuel to last from two to four days
and powerful thermostats which auto
matcally operate the draughts and con-
stantly maintain the hover temperature
at any desired degree.
These brooders are operated In any
small building or pen in the poultry
chicks at one time. The latter may be
permitted to run In one flock II OF the
same age or divided by low partitions
into two or more focks as desired.
Capacity considered. these breeders arc
inexpensive. they require no special build
ings. are economical of fuel and labor
and they seem 10 be giving general salts
faction. Whether they will become the
most popular brooding equipment. as
many poultrymen predict. remains FOR the
fVura 10 decide.
But whatever the brooding system
adopted. the quality OF the man operating
II and the quality OF the chicks en-
trusted to II determine the results. No
brooder, regardless OF how perfect IL is.
can grow chicks = the operator fails to
do his part. Neither can weak. slckly
chicks be transformed In the bruoder into
. IL H.. -,
us emphasize as strongly as possible that
the brooder IL merely a machine. The
operator must supply the brains and man
age the machine. Poor results are more
often due to mlsmdnagement than to
faulty apparatus.
when Isng the rreless type OF brood
'rs the first essential IL to "hover break
the chicks. This usually demands much
panstaking care Since the hover II not
warmed the chicks are not attracted to
II. Instead OF running In To get warmed
up they usually bunch up outside As a
rule IL will be necessary TO put them In
the hover several times daily until they
learn that comfort II 90 be found there
and they instinctiv-ly go IN when they
become chilly. Occasionally one VIII nnl
a brood which never learns this lesson
and these must literally he raised by
hand.
Lamp heated breeders are free from
attention and must be kept burning freely
at all times The oil fouuts must bc
| nlled daily, using nigh grade oil, the
wicks trimmed and the fame kept at
| the risnJ height to supply The needed
amout OF heat.
In operating coal burning heaters the
| essential thing Is TO maintain an even
| fire, keeping availnb Die sufficient supply
OF fuel and removing the ashes AT regu.
| lar intervals.
Have the brooder running smoothly he
i fore placing the chicks therein. The
| hover temperature as registered three
| or four inches above the floor should be
| well above 90 degrees for the first week
\ or ten days. From that point the heat
| should be gradually reduced until the
| chicks no longer require IT,
| Fresh air IN abundance H. essential
| Breeders IN which the air Is lacking in
| oxygen are bound to prove unsatisfac-
| tory. or course drafts must he avoided
| but constant ventilation must be secured.
Keep the breeders dry. but give the
| growing youngsters an opportunity to
| scratch In damp earth. Some successful
| chick raisers sprinkle n portion OF the
| pen floor each day. This does much
toward preventing the drying and shrivel-
| ling OF feet and shanks so often noticed
| In fiocks OF brooder chicks
| Provide plenty or litter. Char or chop
| ped straw are best for this. Renew the
litter AZ often as necessary to keep II
| sweet and clean.
Keep everything about the chicks,
| brooders. pens. yards. feed and water
| dishes, absolutely clean at all times. Dis
infect at intervals. This Is good health
| insurance.
Feed varied ration and supply II
| abundantly. Chicks cannot make salts
| factory growth unless given plenty OF
| nourishment. OF course one must feed
| carefully at the start, but as the days go
by the amount of food may be Increased.
| The Idea IL TO give the little fellows lust
| as much as they can use to advantage.
The ration should contain cracked and
ground grain. the latter either dry or
moist mineral matter. especially bone
| animal matter, as beef scrap and sour
milk succulent green feed. as cut clover
grass or sprouted oats,
And. finally, water! Fresh. pure water
In clean dishes available at all times
This material In Inexpensive, but its value
II beyond estimation.
Copyright, 1914 BY Motos-Mens ADV