The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-08

" 4 ~ ~ hNAe anu tANh
broods.
BY RoF FREDERIC H. sToNEBURN.
IT is an easy matter to raise a few
chicks with hens, but an entirely diff
q ferrent proposition to grow a large
number through exclusive use of the
natural method of brooding, This ex-
plains why the artificial method of
brooding is used almost exclusively on
most commercial poultry farms.
The time required to properly attend
to a single brood of Is chicks is not
worth considering. But when one has
1900 chicks divided into 100 little flocks,
scattered about over a considerable area.
each demanding attention several times
daily, the detail work demanded soon
grows tiresome.
1t is so much easier to attend to the
same humber of chicks in a convenient
brooder house, or to three flocks of 500
each under colony breeders, that few
poultrymen stick to the old method
after they have reached a point where
their flocks of chicks are really large in
size.
Hen-BrOO0e0 ChlCkS Preferred.
This is not an intimation that it is
impossible to grow many chicks by the
natural method. In certain sections of
the country, notably in New England,
many poultry farmers who maintain very
large flocks of fowls depend upon broody
hens to hatch and rear all the chicks.
But it will be observed that these men
have studied the problem carefully and
1o " prnpiInI tha nu,;,,4,A .IIal
ables them to most conveniently and
efficiently care for the hens and their
broods. Unless some system is applied
to this work, one need not expect to Sc
cure entirely satisfactory results. The
more important details of management
are presented below. In general, these
apply to Utmost any poultry plant. Minor
details may be changed to meet the Pc
culiar conditions surrounding each par
ticular case.
Proper feeding is of primary import
ance. This matter was fully discussed
in a recent issue of this publication, and
the points then brought out will not be
repeated here. However, it might be well
to state that the feeding problem is
really simpler when the chicks are moth
cred by hens than when grown in brood
ers.
This is not due to any difference in the
chicks, but rather to the conditions sur
rounding them. Each hen is usually given
but a small number of chicks, and,
as a rule, these small broods are per-
mitted to have considerable liberty. In
the brooder, from SO to 500 chicks are
kept in one flock and in many cases
they are confined in yards of relatively
small size. The hen-brooded chicks may
%Lou1forn rtn1r yr y,r,h rat,~n1 Ao@A
as worms, insects, fresh green stuff, ani
the like, and they further have the &C
tive assistance of the hen in finding these
tidbits. The brooder chicks, on the othel
p hand, must depend upon the attendant
to supply everything which they neet
in the way of foodstuffs.
When feeding chicks with hens, espe
cially where expensive chick feeds ar,
used, 1t is advisable to provide a specia
feeding place for the youngsters, so ar
ranged that the mother hen cannot ge
at the costly ration. Feed her on an.
ordinary grain mixture which is less ex
pensive.
The disposition of the mother hen il
also an important matter. Some hen
are naturally motherly, kind and atten
tive to their broods, pleasant to manage
These will usually rear a large percentage
of the chicks intrusted to them.
Others, with equally good intentions
are clumsy, stepping upon and crushing
many of the chicks, still others arr
nervous and flighty or cross and quarrel
some. Such birds may more profitabl.
be returned to the laying flock and thei
chicks given to the dependable kind.
Select Mother Hens With Care.
The observant poultryman can usual,
pick out the unsatisfactory individual
while they are incubating or very shortl.
after they are given chicks. And it pay,
to watch this matter carefully.
The construction of the brood coop il
next in importance. 1t is most short
sighted policy to provide coops which will
meet the requirements of the little fam
lilies only when the most favorable con
ditions obtain. Far better, design ant
build them in such a way that they will