The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-26

The broodipg system is. perhaps, :
the most important part of poultry
plant equipment. Chicks must be
raised each year, md faulty brood
ing appliances frequently cause such
! loss that little no profit can be
secured no matter how carefully the
plant is operated in other respects.
! The following hints from Professor
Stoneburn will prove helpful to any
enc who Is now struggling with this /
most important problem.
Le@~%.-.~A..
BY PROF. FREDERIC II. STONEBURN.
vT'llE profitable productive life of
our domestic chickens is, un-
fortunately, limited. As egg
producers, hens are usually most
profitable during the first and sec
ond laying seasons, and few CONNER
eial poultrymen make a practice of
keeping any birds, save few choice
breeding specimens, more than two
seasons. Many renew their flocks of
layers each year, selling their pullets
as they go into molt and replacing
them with early-hatched pullets.
Naturally, this situation makes it
necessary for most poultry keepers
to grow each Spring at least as many
chicks as there are adult birds in the
flock, if 30 per cent of the latter are
TO be replaced, since half the chicks
will be males. If the entire laying
flock is to be renewed, two chicks
must be reared for every adult in
the flock.
Egg farmers. producers of table
poultry and fanciers are alike con-
fronted by this problem, and in large
degree their success in poultry hus-
handry is determined by the results
they secure in Matching and rearing
these yearly crops of chicks.
Select Breeders With Care.
1t follows, then, that one should
pay particular attention to his hatch
ing and brooding equipment. Any
reasonable expense here is entirely
justified if good results are obtained
1t is poor economy to save a few
dollars on brooders or brooder
houses only to lose all chance o
making profit because of inability
to raise chicks through faulty OF
dangerous construction of machine:
or buildings. On the other hand
the most expensive machines are no
necessarily most satisfactory Mere
price is not a guarantee of efficiency
There Is a vast number of differ
ent types of brooders on the market
One may choose between the small
fireless brooder accommodating ;
score of chicks, the lamp-heatet
brooder with capacity of so to 100
the colony brooder for 200 to 1900
or the great pipe systems which will
care for many thousands. Each ha
its place, no one Is best suited to al
conditions. Therefore the individua
poultryman must study his own prob
lem and adopt that type of broode
which best fits into his genera
scheme of management.
First of all, the brooder must b.
efficient-it must raise the chicks
Every other factor is secondary
There is no profit or satisfaction II
carrying chicks to the brooder an
soon carrying them out to bury. Bet
ter have one good machine which vii
raise the youngsters than fuss with
half dozen death traps in the hop
of finally getting fair flock to
gether from them.
The machine should be safe
Cheaply constructed brooders ma
cause fires which not only kill tn
flocks of chicks, but destroy valuabl
property as well.
The brooder should be convenien
to manage Complicated device
which require constant attention ar
a nuisance, and in too many case
the attendant is tempted to neglec
them because they are so trouble
some. Then disaster follows.
Finally, the brooder should b
economical in operation. The con
sumption of fuel goes on "a hour
each day, and If the cost is high tn
cost of each chick reared is CORE
spondingly increased.
Durability and Simplicity.
Of course, durability and simplici
ty are desirable also, but efficienc.
convenience, safety and economy ar
primary considerations.
In the space available it is not pos
sible to discuss in detail the relativ
merits of the various types of brood
ers. The majority of poultrymen ar