Milford chronicle., 1916-03-17

GOAnEd TIC AALNAB AAdIOAo 9AAA AAGSta
{ ettes." that are to become our futur'
. prize winners In many of the bil
] shows, or to make up our yards o
t utility stock for the purpose Of produ'
ing the much sought after fall anC
winter eggs.
It is also the time when pOultrymer
in general give more or less time anc
attention to the subject of incubation
and brooding, which II properly done
goes a long way toward the attain
ment of success. Indeed. this is the
season of the year above all others
: when the largest proportion Of the
. Matching Is done.
The one question uppermost in the
minds of pOultrymen at this time
in connection with the broOding OF
their chicks, is which shall it be. the
heated brooder or the freless one?"
. Both styles have their merits and
. their demerits. Both are in many
cases operated successfully, and like
likewise, both can be utter failures If
not handled properly. | might add
that the fireless brooder is the most
extensive used. and 1t is just possible
that its popularity Is in some measure
due to the fact that it is the least ex-
pensive to maintain, and the easiest
to construct.
In the construction of the fireless
brooder, the principal feature to be
considered in its making is the con-
servatiOn Of bodily heat. so that when
the chicks are put into 1t. each will
contribute its prOpOrtionate share to-
ward providing warmth for the entire
brood
Manufacturers all over the country
are putting out quite a number of diff
| ferent ireless brooders, as we'll as
those supplied with heat in various
forms. This Is done in an effort to
meet the demands of those who either
desire such a brOoder for it's merit
or from the fact that they are adverse
to paying large sums for specially
constructed. artifcially heated ones.
But then. even such brOoders when
purchased are not to be had for
mere trihe. They are In many cases
rather expensive. while the homemade
brooder Is practical and economical.
and still serves the same purpose as
the more expensive ones purchased
from the various dealers.
Most men are quite handy with
tools, or at least with the saw and
hammer contingent Of the tool chest.
and with these a good substantial
brooder of the flreless kind. and one
which will be found to answer every
need, can easily be made from a few
boards and the assistance of a few
nails 10 hold them together
But to get down to brass tacks"
and suggest some method for the con- +
struction of a brOoder. Well. here I
goes. Take an ordinary board. II /
inches wide. and cut off a strip IS /
inches long This standing on its .
edge forms the front of the brooder |
Cut another peice the same length and /
rip 1t. making a piece nine inches wide .
and Is inches long. This stood on
its edge. forms the back Of the brood
er. Next cut two pieces Sc inches
long and taper them from IL inches
high in front to nine inches high in
the rear. Into each cut hole of suf
fcient size as to admit light into the
brOoder, and cover them with glass;
thus forming the sides of the broOder.
In the front cut a small hole for the
entrance and exit of the chicks.
Nail the front, sides and back to-
gether, forming a sort of tapered box
and stand on its edge with the taper
ed edges up. A piece of timber nailed
in each corner will form the legs,
which should protrude below the bot
tom edge about six inches The idea
Of the legs is to allow the chicks to
go under the broOder for shelter from
rains and also from the burning rays
Of the sun. Next put in the floor.
In making the top care should be
taken so as to get it In one piece, or
II it is necessary to use two pieces of
board in constructing the top. place
piece Of batting over the seam to pro-
-ect the inside of the brooder from !
he weather. 1t should be a trihe !
larger than the box and should either .
ii in with sockets or else be fastened I
IN with hooks. Never nail Il. as this !
will not permit the top to be removed
md this is one Of the essential points :
% be considered when designing and :
making the brooder. !
By putting the top on in either Of
hese ways you are permitted to read
ly and easily remove 1t when clean
ng the brooder. or for that matter.
or any ether purpose which might
rise.
This however. Is not all. The next
important thing In the construction
4 the brooder. and by no means of
ess Importance than the making of
he exterior. Is the making of the hov- h
r. Make a frame Is inches square, Al
( light pieces of wood or strips. 81
'hich should be braced across the II
entries. Cover this frame with a soft Il
iece Of cloth or burlap bagging. al fs
owing it to sag very slightly In the
enter. Around the frame tack a soft
iece of cloth or woollen fabric about
We inches wide. Similar strips of az
10th should be sewed to the bagging Is
1vering the frame about two inches pi
part These should be slit every two IN
lches, having no two Sits to come al
ijacent to each other. The piece tack al
around the frame should be slit q
Yery four inches. th
The hover is now placed in the back
the brOoder. which by the way, is
iat end standing only nine inches tn
gh, and may be either supported by an
rips Of wood nailed to the sides or co
, nailo drfvnu into fho u{Hac of fha frt