Milford chronicle., 1916-03-17
CONSTRUCTING A PRACTICAL
YET INEXPENSIVE BROODER
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights Rese,Veln


strips OF cloth forming the hover L
come low enough to touch the back
of the chicks when they are under II
Char or cut alfalfa is now place,
under the cover. and this Is kept II
place by means of q strip tackeC
across and to the floor of the brooder
Above all things be sure to see tha
the strips of cloth on the hover touch
the backs of the chicks, otherwis,
/ they will become chilled and tramplt
each other In an effort to get warm.
In addition to the opening already
made in the front of the brooder fol-
the use Of the chicks in going in and
out of 1t. make another, but larger
! in size, to admit fresh air. This op-
ening should be covered with a piece
Of fine mesh wire.
The front of the brooder, or that
not taken up by the hover, can be
used as a scratch shed and feeding
room for the baby chicks. This should
also be provided with a good light lit
ter. such as alfalfa, into which every
particle of grain food should be
thrown. thus affording the chicks suf-
ticient exercise in scratching it out.
A screened runway should also be
provided for the youngsters, in front
of the brOOder, when they are old
enough to be allowed out of it. The
space under the brooder may be in
cluded in the runway by extending
the wire around the legs, or better
still. this may be boarded in on the
back and sides, thus affording the
chicks better shelter during incle-
ment weather.
A broOder constructed after the
above directions will not only be
found to fit the needs of the average
of entire satisfaction. This by no
means the only form of inexpensive
brOOder that can be made at home
and yet give satisfaction. AS for in
stance. an ordinary store box may be
used. with hover made as above out
lined. Breeders made from a cheese
box are also good and easily made
In using this 1t is only necessary to
cut small opening to go In and out,
while the cloth strips forming the
hover may be tackled to the inside of
the lid. SO that when placed on the
box It will touch the backs Of the
chicks But. whatever may be the
construction, never fail to put suffl-
cient litter on the floor, as this is the
adjunct to its efficiency
When the chicks are first placed in
the brOoder, it will be necessary to
rasten them in, otherwise they will re-
main outside. on account of not being
accustomed to the homemade hen, and
thus become chilled, which causes
their death.
A good way to get them familiar |
With the brooder is to keep them shut |
ip IN 1t for few days and only liber- |
tie them at meal time. shutting them !
Up Immediately after they have finish /
d eating. After a few doses of this 1
reatment the chicks will learn that 1
lnder the brOoder Is the place for |
hem to get warm, and once they have
earned this they will make good use
4 the accommodation Just the min
lte that they learn the use of the
,rooder, food should be scattered In
he litter OF the scratching depart
nent. 1t is well to change the loca-
ion of the broOder frequently Every ]
wO or three days move it to a differ
mt place, as this provides them with
resh range. After they have reach
d the age of four weeks It should be
moved to a good grassy spot, and the
irds allowed to even go beyond the
init of the runway. The brooder may
hen be kept in this spot until they
re Of sufficient size and age to be
laced in colony houses or otherwise
rovided for.
Lice and mites. in addition TO be-
lg a great hindrance to the birds, are
lsO very dangerous company for them
hey simply cannot and will not
lrive if allowed to be eaten up with
ermin. You might as well expect to
aise potatoes on a cement sidewalk !,
S to raise chickens and lice at the
lme time. One or the other must give
ay. If the lice are allowed to re-
iain then the chicks will surely die.
or this reason, the brooders, as well
; the quarters of the older birds,
ust be thoroughly cleaned and dis
fected at regular intervals to keep
Iwn this deadly chick foe. Drive out
le enemy and success awaits you.
uild your own brooders and save
oney, but you had better neither
lild OF buy unless you make up your
ind TO give them the attention they
ned. ]