Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-04-19
ON RAISING CHICKENS
An Important Department of
The Farm.
CARE AND SKILL REQUIRED
Poultry Specialists Offer Suggestions
For BrOOding and Feeding
Young Chicks.

Brooding with hens is the simplest
and easiest way to raise few chick
ems and is the method which is used
almost exclusively on the average
farm. Artificial brooders are neces-
sary where winter or very early
chickens are raised, where only Leg
horns or other nOnsitting breeds OF
poultry are kept or where large num-
bers of chickens are raised CONNER
cially. Sitting hens should be con-
fined to slightly darkened nests at
Matching time and not disturbed
unless they step on or pick their chick
ems when Matching. The eggshells
and any eggs which have not been
Matched should be removed as soon
as the Matching is over. Hens should
be fed as soon as possible after the
eggs are Matched, as feeding tends to
keep them quiet; otherwise hens may
leave the nest. In most cases it is
best that the hen remain on the nest
and brood the chicks for at least "a
hours after the Matching is over. All
the chickens should be tOe-punched or
otherwise marked before they are
transferred to the brooder or coop, so
that their age and breeding can be
readily determined after they are ma
tured.
Use Insect Powder.
Hens will brood successfully 10 or
Is chicks early in the brooding sea-
son, and Is to % in warm weather,
depending upon the size Of the hen.
Powder the hen with a good insect
powder before moving her and the
chicks to the brood coop. The hen
should be busted every two weeks or
as often as necessary until the chicks
are weaned. If lice become thick on
the chickens, or if they are troubled
with head lice, a very little grease
such as lard or vaseline, may be APP
piled with the fingers to the head,
neck, under the wings and around the
vent
Brood coops should be made so that
they can be closed at night, to keep
out cats, rats and other animals, and
enough ventilation should be allowed
so that the hen and chicks will have
plenty OF fresh air. The hen should
be confined in the coop until the
chickens are weaned, while the chick
ems are allowed free range after they
are a few days old.
Keep the Brood Coop Clean.
The brood coop should be cleaned
at least once a week and kept free
\ from mites. If mites are found in the
coop, it should be thoroughly cleaned
and sprayed with kerosene oil or
crude petroleum. From 1 to 2 inches
of sand or dry dirt or a thin layer
\ of straw or fine hay should be spread
on the floor Of the coop. Brood cOops
should be moved weekly to fresh
ground, preferably where there is new
grass. Shade is very essential in rear
/ ing chickens, especially during warm
weather; therefore, the coops should
! be placed in the shade whenever pos
sible.
Chicks are usually left in the incu-
bator from "a to Sc hours after hatch
\ ing, without feeding, before they are
removed to the brooder, which should
have been in operation for a day or
two at the proper temperature for re-
ceiving the chickens. A beginner
should try his brooding system care
/ fully before he uses it. After plac-
\ ing the chickens in the broOder they
can be given feed and water. Sub
sequent loss in chickens is frequently
due to chilling received while taking
them from the incubator to the brood
err They should be moved in a Gov