South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-31

IL is coming into very general use,
however. The brooder stove is
placed in the center Of a room IL to
IA feet square. Either coal or oil
may be used. according to ones pre-
ference. The heat is largely self
adjusting. 1t is reflected downward
and outward by a large metal hover
elevated above the stove and easily
adjustable. The chicks are thus al
together in the open, and draw near
TO the source of heat, or recede from
il. as their comfort may desire.
The ideal house in use under this
system may be IA by 2S feet. The
entire space may be divided into two
rooms IA feet square. The chicks
occupy the room in which the stove
is located until they are large
enough 10 be permitted the run of
the whole house, when the door be-
tween the rooms may be opened.
thus extending their runway until
they are sufficiently mature TO get
out onto the ground. Such house
should accommodate from 500 TO
/ 200 chicks. The maximum capacity
OF the big brooder stove is 1900
chicks; but only an expert should at
tempt to brood so many chicks in
one flock.
Food and General Care.
The litter, sand, and shells should
be the same as described under the
small colony brooder. whatever the
system used. These are as vital TO
the general welfare of the little flock
as heat and food.
The first feed should not come be-
fore at least SO hours after hatch
ing. The yolk of the egg furnishes
sufficient food for such length of
time. or even longer.
OF course clean water should be
kept before them constantly. No
sloppiness should be permitted. The
best patent drinking fountains ought
TO be always in use.
Oatmeal in any form is a good
feed TO begin with. Feed five times a
day at first. The second day begin
10 work the feed into the litter.
Make them scratch for everything
so far as possible. Keep them
hungry enough 10 keep them active.
They must exercise from the first.
Their happiness and their health
depend on their digging day after
day for their food. The poultryman
forgets this at his peril.
The mixed chick feed grain on
sale at any supply store should be
fed in the litter after the first two
days. III an extensive business is
being conducted the poultryman
should buy his grains and mix them
himself. A good mixture is as fol-
lows: 100 pounds fine cracked wheat.
so pounds cracked corn, and 20
pounds pinhead oatmeal.
Furnish Abundant Green STUFF.
At the beginning of the second
week put wheat bran or middlings
before them for two or three hours
a day Beginning with the 10th day
keep the following dry mash before
them all the time in hogpers: so
pounds OF bran, so pounds equal
part corn meal and sifted ground
oats. with about FIVE per cent meat
scrap. All the green food they will
eat may be furnished them every
day with profit.
a little clean dirt placed before
them in a box will be good Do not
let the dirt get on the floor of the
brooder Keep that clean and dust
less so far as possible.
Chiils must be especially avoided.
Let them out on the ground as soon
as il can be done with perfect safe
~.
Not more than IS chicks should
be brooded under one hover with
the small colony brooder. More will
mean crowding. and a consequent
danger 10 the whole flock.
Avoid extremes OF temperature.