South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-24

part may have become rusty, broken
or lost / have known a whole brood
10 be lost in this way.
The matter OF proper brooder
warmth is also important If the
season is so early that sudden
changes of outside temperature are
likely 10 occur, care should be taken
that the brooder has a sufficient
amount of reserve heat to meet this
condition. The chicks are often
chilled and lost as a result of rapid
changes in the weather.
The correct temperature for baby
chicks is from 80 10 100 degrees.
The brooder should be started at the
higher temperature and reduced a
degree or so daily until the chicks
are two or three weeks old. A brood
er that will register 100 degrees an
inch above the floor line, under adj
verse weather conditions will usually
prove safe and satisfactory.
Baby chicks must be broken to
the hover They have no mother
hen TO call them But they soon be-
come creatures of habit if properly
handled at the beginning. The poul-
try raiser must train them. and here
is where patience is required The
new brood should be trained TO take
10 the hover as il would seek
warmth and protection at the call
of a mother hen.
Training Chicks to- Brood.
Chicks should be removed from
the incubator TO the brooder at
night. Not only are they easier
handled when it is dark. but they
are more likely TO remain where
they are put under the hover. For
the first night or two they should be
confined rather closely To the hover
for this reason.
If not carefully watched for the
FIRST two or three days, chicks may
Luddle together in a corner Of the
hrooder. where they are likely TO get
chilled. or trample one another TO
death i'm an effort 10 keep warm. Ii
only takes a couple of days TO train
them 10 take TO the hover. The poul-
try raiser cannot afford 10 discon-
tinue his care and watchfulness,
+
with his young brood.
For the first few days chicks need
rest more than anything else. If sun
light enters the brooder they will
spend hours at time huddled to-
1ether enjoying the natural warmth.
This is good for them as il helps 70
strengthen them. Whenever possible
the brooder should be moved so as
10 allow the sunshine 10 fail near the
hover or i'm the warmest part OF the
brooder. Since the chicks will sure
Is seek the sunlight. the aim should
he 20 so arrange the brooder that
they viii not become chilled as the
san moves away.
Feeding the chicks.
As previously stated. nature pro-
ides for the chicks nourishment
for the first two or three days OF
life. Chicks should be given neither
food nor drink for the first IS hours.
/ D. fed sooner il VIII be harmful and
not helpful The unabsorbed portion
I az the yolk serves 10 supply the
chick with nourishmeut Additional
food is likely to cause indigestion
and bowel trouble. which should be
avoided 0y all means. More chicks
are lost every season by overlooking
than hy underfeedins
Let the hrooder hoor bee covered
/ with dry sand and hne-cut clover or
I alfalfa The sand will absorb the
I Groupings The chicks should he
encouraged a> eark as possible TO
take exercise. This can be done by
| making them scratch for their food.
Young chicks are easily trained TO
cat When hungry they Instructive
N peek 9t anything Zen sight This
tahll makes be essential that abso-
lutte cleanliness be- p-acticed. At hrst
they should De fed ON "a board or