Milford chronicle., 1918-03-01
How To Construct An Inex-
pensive, Yet Practical BrOOder
By }. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AN Righks Rese,7,NdO

, ting nailed across the inside near tn,
bottom.
e Where the bottom and top are made re
movable it permits Of removal for con,
venience in cleaning the brooder or othel
occasions which might arise.
But the brooder is stin incomplete
The most important part is yet to bC
made, namely. the hover This serves tc
properly conserve tho heat and distri-
butte it evenly to all occupants. 1t must
be correctly made If success with the
heatless variety Of brooder is desired
Make frame, IS inches square, of light
pieces Of wood, or strips with a center
brace either way. Now cover this frame
with a piece Of soft cloth, or better yet.
burlap bagging, allowing it to slightly sag
in the middle. Cut strips OF flannel five
inches wide and sew them to the burlap
about two inches apart; also tack one
around the frame. The strips sewed to
the burlap should be slit every two inches,
while that about the frame every four
inches, having none Of the Sits opposite
each other.
! Now place the hover in the brooder az
the back, or on the nine-inch high end,
and it may be supported by strips or nails
driven into the sides. The hover should
be so placed that the strips of cloth will
touch the backs of the chicks when they
are under 1t.
Chaff or alfalfa should be placed on the
floor under the hover. as well as on the
floor proper of the brooder- That under
the hover may be held in place by means
Of small strip Of wood
Now comes the ventilation. In the
front Of the brooder. slightly higher than
the opening made for the going in and out |
Of the chicks, cut another hole about four |
inches square, over which tack a piece |
of fine wire mesh. This should never be
closed. for without it the chicks cannot
get the fresh air which IS 50 essential
to them as to the larger and older stock.
That portion Of the Orooder not taken
up by the hover or bed room" of the
chicks is used as scratch shed for them
and all Of the grain food should be scat
tered into this litter thus giving them
exercise. While the chicks are still small
il is well to provide a wire runway for
the brooder to keep the chicks from
getting too far away from it and thus
being caught out in case of a sudden
shower. The wire should also be run
around the legs of the brooder to enable
hem to have access to its shelter
A brooder constructed after the above
specifications viii be found to meet the
needs of almost every breeder but of
curse one should not attempt to put all
he chicks one hatched into it, You may
reed several such brooders to take care
II hafahfup I ba frfa ]
md know that it is good Other and
more simple brooders, however, can be
made from an ordinary store box, making
he hover to fit into them, but these, of
curse do not permit a scratch shed or
he other features.
When the chicks are first placed in the
'rooder, it will be necessary to fasten
hem in. A chicks instinct causes it to
et under its mothers wing when il is
old, but there are no inducements about
he wooden hen to cause chicks to hover
nder her and therefore they must be
ducated to its use. Once they learn what
he brooder and hover mean to them you
rill have no further trouble from this
ngle, but at first they prefer to stay
utsde and become chilled and die rather
han seek the comfort of the hover unless
riven in.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the
rooder regularly TO keep down lice and
isease: the former of which is the most
eadly foe to the health and growth of
ne chicks Tares choke out the wheat,
nd likewise, chicks succumb to lice Fight
ce and grow chicks and your success is
ssured.
POULTRY POINTERS
Look well to the Matching eggs. Just
ecause eggs are fertile is no sign that
ley win hatch. Indeed they will not,
Mess you give them care and attention
ON the time laid until hatched
Never make the mistake of feeding
ash food on the ground. This not only
cans decided waste, but often it be-
mes contaminated and unfit for use
roughs or specially prepared vessels
lould be used for all soft foods, whether
ley be wet or dry, but as far as possible,
void feeding the former. Dry goods
'oduce just as good results and are not
ear so dangerous to use
Remember, the little chicks are Just
important TO care for as the older birds,
r they will be the future layers. Give
em daily allowance Of green food to
lip develop them properly.
Next week we will have a timely dis
ission Of the Food Administration Rul-
g in connection with the Poultry In