Milford chronicle., 1918-03-01


= in many instances. means brooderiime
! At least this is 50 where the chicks are
|. brought to earth through the artificial Of
incubator route.
Where chicks are Matched by the nat
uy,l or hen method the question Of brood
> ers is not such difficult one, but where
= the incubator is used, this subject be-
4 comes an au-important one TO every
breeder and ofttimes his success or failure
depends largely upon just how well ne
might handle the question
In the spring poutrymen generally give
more or less attention to the hatching
of the Youngsters and their proper brood
ing. and rghtfully so, as this is the time
and season Of the year when vast num-
bers Of the chicks are gotten out, and their
prorer brooding is one OF the most vital
essentials 10 a successful business.
When brooders are thought Of, the one
question possibly most discussed is,
.'yVhat kind Of a brooder shall / get-a
heated or freless one?' There are many
nersons who argue for both styles. There
is little question but that both are sue
cessfully operated, and just as sure, both
may be utter failures It depends largely
upon how they are operated and handled
Where chicks are mothered by hens
the question OF their brooding Is compar-
atively ecsy, as one is not compelled 10
supply heat for the body Of the little deli
cate chicks; this part of the work being
very nicely performed by Old Biddy. You
have but TO provide some sort Of shelter
for hen and chicks from the inclemency |
of the weather and TO keep that shelter |
clean and free from lice and other vermin. |
Not so, however, with the brood who |
ba ha Or n
this incident your brooder is compelled TO
take the place Of the mother hen for the
supplying of proper heat for the body of
the chicks, as well as other things, and
after all, this is by far the most difficult
problem to solve. Too little heat is dis
asterous and too much heat is equally as
destructive to them.
on account Of this, and also for the
reason that it is much cheaper to oper-
ate, the heatless brooder is becoming more
and more widely used by breeders .
throughout the country. II
The principal feature in all fireless 8
brooders is the conservation Of bodily heat :
so that each chick placed in it will furnish
it's proportionate share toward supplying
sufficient heat for the entire brood. Many &,
Of the manufactured fireless brooders are
well constructed and built along lines
which are calculated 10 preserve the d
health of the chicks, but these as a rule I
are so steep in price that they are beyond
the reach of the average poultryman At S
least, they cost more than he cares to Il
invest i'm them
As true as necessity is the mother of l.
the high cost Of these nee n
essary adjuncts 10 the conduct of the o
poultry plant have lead to the construc- a
tion Of home made brooders, particularly y
Of the freless kind. The construction Of n
these brooders is practically inexpensive. q
and they win, when properly built serve g
just the same purpose as the manufactur- u
ed ones
All that is required in order TO con- ID
struct brooder that will answer your q
every need is to be handy with tools, have g
a few boards and nails, and the result g
VIII be a good, substantial brooder u
The plan; Take a board - inches wide u
and cut off a piece Is inches long This, e
when stood on its edge will form the front u
If the brooder. Cut another piece the
same length and rip off a three-nch a
piece, leaving the board but nine inches o'
vide; which, stood on its edge. will form u
he back Of the brooder. Now cut off I'll
wo pieces 36 inches long and rip off an
lngular piece three inches wide at one Dl
md TO nothing at the other, leaving two al
pieces 80 inches long by - inches at one u'
md inches at the other: these make ~
he sides Of the brooder. In each Of these a.
ides cut an opening Of sufficient size to l''
dmit light to the house, and cover with ''
'ass. These should be near the top, or
ather well off the ground. Cut small
pening in the front to allow the chicks be
o 90 in and out Of the brooder Now nail n,
he pieces together so as to form box NJ
tand on its edge with the tapered edges fr
p, and place it on legs about six or eight
nches from the ground. Then put in the nj
oor. m
BY elevating the brooder on legs you co
7il permit the chicks to go under it as Tt
protection from the hot rays Of the sh
un and from the inclemency Of the tn
feather, and for this purpose It answers av
dmirably pr
If possible make a top Of one piece ne
ut If this cannot be done, cover the seam
With batting and let the boards run 60
engthwise with the brooder, from front ~
o rear. The top should extend over all ha
ides and can be made to fasten with
ooks which makes it easy of access for o.,
urposes Of cleaning. Don't nail the floor in,
4, but make It to lay upon pieces of hat III,