Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-27
VENTILATION VITAL
IN DROODER HOUSES.
Oxygen Must Be Provided to
Keep Chicks Fire Burning
Warmth Near FloOr-Simple
Devices for Controlling Fresh
and Stale Currents of Air.
BY II. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS

BY IL. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS
In brooder houses, be they large or
small, especially those in which stove
breeders are operated, particular atten-
ton should be given to ventilation. The
oxygen in fresh air Is the primary sup
port of all animal life, and nothing can
compensate its absence. oxygen gen
crates the heat in the body, and is the
real substance of the blood. Without II,
rourshment cannot be carried to the
body tissues. hence creature 30 de-
prived is rendered weak and powerless,
and soon dies
A match or candle will not burn with
out certain amount of fresh air; we
know that. The flame will contract. sput-
ter and go out SO it is with the chicks
tiny vital fire, If the chick is kept in
close. stuffy brooder.
Usually it is a bad plan to attempt
to ventilate a brooder from doee or
window. or to expect to replenish the
air in all parts of the interior by ad-
hitting fresh air from one point only.
1t is even more futile to expect fresh
air and stale air to pass in and out of
the same place at the same time, or
that they will alternate their passage.
The idea is opposed to the simple laws
of gravity.
FRESH AIR WARNS QUICKEST
Correct ventilation provides a circula-
ton of fresh air, either without percep-
tible drafts or in such a way that the
currents of air are rendered harmless, and
changes ana renews the atmosphere sew
eral times an hour. Such renewals are
more essential in the brooder than in
Of he a
tfcial heat required in the brooder. In
other words, the brooder stove itself. or
any other type of brooder in which the
heater burns inside the brooder room, is
constantly consuming air. AS suggested
by the candle and match, the brooder
must have this fresh air or combustion
is impossible; the furnace or lamp would
go out.
Then too, It should be borne in mind
! that the amount Of fresh air in a brood
! er compartment is closely allied with
the brooder stoves capacity to radiate
/ heat, for stale, vitiated air resists warmth.
/ a roomfu of fresh air is warmed much
| quicker than a roomful of stale air. Err
rors in this respect are often responsible
| for many of the difficulties in artificial
! brooding, which are sometimes charged
! to supposedly defective brooding equip
ment.
Another reason for extra care in pro-
I viding suitable ventilation in the brood
er lies in the fact that the greatest
warmth is required nearest the floor.
! The hover temperature. or the space i'm
| medately surrounding the stove brood
err. should be at least 80 degrees; IS to
100 degrees is best for chicks under a
week old, And this temperature must
be registered within two inches of the
, floor.
TEST TEMPERATURE NEAR FLOOR
The upper air in a brooder house can
| equal the Internal regions and still be
, of no benefit to the chicks unless the
heat is kept close to the floor. Because
warm air rises to the ceiling. which is
felt against the brooder operators face
as he enters the building, he is likely to
be deceived into the belief that the
brooder room is plenty warm for the
chicks, whereas in reality the floor strata
of air may be quite cool. For this rea-
son Il brooder thermometer should be
hung so that the bulb is on a level
with the chicks backs. and its readings
depended upon for regulating the heat.
We know that considerable moisture
Is given off in the chicks breath and that
this moisture laden air, being heavier
than fresh air, will settle to the floor
and in so doing displace the drier, warm
er air, unless the moisture laden air is
first carried outside the compartment
In other words, it is very hard to keer
the warmed air nearest the floor where
il belongs, in poorly ventilated brood
err in which the stale or moisture -ladei
air is being driven to the floor for nc
, reason except that it has no escape else
. where.
The subject seems rather involved, per-
, haps, but that is due to the difficulty IL
, describing in words the natural law:
which are in control. Practical tests ar,
easily made and the results are self
: evident In a brooder flooded with sun
: light it is possible to study the currents
of air By means of the particles of dus
reflected in the sunlight. or smoking
, rag or tobacco smoke can be made t
e answer as a telltale.
t OUTLETS FOR STALE AIR
Correct brooder ventilation should ad
nit fresh air near the floor line. jus
high enough to prevent direct draft
e from blowing on the chicks. and iron
i several points In the room. This fres
e air will be drawn toward the stove brood
err in the center of the room. yet wei
Il above the heads of the chicks; the al
= will be warmed by the stove and drive
= downward to the floor, diffused in a.
a directions, from which it will rise to tn
[ ceiling. At or near the ceiling Their
d should be outlets or exhaust ventilators