The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-04-01

reJoices when his matches are full ones.
This Joy. however. quickly turns ia
distress II the baby chicks do not
thrive. and the successful broodlng Of
chickens IL n difficult operation. cs-
pecially Tor a beginner. Many poultry
keepers who are able To secure good
egg yields and fair matches make n
failure Of brooding chickens. either In
raising only a small percentage Of the
chickens hatched or In failing 10 rear
strong vigorous birds which develop
into good breeding stock.
Brooding with hens II the simplest
and easiest way 10 raise few chick
ems aud Is the method which Is used
almost exclusively on the average
farm. according TO United States de
partment OF agriculture specialists.
Artificial brooders are necessary
where winter or very early chickens
are raised where only Leghorns or
other nonsetting breeds Of poultry are
kept. or where large numbers Of chick.
ems are raised commercially.
Rearing Chickens With Hens
sitting hens should be- confined TO
slightly darkened nests at Matching
time and not disturbed unless they
step ON or pick their chickens when
Matching. Ia which case the chickens
should be removed as soon as dry. In
basket lined with flannel or some
other warm material. and kept near
a fire until all the eggs are Matched (;
or the eggs may be removed and
placed under a quieter hen whose eggs
are Matching at the same time. An
incubator may Ice used 20 keep the
case they are removed from the nest
II the eggs hatch uneyenly. those
which are slow In Matching may be
placed under other hens. as hens often
get restless after n part Of the chick
ems are out. allowing the remaining
eggs 10 become cooled at the very time
when steady heat Is necessary. Re
move the egg shells and any eggs
which have not Matched as soon n
the Matching n over. Hens should h
fed as soon as possible after the egg
are Matched. as feeding tends 90 keel
them quiet: otherwise many hens viii
leave the nest. In most cases. II Il
best that the hen remain on the nest
and brood the chickens for nj least -
hours after the Matching il over. !,
Powder the hen with good insect
powder before moving her and the
chickens 90 the brood coop. The heI
should be busted every two weeks, OF
rs often as necessary until the chick.
ems are weaned. II lice become thick
on the chickens. ar II they are trou
bled with head lice. very little
grease. such as lard or yaseline. may
he applied with the fingers on the
head. neck under the wings, and
around the vent. Great care should
be taken. however. not TO get toe
much grease on the chickens. as II win
stop their growth. and In some cases
may prove fatal.
The brood coop should be cleaned
from mites. II mites are found In the
coop. II should be thoroughly cleaned
and sprayed with kerosene oil or crude
petroleum. From 90 2 inches al
sand or dry dirt or n thin layer oil
straw or fine hay should he spread 90
the floor ~ the coop. Brood coos
should he moved weekly TO fresl
ground, preferably where there IL new
grass.
Brood coops.
Chickens Matched during the winter
should be brooded In poultry house
or she'd while the outside weather con
dliions are unfavorable; after IN,
weather becomes settled. they should
be reared In brood coops out of doors
Brood coops should be made 80 that
they can be closed al night To keel
cut cats. rats. aud other animals. aud
enough ventilation should be allowed
30 that the hen and chicks viii have
plenty 81 fresh air.
The hen should he confined In ths
coop until the chicks are weaned
while the chickens are allowed free
range after they are a few days old
Where hens ARE allowed free rang'
and have ~ forage for feed for them
selves and chicks. they often take
them through wet grass. where ths
chicks may become chilled and die /
Most 81 the feed the chicks secure IN
this manner goes 20 keep up the heat
~ the body. whereas feed eaten by
those that are with q hen that II con
fined produces more rapid growth, a.
he chicks do not have M much exer'
rise. Then. too IN most broods there
sre one or two chicks that are weaker
han the others. and n the hen II al
owed free range the weaker ones often
ret behind aud out Of hearing Of ihs
Mothers cluck and call. In most eases
his results In the loss and death of
hese chicks due Ia becoming chilled
4 The hen II confined the weakiings
an always ind shelter and heat under