The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-05-01

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
Although brood:ng with hens is the
easiest and simplest method of brood
ing. artificial brooders are necessary
where winter or very early spring
chicks are raised, where only nom
setting breeds of poultry are kept, or
where large numbers of chickens are
to be raised artificially. To operate
a brooder or hover so as to insure
comfort and safety for the chicks re-
auires unremitting care on the part OF
the poultry man.
Temperature in Brooder.
The best temperature at which to
keep a brooder or hover depends upon
many th:ngs-the position of the ther-
mometer, the style Of the hover, the
age of the chickens, and the weather
conditions. Aim to keep the chickens
comfortable. AS the operator learns
by the actions of the chickens the
amount Of heat they require, he can
discard the thermometer if he desires.
When too cold the chickens will
the heat. If it is found in the morn
ing that the droppings are well scat
tered under the hover it is an ind1ca-
ton that the chickens had enough
heat. If the chickens are comfortable
at night they will be spread out under
the hover with the heads Of some pro-
truding from under the hover cloth.
Too much heat will cause them to pant
and gasp and sit around with their
mouths open.
1t is impossible to state for each
case at what temperature the brooders
should be kept to raise young chick
ems; however, it will run from 80 to
100 degrees in some cases, as some
broods of chickens seem to require
more heat than others, The average
is % to 95 degrees for the first week
or ten days, when the temperature is
gradually reduced to IS degrees for the
following ten days, and then lowered
to 70 or Is degrees for as long as the
chickens need heat. This. depends
somewhat on the season of the year
and the number of chickens, as it can
be readily seen that the heat gen.
Grated by so chickens would raise the
temperature under the hover to high
er degree than the heat given OIL by
the lesser number, consequently the
amount of heat furnished by the lamp
or stove will have to be regulated ac-
cordingly.
AS the chickens grow larger and
need less heat, the lamps may be used
only at night, and later only on cold
nights, say poultry specialists in the
United States department of agricui-
ture. Care should be taken to prevent
chilling or overheating the chickens.
as 1t weakens them and may result in
bowel trouble.
Need a Cool Place, Too.
Chickens need a cool place for
scratching and exercising, in addition
to heat. Indoor brOoders and movers
can be used successfully in most sec
tions Of the country in unheated brood
err houses except during the coolest
weather. Outdoor brooders usually
have a cool compartment for exercis-
ing. where the chickens are fed IN
cold, stormy weather. If winter chick
ems are being raised. it is advisable to
heat the brooder house to tempera-
ture Of go to 70 degrees, regardless OF
the temperature Of the hover, which
often requires placing brooder pipes
around the outside walls of the brood
err house.
The need of this heat depends en-
tirely upon the brooding system ana
the weather conditions; but 1t Is abso-
lutely necessary that the heat be kept
at the desired temperature under the
hover. Breeders and hovers should
have from one-half to two inches OF
sand. dry dirt. cut clover, or chan
spread over the floor and in the brood
er-house pen. The hOvers should be
cleaned frequently, as cleanliness is
essential in raising chickens success.
fully.
When chickens are first put into the
brooder they should be confined under
or around the hover by placing board
or wire frame a few inches outside
This does not apply, however, to the
small outdoor colony brooder. The
fence or guard should be moved gradu-
ally farther away from the hover and
discarded entirely when the chickens
are three or four days old or when
they have learned to return to the
source of heat.
Care for Young Chicks.
Young chickens should be closely
watched to see that they do not huddle
together or get chilled. They should