Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-27
PROPER BROODING BIG FACTOR
IN POULTRY MANS SUCCESS

The heart of every poultry keeper
reioices when his hatcnes are fui'
ones. This joy, however quickly
turing to distress Il the baby chicks
Go not thrive, and the successful
bvooding of chickens is a difficult OPP
Grafton, especially for a beginner.
Marry poultry keepers who are able
tn secure good egg yields and lair
matches make a failure IF hroodinG
chickens, either in raising only
small percentage of the chickens
ka1ched or in falling to rear strong,
vigorous birds which develop into
good breeding stock.
Brooding with hens is the simplest
arc easiest way u raise few chick
ems and is the method which is used
almost exclusively Cn the average
farm, according to United States de-
partment of agriculture specialists.
Artificial breeders are necessary
where winter or very earE3 chickens
are raised, where only Leghorns or
other nonsetting breeds of poultry
are kept, or where large numbers OF
chickens are raised commercially.
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, in which case the chicken
should be removed as soon as dry
ma basket lined with flannel or
some other warm material, and kept
near 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 also be used
to keep the earliest Matched chick
ems warm, in case they are removed
from the nest. If the eggs hatch I'M
evenly, those which are slow in
Matching may be placed under other
hens, as hens often get restless aft
err q part Of the chickens are out,
allowing the remaining eggs to be-
come cooled at the very time when
steady heat is necessary. Remove
the egg shells and any eggs which
have not Matched as soon as the
Matching is over. Hens should be
fed as soon as possible after the eggs
are Matched, as feeding tends to keep
them quiet; otherwise many hens will
leave the nest. In most cases, it is
best that the hen remain on the nest
and brood the chickens for at least
81 hours after the Matching is over.
Powder the hen with a good insect
powder before moving her and the
chickens to the brood coop. The hen
should be busted every two weeks,
or as often as necessary until the
chickens are Weaned. If lice become
| thick on the chickens, or if they are
| troubled with head lice" a very lit
| tie grease, such slard or vaseline,
may be applied with the fingers on
| the head, neck, under the wings and
| around the vent Great care should
be taken, however, not to get too
much grease on the chickens, as it
will stop their growth and in some
cases may prove fatal.
The brood coop should be cleaned
at least once a week and kept free
| from mites. If mites are found in
| the coop, it should be thoroughly
| cleaned and sprayed with kerosene
! oil or crude petroleum. From l to
! 2 inches of sand or dry dirt or a
| thin layer of straw or fine hay
| should be spread on the floor of the
| coop. Brood coops should be moved
weekly to fresh ground, preferably
| where there is new grass.
| Chickens Matched during the win
| ter should be brooded in a poultry
| house or shed while the outside
weather conditions are unfavorable;
| after the weather becomes settled,
| they should be reared in brood coops
! out Of doors, Brood coops should be
made so that they can be closed at
night, to- keep out cats, rats and 9TH
| er animals, and enough ventilation
| should be allowed SO that the hen and
| chicks will have plenty of fresh air.
The hen should be confined in the
| coop until the chicks are weancd,
| while the chickens are allowed free
range after they are a few days old.
Where hens are allowed free range
and have to forage for feed for them
selves and chicks, they often take
| them through wet grass, where the
| chicks become chilled and die. Most
of the feed the chicks secure in this
manner goes to keep up the heat of
the body, whereas feed eaten by those
| that are with the hen that is confined
produces more rapid growth, as the