The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-08

This Joy, however, quickly. turns to
distress II the baby chicks do not
thrive, and the successful brooding of
chickens Is difficult operation. es-
pecially for a beginner. Many poultry
keepers who are able to secure good
egg yields and fair matches make a
failure OF brooding chickens, either in
raising only small percentage Of the
chickens hatched or In failing to rear
strong, vigorous birds which develop
into good breeding stock.
Brooding with hens Is the simplest
and easiest way to raise few chick
ems and is the method which is used
almost exclusively on the average
farm. according to United States de-
partmeDt 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, In which case the chickens
should be removed as soon as dry, In
a basket lined with flannel or some
other warm material, and kept near
a fire until all the eggs are hatched
or the eggs may be removed and
placed under quleter hen whose eggs
are Matching at the same time. An
incubator may be used to keep the
earliest hatched chickens warm, In
case they are removed from the nest.
If the eggs hatch unevenly, those
which are slow in Matching may be
placed under other hens, as hens often
get restless after a part of the chick
ems are out, allowing the remaining
eggs to become cooled at the very time
when steady heat is necessary. Re-
move the egg shells and any eggs
which have not hatched as soon as
the Matching is over. Hens should be
fed as soon as possible after the eggs
are hatched, as feeding tends to keep
them quiet; otherwise many hens will
leave the nest. In most cases, 1t Is
best that the hen remain on the nest
and brood the chickens for at least "a
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
Oh kn faI tx.A
as often as necessary until the chick
ems are weaned. If lice become thick
on the chickens. or II they are trou-
bled with head lice, a. very little
grease, such as lard or vaseline, may
he applied with the fingers on the
al ound the vent. Great care should
be taken, however. not to get too
much grease on the chickens, as 1t will
stop their growth, and In some cases
may prove fatal.
The brood coop should be cleaned
at least once week and kept free
from mites. II mites are found i'm the
coop, 1t should be thoroughly cleaned
and sprayed with kerosene oil or crude
petroleum. From to inches of
sand or dry dirt or thin layer OF
straw or fine hay should be spread on
the floor Of the coop. Brood coops
should he moved weekly to fresh
ground, preferably where there is new
grass.
Brood coops.
CbtoIrano hat,baJ duriut, tho x.,inta,
should be brooded in poultry house
or shed while the outside weather con
dtions 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 keel
out cats, rats. and other 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 weaned
while the chickens are allowed free
range after they are a few days old
| Where hens are allowed free rang,
and have II forage for feed for them
selves and chicks. they often tak'
them through wet grass, where tn,
chicks may become chilled and die
Most OF the feed the chicks secure II
this manner goes to keep up the he'r
of the body, whereas feed eaten b!
those that are with hen that Is con
fined produces more rapid growth a,
the chicks do not have so much exer
else. Then, too, In most broods ther,
are one or two chicks that are weaker
than the others. and II the hen is al
lowed free range the weaker ones offer
get behind and out of hearing of tn,
mothers cluck and call. In most cases
this results in the loss and death o.
these chicks, due to becoming chilled
II the hen is confined the weakling'
can always find shelter and heat undel