The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-29

prepared BY the United states Depart
rneut of AgricuitureJ
Although brOOd.ng with hens Is the
easiest and simplest method Of brood
ing. artificial broOders are necessary
where winter or very early spring
clicks are raised. where only non
setting breeds OF poultry are kept or
where large numbers of chickens are
20 be raised ariiHdslly. To operate
broOder or hover so as to insure
comfort and safety for the chicks re-
quires unremltting care on the part Of
the poultry man.
Temperature In Brooder.
The best temperature at which 10
keep a broOder or hover depends upon
many th,ngs-the position Of the ther-
momeier. 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 II he desires.
when too cold the chickens will
crowd together and try to get nearer
the heat. II # Is found in the morn
Ing that the dropplngs are well scat
tered under the hover II is an !ndica-
tion that the chickens had enough
heat. II the chickens are comfortable
At night they win be spread out under
the hover with the heads Of some pro-
truding from under the hover cloth.
Too much heat will cnuse them TO pant
and gasp and sit around with their
mouths open.
II Is impossible TO state for each
case at what temperature the brooders
should be kept to raise young chick
ems; however. 4 win run from 30 TO
100 degrees In some cases. as some
broods OF chickens seem 10 require
more heat than others. The average
is e3 to 95 degrees for the first week
or ten days. when the temperature Is
gradually rciaced to s. degrees for the
following ten days, and then lowered
20 20 or ~ degrees for as long as the
chickens need heat. Thiil depends
somewhat on the season of the year
be readily seen that the heat gen
Grated by 80 chickens would raise the
temperature under the hover TO a high
or degree than the heat given OF by
the lesser number. consequently the
amount OF heat furnished by the lamp
or stove will have 90 be regulated ac-
cordlngly
As the chickens grow larger and
need less heat. the lamps may be used
..,.I.~ - .Hs.l.e u I.s. -
nights, say poultry specialists In the
United States department OF agricul-
ture. Care should be taken 90 prevent
chilling or overheatlng the chickens
as II weakens them and may result In
bowel trouble.
Need a Cool Place, Too.
Chickens need cool place for
scratching and exercising. In addition
TO heat. Indoor brooders and hovers
can be used successfully In most sec
tions Of the country In unheated brood
er houses except during the coolest
seather Outdoor brooders usually
have a cool compartment for exercls-
ing. where the chickens are fed In
cold, stormy weather. II winter chick
heat the brooder house to tempera-
ture OF 90 TO 40 degrees, regardless OF
the temperature OF the hover, which
often requires placing brooder pipes
around the outside walls of the brood
er house.
The need of this heat depends en-
tlrely upon the broodlng system and
the weather conditions; but Il Is abso-
3utely necessary that the heat he kept
at the desired temperature under the
hover. Brooders and hoyers should
have from one-half to two inches Of
sand, dry dirt. cut clover, or chaff
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 few inches outside.
This does not apply, however, 20 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 10 the
source of heat.
Care for Young Chicks.
Young chickens should be closely
watched TO see that they do not huddle
ogether or get chilled. They should