| Show CHICK SAVING METHODS A little attention to D details tails will nat only icher I 1 ewer the mortality rate hate of artificial brooding but will also provide stronger healthier chicks editors nota this Is another story in a series of ti stories on poultry raising written by the well vell known national poultry authority lr L D legear V S ot of st louis the entire series will appear in th this Is paper our readers are urged to read them carefully and clip teem them out oui tor for future reference A proper start in life means just as much to the newly hatched chick as to a newborn babe even though a hick chick way may inherit all the desirable traits ot of ot blue blooded avlan avian aristocracy its hereditary advantages may be completely offset t by lack of proper att anton anton during the days immediately following its exodus flora the incubator cu bator correct brooding methods on the other hand will not only reduce the infant mortality rat in your flock but will give you more robust and more productive mern for your flock of the fu ture such care should stait even before you are ready to receive chicks from the hatchery or to transfer them from your own incubator to the hover see that all parts of the hovers and brooder quarters are thoroughly cleaned and dis infected spray all parts of oc the room with a fail fairly ay strong solution of dip and disinfectant to guard against lice mites and other parasites be suro sure the room Is well ventilated but tree free from draughts then put sand arid and litter on the floor to give the tha chicks something to scratch in hi and to keep the floor covered see that heating beating units are in goad order burners clean and regulating mechanism working well then start your stoves lamps or electricity running several days in ad vandle in this way you will be able to td thoroughly familiarize your melt with operation and control of the devices you vou will also have the quarters evenly warmed throughout place a temporary fence around each hover to keep the chicks near the source of heat making linking allowance tor for gradually enlarging ll it from time milre to time this is usually managed by using a roll of one loch inch netting two feet high do not cut it simply unroll a little more each time you feel that the growth of the brood demands more room when the chicks chicke aie ready to bc b transferred or have arrived caw carr them carefully in a well lined box bov or basket and place them gently under the hover the basket or box should be carefully covered to kee the chicks from getting chilled at ter the chicks are installed in thet the new home bome I 1 give them some wate grit and milk they are allowed tc come out several times during the day for grit and water and each time I 1 put them back under hover in this way they learn quickly arid and easily my bly plan may little more trouble at first but my experience is that it bavei saves time in the long run because chicks are more quickly trained to seek the hover tor for warmth and protection from this point on detailed instructions cannot be given you exact proceed ure will depend on th kind of apparatus you employ fol fow ow the manufacturers instruction carefully and watch the chicks at all tim lim a to make sure they are rout roin tor for table and growing at a sati satis stac fac tory rate A word about correct temperature pera ture bill not be amiss many experienced perien ced poultry men never look at al the thermometer but are guided en by the actions of the chicks it they lie quietly in small content rd ed groups they are comfortable but it they spread out flat lifting theli wings and panting they are too hot extend their fence so that they can get away from the heat or it if a canopy type hover is used lower the temperature it if they huddle together they are too cold gently force them to hover closer to the stove by decreasing the circumference of your brooder fence or by using the brooder curtain these things are only learned by observation and experience it you do not care to trust your judgement jud gement n that respect the following schedule will be found helpful the first two or three nights the temperature at level 0 of sleeping Ble chicks backs should be between 95 and degrees but never over As the chicks begin to exercise they require less ess heat the latter part of the first week begin to lower the tem pera ture gradually until it Is around 85 at the end of the third week As many chicks will be fairly well feathered by the end of the fifth week the temperature may run between 85 and 70 being reduced until finally artificial heat beat Is no longer required avoid sudden ii variations at all inies an even heat beat Is the ideal condition the general temperature of quarters outside the hover should never bo be lover loiter than 60 to 0 o 70 decrees it if it runs lower some auxiliary means of heating should be provided |
