On Tuesday and Wednesday, we hatched 37 chicks, White Dorkings and Cream Legbars, then moved them into the brooder on Thursday. Everyone was fine yesterday morning but when I returned home from work, the light bulb had burned out. I lost 30 chicks. Four survivors were just hanging on and three were still full of life. By morning the four were gone and one more was borderline gone. I scooped the last three up and put them back in the incubator on paper towels with food and water. After three hours, #3, now known as "Valentine" because he was my Valentine's day gift, is up and going strong. Here are the three survivors - white Dorking "Cupid", CL cockerel "Valentine" and a CL pullet who needs a name that ties into Valentines day, is feminine and tough. She remained the strongest of all.
We are now going to switch to a dual bulb Ohio Brooder. It will protect them from drafts and can warm up to 250 chicks. Ours will be slightly smaller than the standard 4' x 4' Ohio Brooders were developed during the War years to conserve both metals and energy.
Illinois Extension Service Publication - Ohio Brooder, 1942
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