| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  Raising chicks without power  |
|
|
Anastasia
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Anastasia
Telkwa
BC
Canada
56 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 3:23:51 PM
|
Hi everyone,
I've looked through piles of posts but haven't found my answer yet. We live off the grid and there is no way we could power a heat lamp for three or four weeks (or more) without running our generator all the time. There aren't any hatcheries nearby (adult birds are only sold if you can pick them up in person) or I'd get a broody hen or two. I vaguely recall hearing about someone who would pour hot water into a large plastic carboy bottle each night during the winter to keep the chickens warm but I doubt that would be enough for chicks. We raised our first batch in the house: three weeks in a cage next to the wood stove in May. The smell and heat were insane!!!! NOT doing that again.
Thoughts?
Thanks!!
"Speciality is for insects." -Robert Heinlen |
|
|
rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 4:54:56 PM
|
Anastasia,
Can you wait until later in the year and order chicks? Do you get regualr mail? How far off the grid are you? I'm not familiar with living off the grid. Do you have any acess to propane? You may be able to find a gas powered brooder...?
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
 |
|
|
willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 4:55:00 PM
|
They will need to be kept at at least 90 degrees for the first few weeks. You could try a hot water bottle but you be refilling it all day and I'm not sure it would work. You really need a constant heat source.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
|
|
|
|
mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 5:28:34 PM
|
I get mine in May...could you wait until then?
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
|
|
|
chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 5:44:07 PM
|
This may not be the answer you are looking for, but I do know of a family who kept the chickens in the house. In fact, they hatched them out in a big pot in the oven instead of using an incubator. I'm not sure if keeping them in the house is what you are looking for, but it would work if you could keep them close to your heat source (i.e. wood cookstove, fireplace, etc.)
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan
Deeperrootsfarm.etsy.com |
|
|
|
Anastasia
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Anastasia
Telkwa
BC
Canada
56 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 7:58:10 PM
|
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for all the posts. :) We waited until late May last time and still had them in the house for three weeks; we are lucky if we can transplant our garden outside by the end of May. Still somewhat frosty at night.
We have solar panels, a wind tower, and a propane powered generator but the heat lamp draws so much that the genny would be running a lot, which gets expensive. The propane brooder is an idea...I'll look into that.
Cannot imagine having them in the oven! We have a 22-month old son and chances are good that we'd end up with chick-fricassee... ;)
I think I heard something about shipping as late as the end of June, maybe I'll just have to be patient and try that. They still need heat though. Ah, for a broody hen!!!
"Speciality is for insects." -Robert Heinlen |
|
|
|
Chives
True Blue Farmgirl
232 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
Washington
USA
232 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 8:30:07 PM
|
| We use to put our chicks in house next to the wood stove. Everyone was happy. Vicki |
|
|
|
Anastasia
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Anastasia
Telkwa
BC
Canada
56 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2010 : 8:33:42 PM
|
Hi Vicki,
We tried that the first year but the noise, smell, and heat off the wood stove drove us crazy. Maybe we could put them next to the basement wood stove and keep the upstairs windows open...Hmmmmm. Would be better than the main wood stove in the living room!!! That might just work.
Cheers,
Anastasia :)
"Speciality is for insects." -Robert Heinlen |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: Raising chicks without power |
|
Raising chicks without power
