Okay, so I need to see if I can come up with some creative way to provide heat that I'm not thinking of... or someone to tell me I'm out of luck and there isn't a crazy scheme that will work for what I'd like to do. Either way.
So, I already have an established flock of 5 orpington hens and an Ameraucana rooster in my coop. I'm getting ready to incubate a couple more orpington eggs this weekend. We lost 2 of our girls while attempting to free range. One word - hawks. Anyway, after putting some thought into it, I'd really like to be able to brood the babies outdoors alongside the bigger gals in the coop. I have the space to create a brooder area, all of the typical brooder supplies, heating plate, etc... but what I DON'T have, is electricity.
Our coop/run is not in our backyard anymore, it's across the street on our 10 acre property that we purchased a few months ago. We're planning on building a house there in the next year, but until then - no power. So what's the best way to go about this? Obviously the chicks need heat, and it's winter. Although, when I say "winter" I mean highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s - it's Central Florida. We typically skip winter and substitute it with bearable temperatures and a couple of almost freezing temps thrown in there for a few days.
I've always been done brooding inside, but integration sounds a heck of a lot easier to start them where they can see the other chickens. How soon can the chicks be without heat in the coop? Is there a way to rig up something to provide enough electricity to power a small heat plate (Brinsea Eco Glow.) What about a solar panel? A battery power source? Give up and brood them inside?
So, I already have an established flock of 5 orpington hens and an Ameraucana rooster in my coop. I'm getting ready to incubate a couple more orpington eggs this weekend. We lost 2 of our girls while attempting to free range. One word - hawks. Anyway, after putting some thought into it, I'd really like to be able to brood the babies outdoors alongside the bigger gals in the coop. I have the space to create a brooder area, all of the typical brooder supplies, heating plate, etc... but what I DON'T have, is electricity.
Our coop/run is not in our backyard anymore, it's across the street on our 10 acre property that we purchased a few months ago. We're planning on building a house there in the next year, but until then - no power. So what's the best way to go about this? Obviously the chicks need heat, and it's winter. Although, when I say "winter" I mean highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s - it's Central Florida. We typically skip winter and substitute it with bearable temperatures and a couple of almost freezing temps thrown in there for a few days.
I've always been done brooding inside, but integration sounds a heck of a lot easier to start them where they can see the other chickens. How soon can the chicks be without heat in the coop? Is there a way to rig up something to provide enough electricity to power a small heat plate (Brinsea Eco Glow.) What about a solar panel? A battery power source? Give up and brood them inside?
