Winter without electricity in Alaska

[Wolfwoman]

I'll try and answer all questions/comments as I can... this one will be the only one I have to 'silly quote'.
Quote:
Really? Who gives a hoot one way or another! REALLY!


There isn't much wind where my cabin is, so that helps with the wind issue as far as the cold. There will be plenty of snow, so I may go with that option and shovel all the extra snow around the coop, as yes I do know it makes a great insulator.

There is enough sun here in the winter for some solar (and certain panels are better here), however, I don't have the money for that right now. That will actually be something I look into next year.

Not enough wind and no streams where I'm at, so that's not an option.

Any hay or straw bales I get will be used for the coop and the 8 dogs... they cost too much to put up for insulation.


Thanks for the links

This is why I'm moving: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=392683

I will have a phone line and internet, I am not moving to the bush, just 7 miles from the road system and the electric stops 800 feet from my place. I have to have internet as that's how I make money off my fur hats and mittens

I have had chickens up there before when I hadn't a clue on how to take care of chickens. They had a chicken wire pen and an upside down dog kennel to live in and they did just fine. However, we didn't get any eggs from them and that's what I'm trying to do.

Keep on firing ideas!

 

[WallTenters]

I would build a well insulated coop, with a run area that is covered (not just with a tarp, I mean at least a lean-to or other permanent/semi-permanent area that will hold up under the snow). They should be fine, with an outside area that is not covered in snow and a nice warm coop to go in at night.

I think investing in insulation and double walls for your coop will make a huge difference, as well as a pop-open ventilation door near the roofline that you can open during the day to keep ventilation good. You could also leave it open at night during the warmer.. month...

For water... we (in our plans of going completely off grid) considered putting our compost pile up against one side of the coop, so that there was insulation and at least some heat generated all winter. The chooks would also have access to the pile in their run so they could help break it down. You wouldn't want to leave it all summer, because of the heat down here, but in Alaska you'd probably be okay, maybe use predator flies to keep the flies down. In our grand scheme, there would be a large narrow tube set all against that warm wall, we'd fill the tube with water, and that would be enough water for at least a day. Basically there'd be a pipe running between the layers of the wall - does that make sense? You'd have to insulate the pipe, and then place it inside the insulation you put in your wall, with a fill valve coming out near the top. There'd also be a pressure release right there with the fill valve, to hopefully prevent the pipes from breaking.

My biggest fear would be the animals. I think a good strong hot wire fence charger (battery run, probably stored inside the house with an underground wire going out to the coop, to keep the battery working) would be the best bet. I would wire my place up like fort knox if I was in Alaska - the bears would be sizzling by the time they made it through! I mean, three or four different wire sets, run 10' apart, with sixteen strands per set, so if they make it through the first fence they've still got two more to go. My place would hum me to sleep at night!

Do you have any way of recharging a battery bank? Moving water close by? You said there's not much wind, but maybe you could find a spot with enough. I don't think solar would be your best bet. You can even make a steam-powered system with the heat of your wood stove heating water, which powers an alternator to charge the batteries.

Keep in touch! Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[bobbi-j]

As I'm sure you know, your chickens will need a certain amount of light each day for you to get eggs. I have a heat lamp over the water dish for my chickens during the winter and have always gotten more eggs in the winter than in the summer. Mainly because they free range in the summer and I don't find them.... Anyway, I realize the heat lamp isn't an option for you, but I would think that if you could find a way to provide them with enough light, you'll get your eggs. I live in MN, so we do have more light in the winter than you do, but not enough natural light for them to lay well. Good luck!

 

[Wolfwoman]

WallTenters, all good suggestions, thank you

I like the compost idea a lot.

I had forgotten about the amount of light needed for eggs... I may be able to run a low wattage light to the coop from the battery bank. We'll see how that works out.

 

[JROOSTER]

Hi I just wanted to say my Mother and Stepfather live in a cabin in Alaska out in the bush. My brother who lives in Anchorage got this crazy idea to bring a bunch of turkeys chickens and phesants out to them. They let them all free range. They did good all summer but the bears liked to come around and eat a few. When the winter came they all had to be killed. Why you ask. Well my mother said thier was nothing for them to eat for the winter and my mother and step were not going to feed them and they were pooping all over the deck. So my advice is make your coop BEAR PROOF!!!

 

[Wolfwoman]

I will have 6 dogs outside to warn me of any critters that come around. That's one of the reasons I've never worried about my chickens being in a PVC tractor where I'm at now. Critters just don't come around with that many dogs present for the most part.

 

[redhen]

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Good idea about the snow wind break around the coop! I bet that would really help!
About the water.. i dont know.. i think you'll just have to keep a few extra waters always full by your fireplace/heat.. and make several trips daily outside to ensure they always have water to drink.. Something like that?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Check this out: http://www.strombergschickens.com/products/brooders.php

It's a bottled gas brooder, the kind your grandparents used, essentially! (I've seen ads for them in some of the really old poultry gazettes and such.)

This one sounds improved for safety and such:

Canopy is 34" in diameter. Hanging bracket included. Ceramic radiant heating element, with windproof pilot. Sensitive temperature element has long life, no wafers to replace. Has 100% safety shutoff for safe operation. No other brooding method is as economical. Broods up to 700 chicks, heating a 12 foot circle. 30,000 BTU output. Reflects Infra-red rays throughout the brooding area. Assures dry litter, reduced chick mortality. Weight 18 lbs. Does NOT
include Tank, Hose or Regulator.
Specify LP or Natural Gas.

I would think you could use it for adult birds in very cold weather, and it should be fairly economical, especially if it was only for the coldest weather.

I would look into other propane/gas equipment too. I've found some great directions for a kerosene lamp incubator I am itching to try, for example. I think these various oil and gas methods were pretty much what the old timers used when they needed to. These things are still available, and improved, you just have to look for them.

I'm not planning an elaborate set-up for my birds, but there will be a single heat lamp over their water dish. Per Deb's recommendation, all of my roosts are 2x4 so the birds can sit on their feet and keep them warm. My coop will not be insulated, but if you're not going to have a heat lamp in there you will probably want to insulate.

Other than that, I plan on keeping the ammonia down with frequent airings on the warmer days and selecting heavily for hardy birds.

Edited to add that I'm also going to be doing the deep litter method with DT in hopes of the waste creating some heat. This, of course, makes ventilation even more important! Talked to a guy that said he lost his whole flock to ammonia poisoning last winter. It absolutely disgusted me.​

 

[redhen]

Make your chickens some little fur saddles??

..maybe some ear muffs and snow boots too...

 

[Organics North]

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What are other peoples experience.?. For me::: If I go through the trouble of keeping water liquid in winter it seems the birds really do not drink it. While still in the run they go nuts for the snow on our boots, and once outside the seem to prefer snow and ice crystals over liquid water?? We always have plenty of snow cover.. So no shortage of water for the birds...


SO who just lets their birds drink snow and ice during winter? After all thats what all wildlife does...

ON