Winter without electricity in Alaska

[Wolfwoman]

AA - good idea, but I won't have the money for something like that this year. Plus with 30,000 output I could heat MY cabin with that. It's a bit much for a small coop, plus with the cost of propane over $4 a gallon... yeesh!!

I think if I let them go in and out they will be just fine... as I said my last batch was ok with just a pen and an upside down dog kennel.

What I'm looking for is enough heat and light to get eggs. Water can be given once a day and they can snack on snow the rest of the day as my last birds did.

ON, yes they can use snow as wild critters do, but to have them less stressed on thier bodies, additional water helps and that's my goal... EGGS in the winter...lol

 

[Wolfwoman]

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[MimiChick]

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It's sounding like you really are more concerned with getting them some additional light, rather than heat. You said solar could be an option, but it's too expensive to do anything major right now. How about one of the inexpensive solar lights (+/- $49) that you can get on line or at places like Costco? I know it would only give a small amount of light for a few hours on the kind of charge you could get in the winter, but that might be all you need.
I also would look into small propane devices. I know propane can be expensive, but for the small amount of time you would probably be using it, there might be something small and economical enough to provide both some light and some heat.
I really like the idea of hot stones from the fireplace/woodstove. You could rig something fireproof up to put them inside and put a waterer on top to keep from freezing. Won't solve the light problem, but would allow you some extra time between changing out water, and if it's near the nest boxes the eggs won't freeze as fast.
I think chickens can be just as winter hardy as any of the other winter birds we see every day so I wouldn't worry too much about that. And, I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to give them enough extra light to produce some eggs. It's just going to take a little creativity. Good luck.

 

[Keri78]

I second the underground coop idea. Here's some pics of my chicken tractors & barn this winter. This is NJ...so in no way could I ever begin to compare it to Alaska but you'll get the idea. The outside of the coops look a little scary but inside the chickens were nice and comfy.
No electric. The snow does provide great insulation. I used lots of hay in the runs and nesting boxes too. For water...I would take out a boiling hot pot of water once in the morning and once again at night. I use those heavy black rubber buckets from the tractor supply for feed & water b/c they stay flexable and are easy to empty when frozen. I would mainly just pour the hot boiling water right on top of the frozen water bucket and it would take some time before it would freeze back up solid again. The chickens would also peck at the snow to stay hydrated. I'd definitely recommend a roofed run(not a flat roof...go with a slaint or A frame style roof so you can easy sweep some of the snow off at times and it doesn't colapse the roof) this will give them a snow free area to stretch out and prevent them from going stir crazy. I think you'll be just fine!

 

[WhetzelMomma]

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Maybe you could place a double insulated window on the south side of the coop? That would provide more light, and not require electricity... Mind you. This is coming from someone that has never stepped FOOT in Alaska.

 

[EHaus]

This has been great! I just moved to Anchorage this summer, and I found out that we can have 3 hens in the backyard here. I've been researching ways to keep chickens here during the winter months, and found this thread. Now I and my husband can build a suitable coop. Thank you and good luck!

 

[Ohhhdear]

I've been reading that it's 14 hours daylight chickens need to keep producing eggs, which is why my friends run a cord with a 25 watt light bulb out to their coop in the late fall and until the daylight hours lengthen enough to remove it. They use a timer and adjust it weekly so they get the 14 hours the chickens need to keep laying. They hang it from the inside roof peak so it doesn't get pecked or come in contact with flammables.

 

[sammileah]

build it like a solar green house. south side windows/clear plastic. reflective surfaces to reflect light and heat. black water jugs to hold in heat.
building it in the ground will help warmth and compost pile (like a hot box) really will.
generator?

 

[Wolfwoman]

No solar here much. Alaska = 3-4 hours of sunlight that is dusky, not sunny.

We have a generator and will be doing an inverter/battery bank - so maybe I can run a low wattage light out there.

 

[tiki244]

Solar panels wont do much good without the sun. But I do know someone who heats her coop with a small wood stove. She just built the seperate pens around the heater so the chickens cant get to it. They all have plenty of room and are toasty warm.