tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post7936682034833114483..comments2023-10-23T17:44:39.517-07:00Comments on Paratus Familia Blog: Off-Grid ChicksEnola Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12719123975236426938noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-74710304475928886712014-03-25T09:20:40.345-07:002014-03-25T09:20:40.345-07:00Thinking back to keeping stock tanks ice free (or ...Thinking back to keeping stock tanks ice free (or nearly so). There is an article by Jackie Clay (don't have the direct link) about the wood powered stock tank heaters that her husband made for their tanks. I believe the instructions are in her online blog at backwoodshome.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-49521656285872975772014-03-22T18:16:18.119-07:002014-03-22T18:16:18.119-07:00Very clever! Perhaps you should consider raising b...Very clever! Perhaps you should consider raising broody varieties who would do all that work for you. Landmark Rabbitryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04098006976326431020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-73141013925667345482014-03-21T22:33:12.117-07:002014-03-21T22:33:12.117-07:00Very neat ideas! I like the kerosene lamp idea a l...Very neat ideas! I like the kerosene lamp idea a lot... But I'd say the 'off grid' chick rearing was missing a very vital part.... where did the chicks come from? That wasn't off grid. Like another person posted hinting at a kerosene incubator... unless you have a way to incubate those little ones (and feed them without buying feed) off grid, they aren't really 'Off Grid Chicks". Almost there though. :\Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-66852309025484371082014-03-21T13:08:25.749-07:002014-03-21T13:08:25.749-07:00Thanks for the suggestions - we'll put them to...Thanks for the suggestions - we'll put them to use this spring with our first foray into chicks with no electricity!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-65927168481327197552014-03-19T20:23:40.905-07:002014-03-19T20:23:40.905-07:00I never thought about this before. Thank you for ...I never thought about this before. Thank you for your ingenuity.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-28177152838657936322014-03-19T09:36:23.319-07:002014-03-19T09:36:23.319-07:00An uncle of mine had a kerosene powered incubator/... An uncle of mine had a kerosene powered incubator/warmer-it heated copper tubes of water that were circulated by convection. The thing was made in 1916, and had been in pretty much continuous use since that that time(this was back in the mid 1980s)-their house had two 15 amp circuits (one claimed by the fridge), and they didn't have much amperage to spare.<br /> I wonder if one of those Peltier junction cooler/warmer gizmos would work(sold under the name of Koolatron)? Smaller models use about 5 amps at 12 volts(the one I saw was called Film Fridge, designed to keep film cool in pre-digital days, but it had a warming mode as well). The only moving part is a small computer type fan. In warming mode, they get up to around 95 or so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-24905772141793743132014-03-19T08:41:37.265-07:002014-03-19T08:41:37.265-07:00We have used the kerosene lantern very successful...We have used the kerosene lantern very successfully with chicks. When they were little, I made an aluminum foil "hat" with a wire fram that slipped over the lantern and kept the heat mostly under the hat. By the time the chicks were big enough to knock over the lantern, we moved them to an open wire cage where the lantern could be wired to the top to keep them from dumping it over. It's great that they only need brooding for about 4 -5 weeks. Of course I prefer to let the hens do it whenever possible and keep a group of game hens for just that purpose! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-50521411318898298892014-03-19T07:17:33.777-07:002014-03-19T07:17:33.777-07:00We have a few chicks under a 100 watt bulb right n...We have a few chicks under a 100 watt bulb right now. I had never thought about how to start chicks with no electricity but it is a very good thing you have taught us!stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-34103107521011027572014-03-18T21:24:09.923-07:002014-03-18T21:24:09.923-07:00Hello, I am enjoying your blog. A very interesting...Hello, I am enjoying your blog. A very interesting read.<br /><br />For chick or other chilled animals I have also heated a brick in the wood stove oven, and wrapped it in a towel. It might be a little safer than the lantern when the chicks start getting full of themselves and trying to fly around the box. You will need to change the brick for a warm one every few hours. Seems like they last about 6 or 8 hours before they cool down if I remember right. I honestly never thought about the lantern, but that is a good one as well. Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294304458677955232.post-68059022949079156492014-03-18T21:14:30.401-07:002014-03-18T21:14:30.401-07:00When we lived off the grid in the CA mtns., I put ...When we lived off the grid in the CA mtns., I put a gallon milk jug of hot water in with the chicks and covered their box with a blanket. They huddled up and the water stayed warm enough all night. Never lost any and they grew up to be very cold hardy. Diananoreply@blogger.com