How to Brood Chickens Without Electricity
$30
4 Hours
Easy
This last spring I finished building our chicken coop and ordered 50 baby chickens that needed a brooder. I know how to brood chickens, but I had never done it without electricity. So I started looking online to see what others were doing. There was a lot of great information about brooding chickens, but it struck me how dependent everyone has become on electricity for brooding them. I felt as if I had to rediscover how it was done a hundred years ago.
These baby chicks enjoying the warmth.
ith some research and trial and error, I’ve come up with my own method for brooding chickens without electricity. The common items are a small fountain and a feeder. I use one quart sizes so they do not take up much room in the container. The next thing needed is a plastic box. I use a 30 gallon Sterilite plastic container with about an inch of wood shavings.
20th century brood heater
The best option I found was just a small kerosene lantern which I mounted to a 2 x 6 piece of wood to make it heavier so the baby chickens would not knock it over. When the lantern is full it will burn for about ten hours. With just a small flame the lantern gives off an adequate amount of heat, but it can also be regulated by adjusting the flame.
So what do you think? What would you do to raise chickens in a grid down situation? What if your homestead all of a sudden didn't have electricity? Do you want to read the rest of the article? Click the link to our website below! We have videos available too!
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