Raising Chicks Off Grid: No Electricity Brooder Update

[@WoodchuckNorris.8o]

A very clever solution to an off grid dilemma! Thank you for sharing this

[@chriskelly5087]

Great information. Our power went of for a few hours in NY and the hot water heat source was very helpful and the chicks loved it. Thank u 😊

[@winifredthompson2488]

Love your video rearing chickens. I notice that you said 250 watt bulb for heat. I put two teaches ts together and used a 50 watt bulb to generate heat. It is a good idea to have a thermometer to control heat. I always set my heat about 3 days before I got the chickens, so I knew what to do to control the heat better, like put a blanket on top of the box to increase heat, or remove it to decrease heat. chickens day old need a temperature of 90 degrees week 1. 80 degrees week 2. 70 degrees week 3. week 4 they can be taken off heat, depending on climatic conditions at t the time. I reared as many as 100 chickens from day old and I only lost 1 bird, and 2 birds another time. I bought a good quality chickens crumb from the start and always gave them clean water, this is very important. A lovely way to rear chickens if you can come across a broody hen, you can put her on Delph eggs, or ordinary eggs for about two weeks, then buy your day old chickens, and put the chickens underneath her when it is dark, add a few broken egg shells, and she will think she has hatched them herself, and really look after them. A rode island hen could take about 12 chickens, a leg horn about 8 to 10 chickens. It really is lovely to watch the mother hen rear the little chickens and mother them. Hope this information helps someone out there.

[@JoshuaSmithHomesteader]

The chicks are doing great!! I have 48 ameraucana eggs ready to hatch out under two turkey hens sunday or monday. Got to love the chicks. Cheers!!!

[@StarryHilder]

Joshua Smith Wow thats alot of chickens. Out of curiosity why did you get so many? Do you sell them or the eggs? Where do they are live? Whats your setup??

[@JoshuaSmithHomesteader]

Well!! I bought bourbon red turkey poults last summer. 3 girls and a boy. This jan the girls started laying. Everything was looking good for a springtime hatch to raise some out for meat, and to sell some poults. Then two hens went broody before they could even give me fertile eggs. So I figured if they want to sit, The can make some money. 48 ameraucana eggs for 60 bucks turns into 480 bucks for baby chicks. And it will kick them out of being broody. I am also raising light sussex chickens for meat. They come from true north hatchery in British Columbia. They are a nice looking meat bird for a heritage. I have raised lots of those white meat birds you have. But I am heading in the direction of real taste and natural reproduction, hence the red bourbons and the light sussex. Cheers!!

[@StarryHilder]

You got the right idea! what a good money maker! We may have to consider this to! Very smart stuff!! Keep us posted on how all comes out!

[@grannyandgrandadshomestead3711]

When our children were young they did 4-h and had baby chicks. We got to watch them grow and produce eggs. They were our pets! We could hold them, and carry them. Our son had one that would get on his shoulder.We have video of this. They would lay eggs everywhere, we would find loads of eggs in a pile. Their eggs were always good, never any that would hatch. Only when we had two to four chickens left did we get about 3 babies, but then something happened and they died. Some dogs got some of them, hawks or some other animal got some of them. They would eat what ever we gave them. They loved pop corn, (Popped). They gave us eggs, so we let them live till they died, then we buried them. We now have Grand children, so I hope soon we can get more chicks and they can raise them and learn all about them. Hopefully soon we will all be moving to live on the same property and really get back to homesteading, and off the grid living. Take care and God Bless .

[@lvrida]

how often do you have to change the water to keep them warm?

[@monkeyguy80]

Hi, I'm David from Singapore & I'm a fish hobby guy but keen to bred chicks too & therefore I've a questions to ask u abt chicks before I buy & hatched myself! 1) if I buy some eggs in the supermarket to put inside the incubator, is it will successfully hatch after 21days? 2) will I be able to hatched a Rooster too from the eggs I've bought in the supermarket after 21days? 3) after 72hrs no feed them, can small born chicks eats Live mealworms & pets bird's feeds???

[@bashhalow2729]

How do you get Internet service and power for the camera when you are off the grid?

[@Zulwind]

solar

[@ayanpasha5373]

What you are giving food for chiks

[@glasseverywhere]

Thats entertainment when you have cable or internet you can just sit and watch the chicks play and do their thing

[@keironphillip9276]

how long does the water stay warmed

[@annetterolonjimenez875]

I LOVE this! How often do you change the hot water in the plastic coffee cans?

[@StarryHilder]

we fill them with fresh hot water before before bedtime, then chnge them twice thru out the day. thanks so much for watching!!

[@JeanniePartin]

What breed are the meat chickens? Are they the cross x's? If so, where did you get them?

[@StarryHilder]

+Jeannie Partin I think they were cornish X meat chickens. Bought them from the feedmill

[@winifredthompson2488]

To Jenny. The meet chicken is really sold under the name of Chunky Chicks, they are hybrids specially bred to put on weight, If you buy these you can feed intensive and they will be ready for the table in 6 to 8 weeks. The way I reared them was to give them free range and just fed a good quality growers mash for about 10 to 12 weeks, free range. This gave the chi ken's time to grow and strengthen, I KEPT free range till the birds were about 4 months old, then I mashed them with good solid food, bread potatoes etc., and fed a finishing broiler ration as well. The birds ended up at weights of up to 12 to 15 lbs, and would have melted in your mouth the flavour was extraordinary. The secret was to let the birds grow and develop first before I put the weight on. Also these chickens got a little bit of the good life, and saw grass and sunshine,which the commercial breeders never gave them. One thing to remember is if you kill them yourself, and it is very simple if you learn to do it right, 1 second and the bird is dead, pluck it and hang it for 3 to 5 days before you clean it out and put it in the fridge. This will make the bird far more tender. Hope these little tips will help you. Thank you for reading this.

[@TheArtSherpa]

I am loving loving your channel its so awesome! Baby Chicks sooooooo cutes

[@StarryHilder]

The Art Sherpa Ahh thank you soo much! No time for painting..boohooo but lots of time for other fun chores like baby chicks!! I love them!!

[@thomasrobinet6874]

you can use a buggy soapstone for chicken water heater and brooding.they are flat and will sit on the stove .they will retain heat for hours.

[@JOEL20222]

Heating bulbs no?

[@LivingOFFTheMountain]

Glade to see their doing good.

[@StarryHilder]

LittleAce OfftheGrid they are pretty happy and spoiled

[@nataliestarbuck561]

How often does the water need to be changed to keep the temperature warm enough for them? Summer temps have been over 100! Does that make a difference?

[@ThomasShue]

store yogurt contains very little benefit for digestive track. The vinegar again very little probiotic effect. Spend 2 bucks and buy a product called Save A Chick Probiotic. This will help to develop a strong gut.

[@sipapito]

Question, do you have any problems with deer ticks and if you do how do you keep them away? I hear lots of people get lyme disease and well,kind of wonder how all of this preppers prevent this?

[@StarryHilder]

Cessna readyfortakeoff Yes lymes can be a issue with the amount of ticks! I use all natural protection such as peppermint, clove, cinnamon essential oils. The oils act as a good repellent without putting any of us at risk.

[@huntahdimmick1649]

how many times a day/night do you have to change the water.

[@normaaliciagarcia756]

I love chickens and baby chicks

[@ThunderMountainTactical]

Getting big!!

[@ADHomesteading]

Are they going to be yard chickens of are you going to keep them in a pen? If you keep them in a chicken run please cover the top so critters can't get at them.

[@StarryHilder]

Aaron Davis Been thinking of coup designs and the spot to where they will go. YES we are thinking of the flying predators to! yuck...dont like them at all!!

[@iramzakria4184]

cute!!!I love my pet chicks🐓🐔🐔3chicks I have

[@radicaljoe4574]

Never any doubt here y'all making it work. Could you keep a log of your expenses prior to butchering and convey that to the rest of us. Enjoyed the show. Thanks. Be safe.

[@StarryHilder]

radicaljoe WILL do!! i am curious about how it all pans out. BUT even if we wouldnt break even, the cost of raising something ourselves and controlling the food production does mean more to me in terms of health value then cost!! I will keep you posted

[@mj_preparernamaste4335]

Do you have a home made chicken Scratch recipe and feed also? I can't find non GMO variety. I'm a new chicken mommy and want to be a good one! Congrats on your brood.

[@StarryHilder]

MJ_Preparer Namaste I have been supplementing with lots of different foods, I am sprouting my what, using my carrots from last fall, organic greens. Its kinda like what I feed my dogs. I too want them to be as healthy and as non gmo as possible. Probiotics are great, apple cider in their water, making your own yogurt and feeding it to them, and good old fashion free ranging helps to!

[@1994abbygirl]

Who doesn't love baby chicks?? We have 6 Rhode Island Reds.. great egg layers. All but one is friendly. the other like to peck at us. But the others love to be petted and will jump up on our laps. As far as butchering at 8 weeks.. we found ours at 8 weeks rather small.. with little weight. Of course ours weren't for butchering.. but at 8 weeks I felt they were still to small. Maybe its just the breed! Happy chickening! LOL

[@StarryHilder]

1994abbygirl I cant wait to have my egg layers become my little friends! My husband is already calling me the chicken lady. The meat chicks thought..boohhoo at eight weeks they will be gone:( My husband said I better not get to attached to them.)

[@1994abbygirl]

Starry Hilder Many years ago I had no problems butchering chickens.. today I am a woos.. but in order to be called true homesteader's one must do what it takes to survive. Chickens I could watch all day..they are quite amusing. Did you get a rooster for your laying hens..if not I would suggest one or two.. nothing like making future babies for the homestead and hearing the rooster crow every morning! But, steer clear of Rhode Island Red roosters who can be quite terratorial..I really wanted Buff Orpingtons,as they are a friendlier breed and are great mothers but could not find them in my area! I wish you well!

[@StarryHilder]

Well you are right..on a homestead i guess we gotta do what we gotta do. My husband already warned me i will have to butcher half of them...ahhhhh:( I thought about a rooster...but wasnt sure. So thanks for the advice. I didnt know that about the road island reds!!! Thanks for the well wishes! How many chickens do you have now??

[@1994abbygirl]

Starry Hilder Just the 6 hens..we live in a small town.. No roosters allowed... Darnit!

[@springtrap3871]

so cute!i will also hatch eggs too! thanks to you!

[@BrantfordRealEstate]

Where can you get chickens

[@StarryHilder]

+Adam Marshall local co op and even thru the mail!

[@sheenathorne1321]

how r u keeping them warm

[@StarryHilder]

Hot water in a plastic coffee can!!

[@homegrowngagreen691]

Starry is going to need our help, she has been in a bad accident. Details are here: www.gofundme.com/starryhilder A GoFundMe page was started on her behalf. Even $1 would go a long way to help her during this crisis in her and her family's life. I created an email address that I will share with Starry and her family, they will receive 100% of the proceeds by using this address. I have listed the address at the hospital where you can send cards or care packages on the GoFundMe page if you prefer send something through the mail, just so everything is in one central location. Starry has a daytime job as a nurse and needs our support to help with bills and running her homestead while she is recovering. As you all know she also contributes immensely to her homestead's upkeep and her contribution will be missed. If everyone donates only $1 it will go a long way to help her keep things running. If you can't donate but still want to help, here is a poster you can print and share: tinyurl.com/j988m54 Here is a link to an update video she posted yesterday: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoXMnWN5n5KsgcU Thank you for anything you can do to help.

[@Ungovernable74]

Boy, he's tough, huh? I think we men are nearly impossible to live with. You should put him back on the roof with a buckskin :) Great flock you have there.

[@StarryHilder]

Carolina Prepper He wants to build a room out there! haha We love our new chicks, my husband has a chair out by the pen and watches them for entertainment. Better then you tube..almost:)

[@sheenathorne1321]

doesnt it get cold after a while

[@melissajones9245]

I use water succulent it works better than whatever

[@johnwarfield7742]

watch for the meat birds eating the wood shavings ... they will not survive if they do. Love your videos ...

[@StarryHilder]

John Warfield Will do..been cleaning alot of poop up to!

[@johnwarfield7742]

One womans poop is another gardeners fertilizer !!

[@OZARKCOTTONTOP]

Awwhhh!! sweet! I lost 5 chickens last week =( that has never happened to us before but I guess when they free range thats bound to happen from time to time =/

[@StarryHilder]

Ozark Cottontop oh im sorry you lost some chickens. Do you know what happened? Hawks? Coyotes? :(

[@OZARKCOTTONTOP]

BetweenTheSaddleN Sage WOW! Thats terrible !

[@OZARKCOTTONTOP]

Starry Hilder one lost her head with a little red bird head laying in its place 0.o' the others just vanished =/ so I am thinking opossum ,skunk etc but not sure about the others =(

[@ahemadshaikh6036]

i have chicks too and i have them when i was 3 year when he died we buyed more and today too i have chicks

[@samstevens7888]

Ru sure ur gonna be able to kill them?

[@StarryHilder]

Sam Stevens boohohoooo no!

[@354133]

Brooders should be round, not square. keeps them from crushing each other in the corners.

[@StarryHilder]

Mika Lee great tip! thank you!

[@VictorCruz-ve2ge]

+Starry Hilder very true, I lost 2 cause of that

[@BoggiFroggy]

Feed them all to the crocodiles I say.

[@sheenathorne1321]

ok

[@joedirt7303]

I raise meat birds for profit and personal use. If you dont specify what you want it will be a straight run you get. In my experiance its pointless to get pullets. The cornishx cant breed on there own because of the breeding and the females are to small. i order all cocks and raise them to around 7-8 lbs and put them in the freezer. this usually takes 6-8 weeks. Do not feed medicated feed to your brds. All you are doing is killing off any good flora the birds have which will cause pasty butts and can kill your birds. Also instead of giving them probiotics place some manure from mature birds in with the chicks. as they forage around they will pick some of it up and this will develop good bacterial cultures in their system. that is a better and more natural way the chicks get what they need.

[@StarryHilder]

joe dirt THANKS for the good advice. Been doing some sprouting to and creating my own fodder system. do you do this to also? Thought I would get a real system going to save on feed and improve the nutrients they are getting. also doing raw goat milk and yogurt and veggie scrapes! they are getting huge now!! Poop alot!! haha. They are outside now 24/7...they all fit into a wood box..for their coop but its getting crowded so must do something different..any suggestions??

[@joedirt7303]

Starry Hilder I actually purchase a high protein mix from my local grain mill and they get that up to the last 2 weeks i keep them. Then I lower the protein and increase the fat to bulk them up. But be careful Cornish cross have weak legs, once they get over 8lbs they can beak their legs. I've seen it in several birds its horrible on them. But as for the food issue what you are doing for supplement is great, it should help you keep feed cost down as I'm sure you know gets pricey with these birds, they eat none stop lol. I have at any 1 time over 200-300 birds so for me it's just easier to buy my feed, but i get a decent price per ton. Another thing to remember is each bird will consume 8-10lbs of food in its 6-8 weeks of life if you decide to put them in the freezer at that time. For space remember this, each adult bird needs 1 sq foot of space to be comfortable. Since you have them outdoors now 24/7 you can go a bit smaller if need be but not much. Regardless the birds will pile on each other to stay warm so make sure to keep the water bottles in the coop. Hope this helps, I know my operation is a bit different and on a large scale but the basics are all the same. Also if i can't stress enough stay away from the medicated feed, It is loaded with antibiotics and just not good for the birds. Do the pro biotics immediately and better yet place the manure from mature birds in the brooders. Only time I would ever consider medicated feed is if the birds get sick and even then I've found a increase of pro biotics and plenty of fresh water does the trick.

[@StarryHilder]

Wow your the master!!!!! Lots of good info!! Over 200-300 birds!! Thats incredible!!! Thanks so so so much for all the great stuff!! Master Chicken Man!!

[@joedirt7303]

lol You are welcome and if you have any more questions feel free to hit me up.