Hey, Hate to be a spoiled sport here, but unless someone has actually managed to leave their chickens for two weeks with no electricity to keep their water from freezing, I don't think our advice is all that helpful. Seriously, below freezing temps and nobody there to replace water? Coops shouldn't be closed up so tightly without ventilation since the ammonia in their feces can harm them. They need fresh air ventilation, as you stated, but they need water, too!
I know of no non electric chicken waterer heater. I have seen solar heaters for livestock, but in Alaska, is there even enough daylight for a solar heater to charge?
A generator running with an extension chord going into the coop would work, but again, how long will the fuel last? Two weeks is a long time and I don't have a clue how long a generator can run on one tank of fuel.
I think finding a friend to keep them in a heated garage is the best idea, or someone who can take them water daily or fill the fuel tank of a running generator.
Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
Spotsylvania, VA
On Oct 1, 2012, hilandken@aol.com wrote:
I totally agree with Kate! Not a good idea. The fumes alone are toxic. There is a "clean kerosene" heater you can pick up from the big box stores. It's safe for in the home. BUT even still.. it has a flame & not recommended. Super insulate your coop, seal up any big drafts, plastic around your windows, place linoleum on the floor of the coop then multi-layer of bedding. Make sure you have some kind of vent open for fresh air..
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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