3 hour power outtage - ACK!

[Paganbird]

Our power just came on after being out for almost 3 hours. Wouldn't ya know it... I have 6 peacock eggs in the 'bator.
I went out to the barn to get the generator, but I never had to get the generator out before (my husband usually does these things) and I didn't realize how heavy that thing is. I struggled with it for like a half hour until a neighbor drove by. I flagged down the neighbor (in the rain, in my jammies) and he helped me put it on the trailer.
So then I start the lawn tractor and make a horrible attempt to back out of the barn with the generator on the trailer. It only took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to get out, but then I had to drive down the road to the house (in the rain, in my cold, wet jammies.)
So I get to the house, find an extension cord, plug in the bator and... "how the (expletive) do you turn this thing on?"
I call my husband who, in turn, explains the generator and I get it started.
I go in the house to make sure the 'bator is working and temp says 79.9. AAAAHHHHHH!!!

So it takes FOREVER for the temp to go back up and I'm really ticked. I'm on day 6. Tomorrow night I have 15 random chicken eggs and 9+ silkie eggs going in with the peacocks to coordinate the hatch. I'm gonna candle on day 10 and if there's nothing, I'm gonna cry.
I reeeeeeally want these peafowl to hatch!!
Not to mention, my husband will kill me if I don't get at least one chick... those eggs aren't cheap!

 

[quiltnchik]

Our power was out for 3-1/2 hours last night and my son grabbed the power inverter out of the laptop case, plugged it into the cig lighter in my truck, then grabbed the 'bator and plugged it up inside my truck until our power came back on. You might want to consider buying an inverter (Best Buy has them); it has to be easier than dragging out a generator. Let us know what you find when you candle your eggs - I've got my fingers crossed for you

 

[Paganbird]

OMG... I feel so stupid right now. The truck is only about 20 feet away from the window of the room with the incubator. And we have a power inverter sitting on the floor of the truck.
I have never had to use it before, so I guess that's why I didn't think of it. My husband uses it a lot, I wonder why he didn't mention it.
Oh well, I'll know for next time.
I am so frustrated right now... I want to kick myself. And I want to cry. Maybe I'll go kick myself until I cry. *sigh*
Thanks for wishing me luck... I'm gonna need it.

 

[dancingbear]

3 hours isn't all that long. If they were ok to begin with, they're probably fine. The air cools faster than the eggs, so when the air temp was 79.9 (that's only 1/10 of a degree below 80, the inside of the eggs was probably still about 85 or so. As soon as the temp went up just a little they'd have stopped cooling, and started warming back up.

For future reference, you can put a blanket over the 'bator for a few hours to keep the temp from dropping so much, too.

I know pea eggs are a little hard to hatch to begin with, but really, lots of people have had eggs survive much worse than that.

Good luck, try not to fret too much, candle on day 10 and tell us what you see. I hope you have 6 healthy little peas in there! Peachicks are just one of the cutest things on earth! Those tiny little head-dress crown feathers...

 

[Paganbird]

Thanks for all the support. I was just venting, I guess.
I'm really stressed about hatching the peacocks in general. I've been so careful with the temp and humidity... I guess the power outtage sent me over the edge!
It wasn't helping that I got an order of 42 day old chickens & turkeys yesterday (only 13 are mine) and no one else would come pick up their chicks.
So I'm babysitting chicks and turkeys and the power goes out & I'm messing with the incubator & chicks are peepin' & turkeys are peepin' cause their heat lamps are out!
The cold rain didn't help my mood either!
I'm doing better now, thanks.
A hot shower and a nice cup of tea... *sigh*
Everythings gonna work out just fine.

 

[dancingbear]

A hot shower and a cup of tea helps a lot of things! Good luck!

 

[joebryant]

Some friends of mine went through several weeks in northern Kentucky without power during an ice storm. That induced me to purchase the following. I now have it set up with two connection boxes and another connection of the transfer switch with ten connections that were installed by an electrician this week.



GENERATOR (BUYING ONE FOR MY HOME)



To calculate the number of watts my home would need, I used Briggs and Stratton’s Wattage Reference guide:

http://consolidatedelectric.coop/pdf/wattage_worksheet1.pdf

From this I determined the following:
Watts for Needed Highest surge

Light bulbs and misc. 2000

Freezer 500
Refrigerator 800 1600

Furnace fan 800



Microwave 1000

Coffee maker 1500 1500 (Use only one of these four at a time.)

Stove (one burner) 1500

Dishwasher (hot dry) 1500



Computer and misc. 1000

TV and DVD 600



TOTAL 7,200 + 1600 = 8,800 SURGE WATTS





After much research I decided on the following generator ($999.00 from Tractor Supply)




Briggs30242 generatorBRIGGS & STRATTON Elite 6200 - 11HP, 6200 Watt OHV Intek engine ( 30242 )


Here’s why:
If you need portable generators to provide the ultimate in performance and comfort, then Briggs & Stratton is on your side! The Elite 6200 line is powered by a cutting-edge 11-horsepower Briggs OHV Intek motor, good for 6,200 continuous and an impressive 8,750 surge watts of appliance-running muscle during an emergency. Quick-access fuel gauge tells you at a glance where your tank stands. Expect these portable generators to yield 13 hours or more of operation at ½ load with standard long-run time fuel cell. Electric start comes complete with battery and cables. These gasoline portable generators also include full circuit-breaker protection, U.S.D.A.-approved spark arrestor, and weather-safe control panel to shield your outlets from water and debris.

· Electric-start system complete with battery

· Weather-safe control panel protects outlets in severe conditions

· 10-inch rubber tires on pneumatic “free-rolling” rims

· SuperSilencer muffler ideal for residential needs

· Patented PowerSurge alternator gives these portable generators motor-starting force

· Automatic voltage regulator guards against undesired surges





· ENGINE: Cutting-edge 11 hp Briggs & Stratton OHV Intek engine

· CONTINUOUS WATTS: 6,200

· SURGE WATTS: 8,750

· RUN TIME(1/2 load): 13 hours

· FUEL TYPE: Pump gas

· FUEL-TANK CAPACITY: 7.0 gallons

· NUMBER OF OUTLETS: 5

· Four 20 amp 120 volt straight-blade circuit-breaker protected AC outlets (NEMA 5-20R)

· One 30 amp 120/240 volt twist-lock circuit-breaker protected AC outlet (NEMA L14-30R)

· Standard low-oil shut-down

· OHV engine configuration extends life while lowering emissions

· Electric start with easy-motion recoil backup

· Battery & cables included in purchase price

· Weather-safe control panel with full circuit-breaker protection

· Outlet-panel weather protection keeps outlets dry & debris-free

· Standard 2-wheel dolly & collapsible handle kit sports silver pneumatic rims

· Pneumatic rims & 10-inch rubber all-weather tires guaranteed to handle any surface

· Pneumatic wheels built to be free-rolling for easy transport

· Collapsible handles for mega-smooth storage

· Cherry-red rectangular-tubed frame with flat-black fuel cell & trim, silver-grey steel rims

· Tough paint finish resists abrasions & climate

· CARB/EPA-approved clean-combustion powerplant

· Patented Dura-Bore cast-iron cylinder sleeve for improved wear & life span

· Briggs exclusive SuperSilencer muffler, designed for use with Intek engine, offers ultra-quiet operation

· Engine & muffler combination makes these portable generators perfect for residential emergency needs

· U.S.D.A.-sanctioned spark arrestor for added safety

· Quick-access fuel gauge gives you accurate reading at a glance

· Briggs PowerSurge alternator provides optimum surge power without affecting engine life

· Automatic voltage regulation shields your home appliances from damaging power surges

· Standard long-run time fuel cell good for 13 plus hours @ ½ load

· 32.5in.L x 18.5in.W x 24in.H

· 198 lbs. dry weight

 

[LA~Poulet]

We had an hour and a half outage yesterday during a freak thunder/hailstorm (in Louisiana, in June) I've only seen hail here perhaps 3x in my entire life, and never in a non-winter month.

My 'bator got down to 88 at the end, I hope the eggs stayed warmer inside.