HELP!! Scheduled power outage...

[debryman]

We were given notice of a scheduled power outage on Thursday and Friday of this week. They will happen sometime between 12:00 & 4:00 in the afternoon. Last time this happened it ended up lasting less than an hour. BUT - they could last the whole four hours. My week old chicks are in our garage with their heat lamp. Our outside temps during the day have been around 40s to 50s - the garage around 50s to 60s. How lo can the temp get for the babies and how long can they stay at that. I really don't know what to do except cover the top with blankets so as little heat escapes as possible. Any suggestions on what to do or encouragement that they should be okay would be greatly appreciated...

Here is our brooder which we actually keep a blanket over at night.

 

[Higins00]

I would put a heated water bottle in there and cover well but you have to let air in. I use hand warmers to keep eggs warm but a chick might peck the bag open and eat the insides ( not good) Maybe put them in a box in your house for the 4 hours.

 

[Judy]

They can cool off and still hatch. I've had broodies get on the wrong nest and let eggs cool, and still have them hatch. You could use some kind of heat sink, may be flat tupperware type containers filled with hot water, and blankets over them.

 

[Olive Hill]

Do you have a power inverter? Plug the heat lamp into one of your vehicles.

If you don't have one you can get one for $20-$40 at you nearest big box store.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
They're live chicks, not hatching eggs. LOL! I thought the same thing at first. Must be close to time for bed.

 

[debryman]

I guess I should have also said that I will be at work for three of those hours each day...

Will they be okay if the temp gets down around 70 for a couple of hours?

 

[MissJenny]

I would cover only half the top with blankets -- something about getting fresh air is better than no air.

The hot water bottle idea is a good one. If you use your car cigarette lighter, be sure to vent the exhaust outside.

My suggestion would be to heat bricks in the oven and wrap them in a towel so the chicks can't burn themselves. I did this in my coop when it first started getting cold this winter and it worked really well. It is better to have an above heat source, but a "below" heat source is better than none.

Best of luck... let us know what you do and what works.

Jenny

 

[Judy]

OOPS. I thought eggs, too. Makes it much better. They will be fine, I promise you. They'll stay warm running around.

My broody raised chicks have been in a breezy coop without heat since hatch, which was during a cold snap of 15/45-50 for a couple of weeks. Since about day 2 they haven't even been under mama except at night. Chicks are MUCH hardier than we sometimes think.

 

[debryman]

Quote:
When we cover at night we usually leave a 12" x 12" opening above the lamp corner. You think I should leave more open at night?

 

[Arielle]

Wow--a planned power outage; it creates a challenge but hopefully it will all go well with plenty of good practical suggestions. The heated brick is a classic heat sink; it is heated in the oven I suppose. Another heat sink of sorts is heated rice. The white rice will do. We tend to pour the rice into an athletic sock making a fat sausage of sorts and microwave it for3 minutes for a large well filled sock. It will feel very hot to the touch so you'll want to place a towel over it or perhaps bury it into the bedding. You can do several. Wish you well--keep us posted.