Sponsored Post I'm incubating - what do I do if the power goes out?

[JenniO11]

This post is sponsored by Brinsea

What if the power goes off!? Will my incubating eggs be damaged?

This is a question frequently asked by anxious breeders particularly in the summer, usually after a power outage caused by an unexpected thunderstorm.

​

Cooling is an entirely natural process as most birds will get off the nest at least once a day and leave the eggs unheated for a significant time. It is a surprising fact that although eggs must have very stable temperatures to incubate successfully, periodic cooling can be a good thing and far from harming the development of chicks, can actually lead to more successful hatching. For this reason Brinsea have now incorporated a cooling option in all of their Advance and EX models of egg incubators for 2012.
But controlled periodic cooling for an hour or so every day is very different from an unexpected loss of power for much longer periods of time. The measures to remedy the situation and limit damage to the embryos will depend on the age of the embryo, the temperature range it is exposed to and the duration of that exposure.

The five Incubation Temperature Zones:
Research carried out by a number of scientists over many years identified five temperature zones each of which is characterized by its major effect on the
developing embryo. These zones are not clear cut. There is some overlapping.
Zone of heat injury

Zone of hatching potential

Zone of disproportionate
development

Zone of suspended
development

Zone of cold injury



Zone of heat injury (above 40.5°C/104.9°F)
At continuous temperatures above 40.5°C (104.9°F) no embryos would be expected to hatch. However the effect of short periods of high temperature is not necessarily lethal. Embryos up to 6 days are particularly susceptible, older embryos are more tolerant.

Zone of hatching potential (35 - 40.5°C/104.9 - 84.5°F)
Within this range there is the possibility of eggs hatching. The optimum (for hens) is 37.8 °C (100.4°F). Above this temperature hatches will be reduced and the number of unhealthy and deformed chicks will increase.
Continuous temperatures within this range but below the optimum slow development and increase mortalities. However it is again evident that early embryos are more susceptible to continuous slightly low temperatures than older embryos.

Zone of disproportionate development (27 - 35°C/80.6 - 95°F)
Eggs kept above 27°C (80.6°F) will start to develop but some parts of the embryo will develop faster than others and some organs may not develop at all. Below 35°C (95°F) no embryo is likely to survive to hatch. Typically the heart is much enlarged and the head development more advanced than the trunk and limbs.

The temperature at the lower end of this range is sometimes referred to as ‘Physiological zero’ - the threshold temperature for embryonic development. Unfortunately different organs appear to have different thresholds resulting in an unviable embryo.

Zone of suspended development (-2°C - 27°C/28.4 - 80.6°F)
Below about 27°C (80°F) no embryonic development takes place. Prior to incubation, eggs must be stored in this temperature range (preferably around 15°C/59°F).

Zone of cold injury ( -2°C/28.4°F)
Below this threshold ice crystals will start to form in the egg and permanently damage may be done to internal structures. Eggs may lie for some considerable time in temperatures close to freezing without suffering damage.

So in practice what should I do?

​

• If the eggs are newly set the best plan is to cool them fairly quickly down to 5 - 20°C (44 - 68°F) and hold them in this range - put them in the fridge!
  
• Avoid maintaining eggs in early stages of incubation for long periods of time in the ‘zone of disproportionate development’ (27 - 35°C/80.6 - 95°F). This will result in a large number of deaths and abnormalities.
  
  
• If power loss occurs when the eggs are near hatching, incubator temperature is less critical, but severe chilling will cause mortalities. It is preferable therefore to limit heat loss by keeping the incubator shut and raising the temperature of the room if possible. The metabolic heat from the embryos will keep them warm for quite a long time.
  
• Avoid subjecting the eggs to over-temperature at any time but particularly in the early days of incubation.

Remember that incubator thermometer readings will not be the same as embryo temperatures when cooling or heating occurs. The eggs will lag behind the air temperature. For example, cooling hen eggs by taking them out of the incubator into a room at 20°C/68°F for 30-40 minutes is likely to cool the internal egg temperature by only 3 - 5°C (7 - 10°F). Eggs smaller or larger than hens eggs will react quicker or slower accordingly.
For more information on the benefits of periodic cooling and the effects of prolongued cooling on incubating eggs, you can refer to the Incubation topics Periodic cooling in incubation and What if the power goes off on www.Brinsea.com

We’d also recommend you take a look at the Incubating and Hatching eggs threads on the Forum and join Brinsea on Facebook.

Happy Hatching!

 

[bburn]

Last spring I hatched two incubators full of eggs. We had really bad spring storms and I went through loss of electricity several times during both hatches.

I used two liter soda bottles with really hot water from the tap and surrounded the incubator. I also put a couple on top.....leaving the air holes uncovered. Then I wrapped the incubator in blankets and the soda bottles kept the blankets off the top. THEN I opened the closet and found my long down jacket!!!! I still believe the down jacket helped more than anything.

First hatch was about 97% and the second hatch was 100%.

So, we can make it several hours without electricity.

 

[Chris2]

Early in September 2012 I had 30 chicken eggs incubating in my little, foam, still air, “Little Giant”, incubator. About 10 days into incubation the Kansas City Light And Power Company shut the electricity off to do “scheduled maintenance” without telling us beforehand. The electricity went off at about 1:00 AM and did not come back on until 8:00 AM the next morning (7 hours). When I checked the temperature in the incubator the next morning the temperature was 50 degrees F. I thought for sure that my eggs would never hatch or if any did hatch there would be only one or two hatch. Well, one day before they were supposed to hatch we had 19 little baby chickens hatch. 2 died while hatching and one was hatched with crippled legs which were bowed so bad it couldn’t walk. We were very surprised and very thankful to Jesus that any chicks at all hatched out but we ended up with 16 healthy little chicks. Thank you Jesus. The moral of this story is, If the electricity goes off to your incubator, for 7 hours, don't throw away the eggs but say a prayer and keep on incubating.

 

[Raskal311]

I have 12,000 watt of ups + a 2000 watt generator.

 

[astormygirl]

I have had 2 power outages on one batch in the incubator and one on a second batch. All were fine. With the first one we were out for 4 days. We hooked up a generator and covered the incubator with wool blankets. I have read that you can use candles but that does not seem super safe.
Super funny that my hubby raced home from work to turn on the generator and got up every 4 hours to add gas but we had a %100 hatch rate!

 

[EACWOODCRAFTS]

We lost power here in Maine for 2 days in January. I floated the incubator in my hot tub and used the woodstove to replenish the hot water as it cooled down.Still had an eighty percent hatch with bantam phoenixs.

 

[cmom]

I just happened across this thread and thought I would add my 2 cents.
Quote:

 

[cmom]

 

[Lazy Farmer]

This post is sponsored by Brinsea

What if the power goes off!? Will my incubating eggs be damaged?

This is a question frequently asked by anxious breeders particularly in the summer, usually after a power outage caused by an unexpected thunderstorm.

​

Cooling is an entirely natural process as most birds will get off the nest at least once a day and leave the eggs unheated for a significant time. It is a surprising fact that although eggs must have very stable temperatures to incubate successfully, periodic cooling can be a good thing and far from harming the development of chicks, can actually lead to more successful hatching. For this reason Brinsea have now incorporated a cooling option in all of their Advance and EX models of egg incubators for 2012.
But controlled periodic cooling for an hour or so every day is very different from an unexpected loss of power for much longer periods of time. The measures to remedy the situation and limit damage to the embryos will depend on the age of the embryo, the temperature range it is exposed to and the duration of that exposure.

The five Incubation Temperature Zones:
Research carried out by a number of scientists over many years identified five temperature zones each of which is characterized by its major effect on the
developing embryo. These zones are not clear cut. There is some overlapping.
Zone of heat injury

Zone of hatching potential

Zone of disproportionate
development

Zone of suspended
development

Zone of cold injury



Zone of heat injury (above 40.5°C/104.9°F)
At continuous temperatures above 40.5°C (104.9°F) no embryos would be expected to hatch. However the effect of short periods of high temperature is not necessarily lethal. Embryos up to 6 days are particularly susceptible, older embryos are more tolerant.

Zone of hatching potential (35 - 40.5°C/104.9 - 84.5°F)
Within this range there is the possibility of eggs hatching. The optimum (for hens) is 37.8 °C (100.4°F). Above this temperature hatches will be reduced and the number of unhealthy and deformed chicks will increase.
Continuous temperatures within this range but below the optimum slow development and increase mortalities. However it is again evident that early embryos are more susceptible to continuous slightly low temperatures than older embryos.

Zone of disproportionate development (27 - 35°C/80.6 - 95°F)
Eggs kept above 27°C (80.6°F) will start to develop but some parts of the embryo will develop faster than others and some organs may not develop at all. Below 35°C (95°F) no embryo is likely to survive to hatch. Typically the heart is much enlarged and the head development more advanced than the trunk and limbs.

The temperature at the lower end of this range is sometimes referred to as ‘Physiological zero’ - the threshold temperature for embryonic development. Unfortunately different organs appear to have different thresholds resulting in an unviable embryo.

Zone of suspended development (-2°C - 27°C/28.4 - 80.6°F)
Below about 27°C (80°F) no embryonic development takes place. Prior to incubation, eggs must be stored in this temperature range (preferably around 15°C/59°F).

Zone of cold injury ( -2°C/28.4°F)
Below this threshold ice crystals will start to form in the egg and permanently damage may be done to internal structures. Eggs may lie for some considerable time in temperatures close to freezing without suffering damage.

So in practice what should I do?

​

• If the eggs are newly set the best plan is to cool them fairly quickly down to 5 - 20°C (44 - 68°F) and hold them in this range - put them in the fridge!
  
• Avoid maintaining eggs in early stages of incubation for long periods of time in the ‘zone of disproportionate development’ (27 - 35°C/80.6 - 95°F). This will result in a large number of deaths and abnormalities.
  
  
• If power loss occurs when the eggs are near hatching, incubator temperature is less critical, but severe chilling will cause mortalities. It is preferable therefore to limit heat loss by keeping the incubator shut and raising the temperature of the room if possible. The metabolic heat from the embryos will keep them warm for quite a long time.
  
• Avoid subjecting the eggs to over-temperature at any time but particularly in the early days of incubation.

Remember that incubator thermometer readings will not be the same as embryo temperatures when cooling or heating occurs. The eggs will lag behind the air temperature. For example, cooling hen eggs by taking them out of the incubator into a room at 20°C/68°F for 30-40 minutes is likely to cool the internal egg temperature by only 3 - 5°C (7 - 10°F). Eggs smaller or larger than hens eggs will react quicker or slower accordingly.
For more information on the benefits of periodic cooling and the effects of prolongued cooling on incubating eggs, you can refer to the Incubation topics Periodic cooling in incubation and What if the power goes off on www.Brinsea.com

We’d also recommend you take a look at the Incubating and Hatching eggs threads on the Forum and join Brinsea on Facebook.

Happy Hatching!

Thank you for bringing this topic to forum.
For short periods of power outage, we use these. We've gone 13 hours w/o spark on one occasion on a non stormy late night. When the device is auto activated, it omits a tone/beep- periodically letting us know our bators are toasty and safe..

 

[Scifisarah]

We had this happen and kept the incubator going without a generator! The trick is to get one of those ashtray lighter converters, that will convert to a regular plug. I think I got it at Menards. We just ran a really long extension cord from our van to the incubator in the basement. This does drain the battery of the car though, so just make sure to start it up every once in a while or have someone to give you a jump if needed!