Incubating help please!!

[Cup of chicks]

Hi All! My power company has scheduled a power outage from 8a to 4p..approximately..I have eggs incubating right now! What should I do?? Will putting incubator in the Styrofoam packaging be enough? Or should I take them to a friend's for power? Thanks in advance!!

 

[PeaShack]

If you have a power supply (UPS) (like the kind that goes to a computer so people don’t lose their work or ruin their computers) you can plug the incubator in (and don’t run anything else on it. Make sure it’s fully charged. The higher the wattage the incubator, the faster the power will run out, so you need to make sure it will last. There are some UPSs that have option additional battery packs to extend the time.

You could also borrow UPSs from friends to have enough to keep the incubator going if one UPS runs out of power or the power company underestimated their outage time.

We used our UPS for a planned outage and it worked well. Incubator had seamless power supply, no interruptions.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is your temperature outside? Another case where knowing your location might come in handy. Is it reasonable to take them outside as well as insulate them?

How far along are they? Not turning them for 8 hours should not cause any issues but the later they are in incubation the more heat the eggs themselves generate. I'd be less concerned about the heat late in the incubation that early.

The UPS is a great suggestion. Do you have or can you borrow a generator? Can your incubator operate off of a direct current car or boat battery? I'm not sure what your options are.

As long as they are not real far along the option that will cause you the least concern is taking them to a friend as long as you can safely transport them. I'd probably pack them in cotton to protect against shaking as well as provide insulation.

Personally I'd probably insulate the incubator and take my chances. If I had room I might fill a hot water bottle with water around 100 Fahrenheit and put it in as a thermal mass to help maintain heat. Don't overheat it and cook the eggs.

 

[Cup of chicks]

What is your temperature outside? Another case where knowing your location might come in handy. Is it reasonable to take them outside as well as insulate them?

How far along are they? Not turning them for 8 hours should not cause any issues but the later they are in incubation the more heat the eggs themselves generate. I'd be less concerned about the heat late in the incubation that early.

The UPS is a great suggestion. Do you have or can you borrow a generator? Can your incubator operate off of a direct current car or boat battery? I'm not sure what your options are.

As long as they are not real far along the option that will cause you the least concern is taking them to a friend as long as you can safely transport them. I'd probably pack them in cotton to protect against shaking as well as provide insulation.

Personally I'd probably insulate the incubator and take my chances. If I had room I might fill a hot water bottle with water around 100 Fahrenheit and put it in as a thermal mass to help maintain heat. Don't overheat it and cook the eggs.

I live in Pa...daytime temp for power outage is only in 70's...eggs will be at day 6 when it occurs in 2 days..I do not have access to UPS..if I do take to friends house I'll be worried about too much movement or them breaking...would I take them out of incubator to transport? Thanks so much for the help/ideas! I had these eggs shipped to me..I really hate to lose them

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you move them I'd take them out of the incubator and pack them in cotton or something similar. To me the danger of shaking or breaking them while moving is real, be careful.

How far is your friend? I've had hens off of the nest for over an hour several different times and they still had great hatches. You do not need to be in such a hurry that you do damage.

 

[Cup of chicks]

If you move them I'd take them out of the incubator and pack them in cotton or something similar. To me the danger of shaking or breaking them while moving is real, be careful.

How far is your friend? I've had hens off of the nest for over an hour several different times and they still had great hatches. You do not need to be in such a hurry that you do damage.

She's about 20 mins from me..but our country roads are not the best! I'm starting to think maybe I'll just pack incubator in Styrofoam with some blankets and hope for the best...I have handwarmers I could add but I'll be at work a good portion of the day

 

[Debbie292d]

She's about 20 mins from me..but our country roads are not the best! I'm starting to think maybe I'll just pack incubator in Styrofoam with some blankets and hope for the best...I have handwarmers I could add but I'll be at work a good portion of the day

Our handwarmers are 12 hours, but if yours are 8 hrs, those should still work. I'd stick them in socks or wrap them in something thin so they aren't touching your eggs though. I too have a couple of water bottles I'd put hot water in, wrap in a thin dish towel and place in there. If none of those, you could fill a couple of bottled water bottles with hot water, put them in a thin sock or wrap in a dish towel.

Your putting it in its styrofoam box with blankets will most likely insulate it very well, and hopefully it won't be down by too much when you get home. I've read several stories about power outages for longer than that and still having a successful hatch, so wishing you the best!