Power is being shut off for 9 hrs. How do I keep my chicks warm?

[Mulemom]

My power company is replacing a pole Monday night and will have the power shut off between 8pm and 5am. My 26 girls are 5 weeks old and have been spending the nights under the heat lamp in thier coop. It's nearly 100 degrees here in the day time, but it does cool off at night to about 55 degrees. They are shut in the coop and there are 26 of them to keep each other warm, but when I go out in the middle of the night to check on them, they are all huddled under that heat lamp. Any sugestions? Thanks!

 

[Gracefulspice]

Mabey try an old time heating bottle? I don't know what the temp needs to be for them at that age, but I would think that them all huddled together may be enough for night. If not I think they still sell these heating bottles in dept. stores. Good Luck!!

 

[Country Gal]

Can you bring them in the house for the night? At that age, they should only need to be kept around 70*.

 

[Smoky73]

heat up some water and put it into gallon jugs to keep them warm. You would have to keep checking them though as the water in the jugs will get cold after a while but they will all line up around the jug to keep warm.

 

[tate]

the throw away hand and foot warmers that they use for hunting work real good always keep some on hand for power outages

 

[Southern28Chick]

It would be ideal to bring them in a warm room in the house, however, 26 five week olds is a lot of large chicks. I'm sure if they cuddle they'll stay warm together.

 

[wren]

Oh great! I don't suppose you have any good friends who would do you a favor? Move the babies in your house and cover most of the top of a rather large box ... never mind. I don't suppose you have a spare bathroom you could put them in for the night? That would be messy.

Okay. Round them up at night with a temporary brooder made from cardboard so they have to huddle together and duct tape a heat reflective blanket (the cheap foil-like kind) over the top of the box with one little area uncovered for moisture to escape and fresh air to enter.

Maybe put up some plastic to make your coop more air tight? Any other ideas?

 

[BeckyLa]

I think that at 5 weeks they are, for the most part, pretty well feathered out. I would not worry about them since there are so many and they are in a draft-free coop. They'll snuggle up with each other and stay warm enough. imho.

 

[TreyClark281]

a big fridge box and a couple of heating blankets?

i bet you can get a big box at a grocery store.
my neighbor gets them all the time for her daughter to play in.
or lowes or home depot from there displays.

 

[ozark hen]

Just block all drafts coming in the coop. They should be fine if they are out of drafts. If they were suffering from being cold they would be piled on top of each other. Make sure you have lots of pine shavings down as that insulates the floor. They will be fine.