Power Outage Going to be for 5 hours on Sunday Just wondering what else to do rather than cover with

[EggPlanter]

Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[EggPlanter]

I also heard using hot water in plastic bottles works good.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hot water bottles, jars of hot water. Wrapping a blanket around the bator (not covering vents). My plan if I ever loose electricity during a hatch is to use the ThermaCare heat wrap/bandages. I have no idea how well they will work, but that's my back up plan....lol.

 

[EggPlanter]

Ok thanks! This is going to be the second power outage since the start of incubation. Luckily, the last power outage was only about half an hour, and after candling I know my duckling was moving.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok thanks! This is going to be the second power outage since the start of incubation. Luckily, the last power outage was only about half an hour, and after candling I know my duckling was moving.

I've seen people loose electricity due to weather and have it out a whole day and still have decent hatch rates.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Be careful about using water or anything else too hot. You don’t want to cook them. Also if the power is off how warm will that room get where the incubator is? This may not be that big of an issue. I don’t know. Can you move it to a warmer room?

Five hours is not a real long time. The incubator should be pretty well insulated to start with. It’s probably not going to cool down a while lot anyway, but yes, I’d take steps. But don’t overreact.

My first step would be to add as much thermal mass as you can. It needs to be right at 100 degrees F when you put it in or just add a little at a time and give it time to stabilize. You don’t want to cool it down too much either. Sealed containers of water work great. Bricks or rocks are pretty good too.

The next step is to insulate it. Blankets are probably as good as anything.

What stage are they going to be? If you will be in the first 9 days of incubation, they really don’t need fresh air. You can close the vent plugs and really save some heat. If it will be ten days or after I’d leave a vent plug out.

I don’t think turning will be an issue for you all, not for 5 or 6 hours. Don’t worry about turning.

I’ve had broody hens stay off the nest for longer than that. They went back to the wrong nest, probably because another hen was laying in their nest when they returned and they got confused. A couple of years back I came back after being gone for the day and the eggs were cold to the touch. I just put the broody back on the right nest. She hatched 11 out of 11. Take some precautions but really, don’t over react.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

When I started hatching for the year, at the beginning of Feb I believe, we had a HUGE ice and snow storm roll through. It knocked our power out for nearly 4 days. Luckily I heat with a wood stove, so the house stayed warm, but all I did was wrap the 'bators with a blanket and cross my fingers. My eggs only ended being a tad late, much to my surprise.
Honestly, I wouldn't even sweat 5 hours. Good luck

 

[AmyLynn2374]

When I started hatching for the year, at the beginning of Feb I believe, we had a HUGE ice and snow storm roll through. It knocked our power out for nearly 4 days. Luckily I heat with a wood stove, so the house stayed warm, but all I did was wrap the 'bators with a blanket and cross my fingers. My eggs only ended being a tad late, much to my surprise.
Honestly, I wouldn't even sweat 5 hours. Good luck

That is so cool.

 

[EggPlanter]

Thanks everyone!