Power outage!!!! How to keep chicks warm?

[mamarose]

Our power has been out for about 9 hours now, and i don't know how much longer it will be. We have ten three week old chicks in a plastic lined pack n play. This afternoon, they had the sun shining in, and i put a hot water bottle in there with them, and they seemed fine. After dinner, we turned on the generator and plugged their light in, so they're still fine.

But, we have to turn the generator off, don't have enough fuel to run it all night long. I am worried about keeping them warm. My best idea so far is to put a small cardboard box on its side in there, with the hot water bottle on the floor. Make a cozy nest. Then cover the whole pack n play with a blanket to insulate and keep whatever heat there is. It's getting down to the 40's at night here, the room probably shouldn't get below 55 or so.


Think that will work? Any other ideas?

 

[incubatingisfun]

do you have a wood stove

 

[kelseygirl707]

We fill the Tub with hot water, then move the brooder to the bathroom and close the door to trap in the heat. Also we always have those hand warmer packets on hand, so we can throw them in with the chicks if needed.

 

[kelseygirl707]

Oh, also don;t worry too much, when you think about chicks getting shipped, the only heat they have for about 48 hours is each other, and they are in the back of a cold truck, so in the house, they can cuddle, and I would imagine they would be fine.

 

[Qi Chicken]

I think they can handle the cold better than lack of air. be careful that the blanket isn't too thick. 10 chicks can generate some warmth. I would put a hot water bottle in there and maybe a blanket covering half but only half of the top. I think they will be fine. Oh, I just read that it's a pack and play, Does it have mesh sides?? If so cover the whole thing with a blanket! Good luck, I hope your power comes back on soon.

OK, now I re-read, and it looks like you've lined the pack and play with plastic. I would not cover the entire thing with a blanket. Water bottle and 10 chicks, Maybe refilling the water bottle again in the night and I think they will be ok.

ETA Where are you and why is your power out? Big storms? Let us know how it turns out.

 

[mamarose]

Yes, we do, in the living room. We weren't planning to run it overnight because it's not too cold for us, but we probably could. In the winter we can use it to keep the living room around 60 overnight.

Only problem with moving the chicks into the living room is the cat. They're currently in a room that's easy to shut him out of.

 

[mamarose]

Thanks for the quick responses!!!

Ok, will do hot water bottle and cover with blanket, but not completely. Good point about the shipping, and they are so much smaller then!!

 

[Qi Chicken]

Personally I think they will be fine in their regular room. Easy for me to say!!

But I know if they were my chicks I would probably (overreact and rouse the household) build a fire to put the chicks in the living room and the cat in the chick room.

 

[mamarose]

Quote:
Whidbey island, Washington. Major windstorm last night and today. Beautiful, sunny, blue sky day, but winds up to 55 mph or so. Trees are bending quite dramatically, but we haven't lost more than a few branches as far as i know.

 

[mamarose]

Quote:
LOL!!!! I don't want to think about the damage the cat could do in there overnight. He's used to free run, and likes to sleep on our bed. And he'd probably dig a hole in the carpet to get out, or wake the whole house with trying!