Urgent - power went out / chicks under heat lamp

[PlentywoodFarm]

Hey guys, typing from my cell. My chicks range from 4 days old to two weeks and have been under the brooders. Well, our power just went out! What do I do? They are chirping really house and its cold in our house.

 

[amnich]

Not sure if you have any, but when shipping chicks many hatcheries use hand warmers like you would put in gloves. If you have any way to heat (such as a non-electric stove or a grill) you could warm up some towels and put them in the brooder. If they are all snuggling together for warmth, which I am guessing they are, you could just place a towel or blanket over them to trap some of the heat. Just make sure you don't tuck them in too much so that they can't get out from underneath.

 

[TexChik]

Have a fire place? Could you build a fire and put them close to it? Probably won't be as warm as the brooder but will keep the chill off.

 

[myohmiya]

Can you buy those hand warmers from a near by store, activate and cover with something like a cardboard box for them to sit on? Fireplace to put them near?

 

[TexChik]

Or if you have uncooked pinto beans and can find a way to heat them up, grill or fireplace, they will stay warm in a sock for a long time. I use this method when my kids get ear aches. But I'm able to heat them in the microwave.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

Yes, hot hands! We've got some warming up now and I've got the brooded near a gas stove. Poor babies!

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

Whew... power is back on! Thanks everyone!!

The temp fell to 70 degrees before I got the hot hands out, but they worked great. I covered them with a paper towel just to be sure it didn't burn their skin. It's still storming really bad, so I left them piled in a corner under some paper towels in case the power goes out in the middle of the night and we don't wake up. I figure they can run to the other end if it gets too hot for them.