What if the power goes out??

[HuntingChick14]

I'm currently raising 4, 2.5 week old chicks and just had a thunderstorm pass. It made me think about how I would keep my little chickies warm if the power went out... What are some helpful methods to keep them warm until the power comes back on?

 

[rIrs roost]

I would put them under a blanket on top of myself. Our temp usually is around 98.6 so I think they'd be fine until the power came back on.

 

[HuntingChick14]

I don't think that they'd be very happy (lol) but that's a great idea! Thank you!

 

[Sublight]

I dont know where you are, but where I am staying warm is not a problem. Its 85 degrees outside at night. (NorthWestern Florida)

 

[rIrs roost]

I don't think that they'd be very happy (lol) but that's a great idea! Thank you!

You'd be surprised. If they're chilly as chicks, they kinda enjoy the heat lol. I've held mine and pet their head. They usually fall fast asleep.

 

[rIrs roost]

I dont know where you are, but where I am staying warm is not a problem. Its 85 degrees outside at night. (NorthWestern Florida)

I know the feeling. North Carolina here. My problem like yours is staying cool lol.

 

[NanaKat]

A lot depends on how young your chicks are. As long as they have some feathering and good down, they can huddle under a feather duster mom and stay relatively comfortable for several hours.

Buy some of those hand warmer packets from Atwoods or an outdoor section in a hunting/fishing store. They work for several hours and are great to have on hand. Wrap one in a washcloth or an old sock to keep the chicks from getting hot tootsies.

I have used them in an incubator to keep eggs warm during a power outage. I covered the incubator with a heavy towel for extra insulation.

The same product is in a bigger size for shipping containers to keep chicks warm during colder climates.

If you know the power may go off, you can make a hot water bottle from a pop bottle and hot water. Most country homes depend on power for the water to flow. But a hot water tank does have enough pressure to release a few quarts of hot water to make one in a pinch.

 

[HuntingChick14]

I'm in New Hampshire and last week was in the 90's but now it's in the low 70's. You just never know what it's going to be like over here lol! I'm hoping to have them outside within the next week or two since they're really starting to get their breast feathers, especially my Speckled Sussex! I can see all of her little feathers starting to come in on her back and most of her breast is feathered! My 2 Golden Comets are still really fuzzy though.

 

[JULIE L CORWIN]

I have 2 day old baby chicks in a brooder. Yestarday we had a power outage. For an hour and a half. I covered the top of my brooder. It was 83 degrees in the brooder. I covered it with particle board.I have a stock tank for a brooder. With 16 chicks in it. So I did everything I could to keep the heat in it..When the power came back on. It was still 83 degrees in the brooder and all were very active and healthy. I know you should have heat in a brooder for chicks. But who made the determation of the 95 degree and reducing it by 5 degrees weekly.. I now go by thier behavior rule.

 

[NanaKat]

I have 2 day old baby chicks in a brooder. Yestarday we had a power outage. For an hour and a half. I covered the top of my brooder. It was 83 degrees in the brooder. I covered it with particle board.I have a stock tank for a brooder. With 16 chicks in it. So I did everything I could to keep the heat in it..When the power came back on. It was still 83 degrees in the brooder and all were very active and healthy. I know you should have heat in a brooder for chicks. But who made the determation of the 95 degree and reducing it by 5 degrees weekly.. I now go by thier behavior rule.

A hen's body temperature is 101 degrees. When chicks first hatch she is their source of heat. As one day old she begins to take them to food and water but they stay snuggled under her wings and fluff for the first few days. When a chick/chicks get cold, it/they run to mom to warm up. She also covers them at night until they are fully feathered...then the chicks will nestle close to her or even sleep on her back.
Yes, in the brooder behavior is an indication that a chick is too hot or cold. It will move to or away from the heat source.....but to leave chicks without a heat source until they have replaced the most of their down is asking for disaster. Until you have lost chicks to too cool a temperature or too quick a temperature change like a power outage, it is always wise to keep the brooder light or heat source going....any heat is better than no heat.