The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: plt102 on April 23, 2012, 10:20:11 pm

Title: arrgghh power cut
Post by: plt102 on April 23, 2012, 10:20:11 pm
Power was off in my house for 12 hours today while I was out at work. I have 2 incubators full of eggs due to hatch next weekend. Fearing the worst :-(
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: colliewoman on April 23, 2012, 10:23:37 pm
Panic not! I suspect they will be fine, a bit late perhaps, but probably fine ;)
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: plt102 on April 23, 2012, 10:26:04 pm
Thanks. I do hope so.
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: chrismahon on April 24, 2012, 08:19:12 am
Should be fine Pit102. As said they will be a day late. Danger is when people smother the units with bubble wrap trying to keep them warm and suffocate them apparently. There is a section on 'Power Outages' in Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens -American book with some ghastly 'pests and predators' listed. I have never personnally had a problem lasting over 4 hours. When we incubate I have an inverter and large leasure battery ready to connect up. But that solution depends on the power requirement of your incubators -you may need a small Honda EU generator.
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: plt102 on May 14, 2012, 08:36:58 pm
Hi there, 7 bouncy chicks (well 5 bouncy chicks and 2 small ones that I am giving some TLC - thank goodness. All hatch times staggered and late (early ones I guess were in the middle of the incubator and kept their temp better). 10 didn't hatch but actually thats quite normal for us (humidity fluctuations I think) We had one die and one with wry neck which we put to sleep but all in all, very chuffed and relieved as I thought all was lost. xxx
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: Mammyshaz on May 14, 2012, 08:38:49 pm
 :thumbsup: where's the piccies?
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: chrismahon on May 14, 2012, 08:53:10 pm
Well my faith in Storey's Guide remains, an excellent publication, even though it is American.
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: jaykay on May 14, 2012, 09:31:25 pm
I had a 9 hour powercut last weekend when my ducklings were due. They hatched, over 2 days.

Couldn't start my generator - so servicing it is this weekend's job!
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: tizaala on May 15, 2012, 07:35:11 am
We had notification about three weeks ago that there would a power cut for essential work on the 10th, so we phoned and told them we had eggs incubating, " No problem , we will bring you a generator " said Western power, and sure enough on the morning of the thenth they turn up mob handed with a huge diesel genny and latch it into our system , so 8 hours later they came back job done and de-kitted. so we only had about twenty mins downtime in total , so next time you know there's to be a cut just ask for one.
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: Bionic on May 15, 2012, 07:37:54 am
Tizaala, thats great customer service.
Well done Western Power  :thumbsup:

Sally
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: HelenVF on May 15, 2012, 09:35:22 am
We had notification about three weeks ago that there would a power cut for essential work on the 10th, so we phoned and told them we had eggs incubating, " No problem , we will bring you a generator " said Western power, and sure enough on the morning of the thenth they turn up mob handed with a huge diesel genny and latch it into our system , so 8 hours later they came back job done and de-kitted. so we only had about twenty mins downtime in total , so next time you know there's to be a cut just ask for one.

WOW, I am impressed!  I didn't even think to tell them that when we had our planned power cut! 

Helen
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: jaykay on May 15, 2012, 09:39:22 am
I'm impressed too!

We get quite a lot of 'impromptu' powercuts hence me having my own generator - but clearly we haven't had one for a while, so I hadn't started it recently. I don't find pull starts easy anyway but I think this was more than that. And of course it was pouring with rain, dark...... I will get it sorted out before I need it again.
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: plt102 on May 15, 2012, 07:33:55 pm
mmm - generator is a great idea as we seem to get no notice at all when ours goes out. if I get notified in advance, will definitely see if they can provide a generator as we usually have chicks on the go or otherwise have our precious pork in the freezer.

x
Title: Re: arrgghh power cut
Post by: chrismahon on May 15, 2012, 08:37:05 pm
I too am really impressed with that service. Almost makes you pleased to pay the bill -I did say 'almost'!