[plt102]

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 :-(

[colliewoman]

Panic not! I suspect they will be fine, a bit late perhaps, but probably fine

[plt102]

Thanks. I do hope so.

[chrismahon]

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.

[plt102]

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

[Mammyshaz]

  where's the piccies?

[chrismahon]

Well my faith in Storey's Guide remains, an excellent publication, even though it is American.

[jaykay]

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!

[tizaala]

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.

[Bionic]

Tizaala, thats great customer service.
Well done Western Power 

Sally

[HelenVF]

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

[jaykay]

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.

[plt102]

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

[chrismahon]

I too am really impressed with that service. Almost makes you pleased to pay the bill -I did say 'almost'!