Need advice in case power goes out!

[TinaInWonderland]

Power is going out all over the place due to an ice storm breaking power lines. I'm in western KY. This happened last year and we were without electricity for over a week.

Will a kerosene heater hurt the birds? If without power for very long, this is the only choice we have to keep the family warm. Last year we brought one in and used it in the kitchen, with the birdcage on the other end of the house, room doors open. NOw we have a finch aviary in the sitting room off the kitchen, and I want to know if they will be alright or if I should move them to another part of the house if we have to use a kerosene heater.

Any advice would be appreciated, on this and keeping birds warm during a winter power outage. The lights are flickering.

Thanks in advance.

[expressmailtome]

I have never read anything about kerosine specifically but I know that fumes are toxic to birds' small lungs. I do not know of how to heat though.

Matt

[r2rusmc]

I've been told that a kerosene heater in tip top condition will only release fumes when starting and stopping. But I've no personal experience with this type of heat.

Bottom line is that you need to worry about being able to keep you and your family warm. Do what you have to do and just try to keep some ventilation around the birds areas.

I take it you do not have a generator? Might want to start looking for one in prep for the next winter season after the prices have dropped.

As for keeping the fids warm, try covering the tops and sides of their cages leaving the front open during the waking hours. Leave a little uncovered area around the bottom at night for ventilation.

Do you have a gas grill? You can use that to heat water for hot water bottles for you guys as well. Those red rubber hot water bottles (sold in the pharmacy section at Walmart near the enema stuff) are invaluable and stay warm for hours.

Being in KY, do you have any Amish around? If so see if you can locate some of the lamps they use. Any stores that specialize in Amish products are bound to have a few devices that would really come in handy during times like this.

Good luck.

[mmr]

if you have kerosen heater then use that, But make sure when you atart it up you are outside as they smoke a little in the begining. After is is going good there is little odor. I would also cover the cages completely.

[expressmailtome]

Those are good things to know! Thanks.

Matt

[Lori~D]

I use Kero in emergencies - If your heating with it I WOULD NOT recommend covering the cage. If fumes get in and get trapped in they will bother them. I light mine next to a window and blow a light fan out until it gets going or under a bathroom vent fan is great too. Remember it will smoke if it gets bumped out too. I keep the birds in the bird room while using it as well. Having some Therma-care heat wraps on hand can do wonders under the tray of a covered cage in emergencies as well.
http://www.thermacare.com/products.aspx
There are cheaper generics as well - about six bucks at walmart for a two pack. Cheap help in case of this

[TinaInWonderland]

Thank y'all so much for the replies!! Our power actually went out shortly after I posted this, or I would have responded quicker. We were without power for nearly a week, but are lucky to have lights now. Kentucky is in a state of emergency and most of my county is still in the dark.

We used the kerosene heater and it kept the whole upstairs very warm. We turned it off at night and covered the bird cages, to help hold in the heat until morning. I worried myself nauseaus the first day, but all the feathered ones are fine and perky, including some baby zebra finches in the aviary.

I like the idea of the hot water bottles, which I think I'm gonna use next time the power goes out. We had to heat water on the kerosene heater, which is also how we heated up our food.

Thanks a bunch! Tina

[ndeben]

Our electricity went out in a freak snow storm in December, I ran home and lit the fireplace, it was the only heat I had at the time. The temp only got down to 55 in the room, no one was shaking at all. I talked to a canary breeder the next weekend, and he said the room could have gotten colder with out any problems. Of course as soon as I got the room back to a warm 77, the elec came back on.

[chickensmom]

I am in Daviess county Kentucky "Owensboro". We lost power Tuesday night and we got it back Saturday night. Very hard to keep birds warm, but we managed. What county are you in?

[Conure crazy]

There are a lot of people in Arkansas who are still out of electric also. My parents & grandparents all lost power that same Tuesday, my parents got theirs back on Sunday but my grandparents are still without power. It's been over a week & a half.

I'm glad everything worked out for you with your heat. I always worry because we are all electric.