safe heating in power outage

[ruffledfeathers]

This has been on my mind since we have been hit by Sandy. I am one of the only people I know who has power. I am SO LUCKY and so grateful for it. My birds are kept warm, and i took in a bearded dragon (as well as a number of people) to keep him warm until power is restored in his home.

Anyhow, i know kerosene heaters are NOT safe to use around birds. Are there any other indoor heaters (propane?) that are? I do not have a fireplace so that would not be an option.

I considered a generator but the smaller ones require gasoline and that is a joke around here since the storm. No one can get it and people are starting to siphon their gas tanks for it. The natural gas generators run 5-10 thousand dollars (i don't have that lying around unfortunately).

Any thoughts on this? With Hurricane Irene beating us up last year and now Sandy, I feel like my normally moderate region is now 'anything goes' for weather. I never experienced a storm like this in my lifetime, being a jersey girl. I want to be prepared for the next one. I DO NOT ever want to be in a position to let anything bad happen to my birds because i don't have power.

Also i'm sorry for not checking in sooner. I hope everyone got through the storm safely with as little damage as possible.

 

[Shelbyrenee1329]

I would also like to know the answer to this. I have only lived in my new home for 2 months now and have already lost power. With Michigan winters im sure it will happen again.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

for the 'research' i have been doing, i see either very temporary solutions (battery powered heat pads or using a power inverter with car battery and small heater) or buying a generator and at least stockpiling gasoline in the event of a storm.

 

[drew92]

Personally i would go with the mr. Heater buddy heater. Its an indoor safe propane heater that packs a lot of heat into a smallish package. Its got a tip over shut off thats sensitive as all heck an overheat shut off and best of all a low oxygen shut off. U get about 7-9 hours runtime with a 1 pound bottle and about 7 days with a grill bottle. But most of all i tell people to use common sense with heaters and pets.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

thank you. i will look into that.

 

[Sassy]

They can put off carbon monoxide. You have to be very careful. I was heating my massage stones in water on the grill and putting them around Neytiri's carrier to warm her. It worked till it got down to 50 in the house. Luckily the vet got power back and I could board her there.

 

[Aims]

On a night in winter it drops to 0C/32F here, I have Birds outside in avairies or outdoor cages. They have Happy huts that they sleep in to keep cozy and I put towels or fleecy blankets over their cages to keep the warmth in. They are fine. Birds in nature find a way to keep warm without electricity so I would think the same thing for our pet birds they have the same genetics and instincts etc. Plus they are inside away from the elements.

Obviously if we are talking baby birds and eggs in brooders or incubators then that is a different story.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I feel so sorry for everyone who was hit by sandy, and now that winter is coming it's just devastating I'm happy I live in a pretty mild climate(45 is considered insanely cold).

could you use a fire if the chimney shoot is clear? Or are there any generators you could use, then(if your parrot isn't a big chewer) you could hang a heated electric blanket around the cage and they can lean against it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am a BIG fan of generators. Ours has proven to be a lifesaver on more than one occasion in the past 2 weeks alone.