Keeping hams warm during a power cut - ideas please....

Bertiebobbins · 02-04-2016, 01:31 AM

We've had a few power cuts here recently, there seems to be something amiss with the supply in our area. I only have electricity, no gas, so when it's off that's everything gone, no hot water and no way to boil the kettle to fill a hot water bottle.

The night before last the electricity went off around 9pm and came back on in the early hours, and it was a really cold night. It got pretty cold inside without the heating on, and I was ready to take the hams up the road to my parents house in the morning if the heating hadn't come on (night storage), thankfully it had (you should have seem my mother's face when I explained the possibility of her emergency house guests - priceless!) but it got me thinking, what could I do to keep the hams warm if we have a power cut long enough that I can't get the heating on, and I can't reasonably take them to my parents house I.e. It's 3am? I've got a small child too so emergency dashes up the road with two hamsters in the middle of the night are out of the question.

All ideas gratefully received! Thanks.

ham888 · 02-04-2016, 02:11 AM

What is your house insurance like? Some policies have emergency accommodation clauses but I've no idea how they would cater for pets. Also, as you've a small child I'd suggest contacting the local council for advice - you may be a priority case.

I've no parent now and no-one close by - but when my mum was alive I would have piled us all into her house no matter the time and taken her for a meal to make up!

herbi7 · 02-04-2016, 04:18 AM

Could you have a microwave able heat pad or something that you put by the cage or under it before you go to bed? Then you're not dependant on the electricity for warmth for the hams

cypher · 02-04-2016, 05:48 AM

About the only thing I can think of is those little gel hand warmer things that you activate with a small metal tab inside, not sure how much heat they give off but a couple per cage might be enough to take the chill off.

Purdy Bear · 02-04-2016, 05:49 AM

For our fish tanks, we have polystyrene slabs that we put around 4 sides to keep the warm in. Towels may work the same.

How about putting the cage on one of those pet heat pads, although I'm not sure it would work.

I live in a very cold house, so I've put off getting hams for that reason. Hopefully once we can have the heating over hauled it will be better!

CMB · 02-04-2016, 09:14 AM

Warm water in a rubber glove may work if the hamster doesn't chew.

ham888 · 02-04-2016, 09:39 AM

Bertiebobbins is discussing how to heat if the electric is out for some time, so anything heated by electricty (no gas rememeber) will be useless once it has cooled. Chemical methods such as those activatable hand warmers may work, but not in the cage as if chewed they'd be disasterous. Also what about portable Calor gas heaters? I'd worry about the emissions from those near small furballs but one could warm a room, turn it off and move the cages in, and swap as needed.

A towel over the cage will restrict airflow and may be ingested.

Of course you can't preduct when the electricity will fail so it is likely to go off and find you unprepared. No energy = no heat.

Candles? They are a heat source, though not very much and also a fire risk... I'm trying to think what we'd do - we have a gas fire so at least we could warm one room - other than that I'd find a hotel and sneak the cages in!

Pebbles82 · 02-04-2016, 12:49 PM

I think you'll need to get one of those portable Calor gas heaters Bertie. They're not - cheap - about £100 - but nice and cosy.

Bertiebobbins · 02-05-2016, 12:47 AM

Unfortunately we aren't allowed to have calor gas heaters, freeholders rules. Not sure I'd like to be fumbling around in the dark trying to turn it on anyway!

I think I can deal with Nibble as he conveniently has a huuuuge nest in a box in one corner of the cage, maybe a fleece blanket it two around the base of the cage in that corner will do the trick. Glowy not so easy - he nests in a Sputnik hung from the ceiling of the cage so it's quite open. Maybe I'll have to transfer him to his pet carrier and wrap that up in blankets - think that would work?

velma · 02-05-2016, 12:54 AM

May be a bit out there but how about a vest like this to rest against the base of the cage? It's a battery powered heated vest. I just thiought would give you heat along a longer length than the hand held warmers. Although they are also good.
Warmawear™ Men's Battery Heated Waistcoat Jacket With Collar £19.99

But also, I'd look for anything like that that is battery powered/recharahable/can be plugged into the car cigarette lighter.