Engineers hatch plan to save chicks
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A POWER cut triggered a life-threatening situation for scores of little hatchlings this week.
Power supplies in Arradoul were affected when local electricity lines were accidentally brought down by a telehandler – and it posed a real crisis for villager Mackenzie Fyvie who was in the process of hatching 50 chicks.
No one was injured when the line was brought down, but it meant power to homes and businesses was interrupted while engineers from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) carried out repairs.
Mr Fyvie was relying on the electricity to keep his incubator running at such a crucial stage of the chicks’ development. The power cut could not have come at a worse time – threatening the lives of the newly-hatched chicks in dire need of heat and light.
However, engineer Sam Barnes and two colleagues from SSEN’s Elgin Depot put their heads together and hatched a plan to get power to the incubator.
Mr Barnes said: "When I heard of the chicks’ plight I knew we had to do something to help. After a few minutes looking at all the options, we came up with the idea of connecting Mackenzie’s incubator directly to the specialist equipment inside our van.
"Thankfully our quick thinking paid off, and all of the 50 chicks survived which meant we could go about our work getting everyone’s power back on without the chicks’ welfare preying on our minds."
Mr Fyvie said: "A big thank you for the SSEN lads who kindly and promptly offered their services, providing electricity and heat to our newborn chicks and incubating eggs while the power was off. Without this help, no doubt the chicks and incubating eggs would have suffered badly. They certainly went above and beyond for us that afternoon."
