Alternative Heat Sources

[Minttu]

Hi,

I am soon going out to Africa to teach and was thinking of building a simple still air incubator with the kids however I think it might be difficult to run a bulb day and night for 3 weeks, even if I could find one. Can anybody suggest a creative alternative? I am thinking maybe it is not possible to do but it doesn't hurt to check!

Thanks!

 

[sumi]

I just remembered now when I saw your post, I read an article on the rice husk incubation technique awhile ago and though that one would be interesting to try. I did a quick google search to see if I can find it now and found this:

http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/1/sumy24010.htm

 

[loveourbirds]

I waited to see what sumi would say, she is one of the best I know of on different ideas like this. the best thing I could come up with is, a 12 volt hovabator, you can power it from a car battery. you could use a car or a solar cell to charge the battery. if you have to go this route a marine or "deep cycle" battery holds a better charge.

I don't know if hovabator has it available or not, but someone (brower I think) made a dual voltage incubator that ran off of 110 volts and 12 volts.

 

[my sunwolf]

Maybe solar heat with very good insulation and a higher than average outside temp, which you would probably have.

I know we have some very old incubators in dumps around here that heated a metal capsule with kerosene or other fuels. Both of these would still need a bowl of water to keep humidity up.

This sounds like an awesome project, let us know what you try and good luck!

 

[Kernel Cluck]

If you access to wood.. you could build a rocket mass heater. Google it. Its a very efficient method of heating a mass such as mud bricks. Super easy to build and could be used to keep little chicks warm/

 

[loveourbirds]

If you access to wood.. you could build a rocket mass heater. Google it. Its a very efficient method of heating a mass such as mud bricks. Super easy to build and could be used to keep little chicks warm/

this is similar to what the Egyptians used. it does work but it takes a lot of supervision.

 

[Minttu]

Thanks everybody! Nice to know there are some plausible alternatives! I will take a closer look tonight!