Candling turkey and duck eggs in a homemade kerosene lantern incubator

[aart]

I don't think burning kerosene creates toxic fumes,
as long as wick is in good shape and fuel is quality.
We use to have a kerosene space heater,
biggest problem(other than fuel spills) was the huge amount of humidity it created.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I don't think burning kerosene creates toxic fumes,
as long as wick is in good shape and fuel is quality.
We use to have a kerosene space heater,
biggest problem(other than fuel spills) was the huge amount of humidity it created.

We use lanterns like hers when the power goes out and occasionally I'll catch a whiff of fumes, but my nose is extremely sensitive so I'm usually the only one that smells it..

 

[Molpet]

some use water heated by the lamp https://www.lehmans.com/product/kerosene-powered-chicken-egg-incubator/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sure

I also have trouble regulating the temperature and it seemed to be alright but it just hovers at 37.5 or 37.8. Since this is the correct temperature for hatching in a forced air incubator, can't I still have a good hatch? I keep adjusting the wick of the lantern and observe the temperature changes in 10 minutes. If the temperature can hold steady for 30 minutes, I leave it as it is. I just turn the eggs manually as many times as I can then switch up the eggs to compensate for cold spots. My fiance is already designing a mechanism that can easily control the temperature and humidity.

That's very cool. I know that before electricity they used kerosene and other heat sources for incubating and brooding.

https://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/antique-incubators

You would probably find this information on the effects of temperature interesting.

http://www.brinsea.com/Articles/Advice/PowerOff.aspx

You're doing the right thing by frequently rotating the eggs place in the incubator to balance out hot and cool spots.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

That's very cool. I know that before electricity they used kerosene and other heat sources for incubating and brooding.

https://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/antique-incubators

You would probably find this information on the effects of temperature interesting.

http://www.brinsea.com/Articles/Advice/PowerOff.aspx

You're doing the right thing by frequently rotating the eggs place in the incubator to balance out hot and cool spots.

Very interesting! Thank you for posting this.

 

[aart]

Check out my profile. I stay in Lagos Nigeria.

You can add to your profile like this and it will show up under your avatar:

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Kerosene or coal oil incubators were about the only form of Artificial Incubation available to most rural residents before rural electrification came on the scene in the 1930s. I think that this kind of incubator is still being sold in North America.

 

[HelenAbim]

I don't think burning kerosene creates toxic fumes,
as long as wick is in good shape and fuel is quality.
We use to have a kerosene space heater,
biggest problem(other than fuel spills) was the huge amount of humidity it created.

This doesn't create humidity at all. There are different designs of kerosene incubators online. We will redesign the incubator after a while to include some metal and a thermostat. I will choose the dry hatch method any day- at least here in South West Nigeria because of the ambient temperature and high humidity. The only time I enjoy very low humidity is in the thick of the harmattan season or if I am in Jos plateau of Nigeria. The eggs are doing fine as of this morning. Humidity is around 44%. The temperature in one chamber is about a degree less than the other. I have 38.8°C in the rIghtfield chamber and 37.8°C in the left chamber. Once I open to turn the eggs, I change the position of some of the eggs to compensate for cool spots. That is the best I can do. I also have latex gloves on hand to handle the eggs.

 

[HelenAbim]

Th

That's very cool. I know that before electricity they used kerosene and other heat sources for incubating and brooding.

https://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/antique-incubators

You would probably find this information on the effects of temperature interesting.

http://www.brinsea.com/Articles/Advice/PowerOff.aspx

You're doing the right thing by frequently rotating the eggs place in the incubator to balance out hot and cool spots.

Thank you for your comment. I know that using an electric incubator is far easier but I will choose a kerosene lantern incubator over others because of my circumstances. In this case, the power supply is not constant and I am a firm believer in doing or using what will work for you. There is a state in South West Nigeria, it is actually my home state and they enjoy minimum 18 hours uninterrupted power supply and even says without the power going out at all. I will definitely have considered an wlectric incubator if I was living there. However, what I also like about this incubator is the fact that if power goes out for an extended period of time, I will have a back up. It's back to basics and kind of primitive but I believe that things( in this case incubation) should be understood from the very foundation for which is the "primitive" way.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Th

Thank you for your comment. I know that using an electric incubator is far easier but I will choose a kerosene lantern incubator over others because of my circumstances. In this case, the power supply is not constant and I am a firm believer in doing or using what will work for you. There is a state in South West Nigeria, it is actually my home state and they enjoy minimum 18 hours uninterrupted power supply and even says without the power going out at all. I will definitely have considered an wlectric incubator if I was living there. However, what I also like about this incubator is the fact that if power goes out for an extended period of time, I will have a back up. It's back to basics and kind of primitive but I believe that things( in this case incubation) should be understood from the very foundation for which is the "primitive" way.

I'm hoping to have one put together for back up this coming spring.
I like your thoughts on the topic of learning and understanding primitive ways.
On a side note. I remember my grandmother telling of how her mother would put eggs in a basket on a towel and slide it under her wood burning parlor stove and hatch in the winter.
It's only a story, but I believe it.