Paraffin Brooder

[ajs82]

Hi, I want to rear some chicks on my allotment with no electric, could I use a paraffin greenhouse heater in a brooder box? I have seen old paraffin brooders that are similar.

 

[chrismahon]

The heat source must be well away from the chicks Ajs82 and the fumes from it as well I would advise. I've seen drawings of paraffin incubators in the back of a later edition of Lewis Wrights poultry book, 1905 I think. At that time they were very experimental and unreliable. You can download issues of the book from a couple of sites. The one I used, if I remember correctly, was a Californian University. They may give you some ideas for a brooder arrangement. My experience of greenhouse paraffin heaters tells me they are prone to smoking and rather unstable as a heat source. Have you a Tilly lamp, as they are pretty reliable, stable and belt out a huge amount of heat for little paraffin fuel. We keep two here for emergencies and used to use them for heating and lighting a cold tent when on holiday.

 

[ajs82]

thanks, I think i will start them of at home will be safer and a peace of mind