parafin brooder

[walldanzig]

Hi all

At my allotment we have no electric and in the past we have raised chicks at home in the shed. I was thinking of taking the operation upto the allotment and did a bit of searching and came across parafin brooders but no actual sites that sell them. I do have a couple of 12v batteries but no know how to run a light off it. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions that does not involve mains electric.

Thanks Dan

[Bramble-Poultry]

we use propane gas brooders up the turkey field for the turkey chicks. they are simple to use and light and as long as they are out of a draft that might blow the pilot light out, last quite well. we found that the large 47kg propane lasted us a long time. they get very hot so will need hanging a bit higher than the electric heat lamps.

as for running a light off a 12v battery, nip to maplins or similar. they have a solar panel for a few quid that is designed to sit on your dashboard of the car and charge the battery whilst you arnt driving. the reason is suggest this is that it has an inbuilt diode that makes sure that the flow of electric goes from the panel to the battery and not the other way around. this is to prevent discharge of you battery.

then all you need do, is hook up a camping light switch that you would use in a tent (go to a good outdoor camping shop) wire it up to the battery and fix a camping light or similar up to the roof so that the light circuit runs entirely off 12v.

if you do get to maplins, speak to one of the techy guys there and he will know exactly what you need to do, as will the bloke in the camping shop

[walldanzig]

thanks Bramble are the propane ones regularly available? I saw on ebay a 12v inspection light that takes an edison cap bulb and clips direct to the battery they also sell 50w heat bulbs was wondering if this would work and how long it would last

[Snadger]

I know you used to be able to get paraffin brooders cos my Uncle used them all the time. Can't help you with stockists though or even what they look like as all I can remember was the smell of paraffin!

[Bramble-Poultry]

you can usually pick up parafin brooders from farm dispersal sales. you need to look out for them in the papers as they usually advertise in there. Parafin brooders are an "old technology" now that you will probably only find in farm clearances.

We got our gas brooders by rummaging through an old barn and finding them at the back, however, i do know that i can get them from game rearing supply merchants as they are mainly used by pheasant rearers who raise in the fields

Gamekeeper Supplies Ltd | Brooders dont give prices but i expect a couple hundred quid!

[walldanzig]

Thanks Bramble im going to give the battery a try first will let you know I get on