Egg Incubator, Lanyan's

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c. 1920

Overview

The incubator has two wire mesh pull-out trays to hold several dozen eggs and is heated by a kerosene oil lamp, the air which is circulated through the cabinet. The hot air also warms galvanised iron ceiling and air vent within the cabinet to help maintain a constant temperature.
Moisture is supplied into the egg chamber by placing water, which needs to be replenished frequently, into the moisture pan beneath the egg tray. The evaporation of the water raises the relative humidity of the atmosphere in the egg chamber. Below the galvanised iron moisture pan which sits in the bottom of the chamber, is a discharge outlet for the ventilating air to be expelled.
A drop-down 330mm x 200mm access door, with two 12mm air vents at the front of the cabinet, incorporates a smaller 230mm x 75mm wooden inspection flap, which when opened exposes a glass viewing window.
The kerosene oil lamp heater, made of galvanised iron, is attached to the outside of the incubator. The heater comprises of a fuel tank for the kerosene and an adjustable wick with screw mechanism. The heater is fitted under the "chimney" which directs the heat into the incubator. A thermostat causes a damper to open and close to either trap or let hot air escape from the lamp chimney.

Historical information

Donated by John Ayers, Busselton, Western Australia. Used by the Ayers family on their farm at Yealering, WA, to hatch chicken, turkey and duck eggs.
The chicken eggs took 28 days to hatch and were kept at a constant temperature of 104º F. The eggs were turned every day during the incubation period until hatched, when they were transferred to a kerosene heated brooder box for warmth, food and water. The chicks stayed in the brooder until they were old enough to look after themselves, which was about 3 to 6 weeks depending on seasonal temperatures.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2023.49

Themes

Material

Width

470 mm

Height or length