Dung as Fuel...

Herbivore dung burns well since not all of the cellulose is digested. As for doggie dung - depends what you feed it..
 
Dung needs to be very dry before you burn it, and as listed above, herbivore dung is the commonly used fuel.

Carnivores tend to have better digestive systems, even if fed a large amount of cellulose. Herbivores are designed to eat a large quantity of bulky, low energy food. Carnivores eat smaller quantities of higher energy foods.

Cow and bison dung will burn nicely, if thouroughly dried. It is relatively smokey. I assume that cervine dung will burn just as readily, though it doesn't come in nice, large patties. I wouldn't be apt to try using it unless in plains type terrain, where the herbivores are doing me a favor by concentrating the only fuel source available.


Stryver
 
Marion,

Before you try picking up those large pancake sized pieces of cow dung (steer dung is the same) just give it a soft tap with the nose of your shoe.
It should sound dry and have a nice "hollow" sound then it's safe to pick it up
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and use it later on as fuel.

One advantage when burning the stuff it tends to keep not to hungry musquitos away and other fellow beings also if you burn a lot of it
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Have fun,

Bagheera
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I have been thinking of dung after watching some shows about Canada. I was seeing some areas with fairly vast plains and not trees.

So in a situation like that, there is no wood to burn readily, what do you turn to for fuel? Dung seems like the answer.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

My Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!
My Fire Page, artificial flint and index of information.

"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
I believe they use dung in Tibet and similar high countries with little wood, but lots of herbivors and wide open plains. Native Americans used buffalo chips for fuel. There aren't too many buffalo wandering free these days, so the supply is somewhat limited. Today it's mostly Liberal politicians who produce the majority of Canadian bull****, but the stuff is too wet to burn.
 
MDP- "I have been thinking of dung after watching some shows about Canada." Wow. I can almost hear the diplomatic corps cranking into damage-control mode.
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I recall a biblical precedent for cooking with ca-ca. During one of the times that God was losing patience with those free-wheeling Isrealites, He commanded the prophet Ezekiel (the one who saw the wheel) to put the people on a bread and water diet. But they had to cook the bread over their own dung. Ezekiel persuaded God that he, personally wasn't such a bad guy as the other Isrealites so God said, 'Okay, you don't have to cook your bread over your own dung. You can use cow dung.' Lucky Ezekiel.



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Be Worthy
 
Marion :

So in a situation like that, there is no wood to burn readily, what do you turn to for fuel? Dung seems like the answer.
Click to expand...

Saw that question exactly raised on the discovery channel awhile back. The problem with it in terms of long term usage is that it depletes the soil. Not of issue here though. Could be a way to put one more mark on your self-reliance chart.

-Cliff
 
Where there is dung there is firewood. Take a closer look.
Of course, if you are hunting, where there is steak there is dung.
Let your girlfriends dog take the first bite
just in case, then your girlfriend.If they are happy, try it yourself.
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It is quite refreshing to see how the Forum explores more unique ways of self-reliance.
As a sidenote I would like to mention that according to Paul Tawrell's book (Camping and Wilderness Survival) bat droppings forming guano in caves is highly flammable (p. 113). He even warns not to build fire in guano covered sections of a cave. To extrapolate this, we can assume that the guano can be an invaluable fuel on certain islands where seabirds nest and nothing else can be really found. In case, once any of us gets stuck on one of them....
Also, if my recollections are correct guano has been used not only as (high nitrogen containing) fertilizer but as nitrate source for explosives.
The possibilities are countless. Since the reutilization of secretum was never high on my list
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, I am anxiously waiting for MDF's field test results.
MDF, thank you for taking this important step forward!

HM
 
Hi Marion:

I found a yarding area with LOTS of moose droppings with lots of woodchip content (winter feeding). If I mail you a bunch will you let me know whether you find the droppings containing willow have a higher thermal content than those containing alder. I've been meaning to get to it but too many Frost knives to check out..

Jimbo
 
Great conversation...

The herbivors provide a great source of fuel... I have never tried a carnivor's dung (aka: BM, Poop, Stool, Etc.) and in theory am not sure it would work. However, I would like to hear the results of this experiment...

Patiently waiting to see who goes out and tries to light dog crap
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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
When I was in Nepal they used dung for fuel. I have to warn you that the smoky flavor it imparts to food is far from mesquite. It is an aquired taste. Some of the trekkers getting their first bite had trouble taking their second.

BTW if you find that doggie doo works I'm in luck as I have three rodent ankle biters. I'll wait for your report, though - thanks.
 
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