Heating
Brooder heating — BTU, fuel and cost sizing.
Compute peak brooder heat load, indicative brooder count, LPG consumption and fuel cost per brood for a poultry house at design outside temperature.
Inputs
Results
- Envelope loss
- 22.5 kW
- Ventilation loss
- 17.8 kW
- Total heat load
- 40.3 kW
- Peak BTU/hr
- 137572
- 40k BTU brooders
- 4
- LPG consumption
- 35 kg/day
- Fuel cost / day
- $31
- Fuel cost / brood (14 d)
- $441
2160 m³/h minimum ventilation
138k BTU/hr
at 10 equivalent full-load hours
Related equipment categories
Equipment categories that match what this calculator sizes — compare scope and specifications before issuing an RFQ.
In short
This heating calculator is a free browser tool for commercial poultry projects. Enter your own figures and it returns a class-4 planning estimate (about ±30%) under conservative, expected and optimistic scenarios. Use it to size an investment and to brief manufacturers — a firm supplier quote always overrides the estimate.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your project figures. Replace the default values in the heating calculator with your own flock size, targets and local costs. Defaults are commercial-sector averages, not a recommendation.
- Compare the three scenarios. Switch between conservative, expected and optimistic to see how sensitive the result is to your assumptions before committing capital.
- Read the assumptions. Check the assumptions panel so you know what the model excludes — typically taxes, import duties, special civil works and land.
- Turn the output into a quote request. Send the resulting figures in a single request to receive comparable offers from qualified third-party manufacturers.
Continue your project research
Related calculators
FAQ
Common questions
Peak heating occurs at the coldest expected outside temperature and the highest brood set-point (32-34°C at day-old). A design ΔT of 25-40°C is normal at brood in temperate and cold climates.
Radiant brooders heat chicks directly and typically save 15-25% fuel versus hot-air furnaces sized to the same design point. This tool sizes total installed capacity; brooder count is indicative and should be checked against zone layout.
Installed capacity is converted to fuel using a net calorific value of 12.8 kWh/kg for LPG and the burner efficiency you enter. Real burn is lower than peak because the design point only occurs for a few hours per day.
Yes — minimum ventilation for CO2 and moisture control usually accounts for 25-45% of brooding heat demand. This calculator adds it explicitly from the minimum ventilation rate you enter.