What determines the heating cost is the temperature difference between the inside and outside. Lowering the target temperature might seem like a good idea, but if you do the math, it may not be worth it. In cold weather, fuel usage is an important factor in determining the profitability of a broiler farm. As a result, farm managers are often looking for new ways to keep heating costs to a minimum.
There are many proven ways to reduce the cost of heating a house (increase insulation, reduce leak points, install agitator fans, etc.).
But there is one way to do this is to lower the target temperature of the house. In practice, this practice has minimal impact on heating costs and can result in reduced flock performance and health.
In fact, the main factor that determines the cost of heating a chicken house in cold weather is the temperature difference between the air inside and outside the chicken house.
The greater the temperature difference, the more heat is lost through house walls and ceilings, as well as through ventilation. The relationship between house heat loss and the temperature difference between inside and outside is linear.
Simply put, if the temperature difference doubles in 2 days, the heating cost will roughly double. For example, if the brooding temperature in our house is 32°C, the outside temperature is 16°C (a 16-degree temperature difference). The next day, the outdoor temperature dropped to 0°C, and the temperature difference was about 32°C. Compared to the two cases, the heating cost will approximately double the next day.
Conversely, if the temperature outside rises the next day and the temperature difference is cut in half, the heating costs will roughly be cut in half. It should be noted that this relationship assumes that other than the outside temperature, other factors are assumed to be the same (eg ventilation rate, wind speed, etc.).
All else being equal, for any house, the cost of heating is basically determined by the indoor/outdoor temperature difference. From the bird's point of view, a 1.5°C difference in house temperature can be very important. But from the point of view of heating costs, a difference of 1.5°C in the house temperature is really not meaningful.
For example, if the outside temperature is 0°C and the inside temperature is 33°C, there is a temperature difference of 33°C. If the temperature of the house is 31.5°C, there is a temperature difference of 31.5°C. In either case, a lot of heating is required. Large changes in indoor/outdoor temperature differences lead to large changes in heating costs. Small temperature difference means lower heating cost; large temperature difference means higher heating cost. While lower house target temperatures will reduce heating costs, the savings are minimal. Even if the house temperature is kept as low as 3°C throughout the breeding process, only about 1,000 yuan can be saved. A target temperature of 3°C, especially during the brooding period, is likely to have a significant negative impact on the chicken's overall performance, potentially causing a negative impact well beyond the $1,000 in fuel savings.
In addition, if the temperature is too low, the feed that the chicken eats will be used more for its own heat production than for growth or egg production.
The heating cost is determined by the temperature difference between inside and outside. The temperature difference between the inside and outside is determined by the outside temperature, which is far greater than the slight adjustment of the target temperature of the house. Lowering your coop target temperature might seem like a good idea, but if you do the math, it may not be worth it.
