Gas Brooding vs Electrical Brooding

Gas Brooding Versus Electrical Brooding

A single2 KW electric brooder is sufficient for 500 birds as per manufacturer recommendation, but in our experience, at least 2 nos of 2 KW heaters are required per pen of 500 birds for summer and 3 are required during winter season which is equivalent to 1 gas cylinder for 2 gas brooders per pen.

If we suppose a continuous use of brooders during the first week of brooding, the two types of brooding costs are illustrated separately.

Gas brooding: For continuous use, 1 gas cylinder lasts for 24 hrs. One cylinder is required per pen. The cost of one gas cylinder is approx Rs 1400. For 7 days of continuous brooding, the cost would be Rs 9800 and for one Duckhouse of 4 pens would be Rs 39200/week.

Electric Brooding: In a case where 2 nos of 2KW brooders per pen are used continuously, 4 unit of power per hour is utilized. For 24 hours the consumption would be 96 units and say @ Rs 7/unit, the amount is Rs 672/day. For 7 days of continuous brooding, the cost would be Rs 4704 and for a Duckhouse of 4 pens, the total cost of continuous brooding for one week would be Rs 18816.

Even with 3 brooders per pen during winter, 6 unit/hr for 24 hours x 7days x Rs 7/unit would be Rs 7056/week. For one week of continuous brooding in a duckhouse with 4 pens with 3 electric brooders/pen, the cost incurred would be Rs 28224.

This is the cost calculation for 1 week and brooding is done till 3 weeks of age. The per hour cost of gas brooding is Rs 58. The per hour cost of 2 electric brooder operation is Rs 28 and 3 electric brooder operation is Rs 42.

The cost of a 2 KW electric brooder is roughly around Rs 2200.

The advantage that gas brooding is that offers is that it can generate any intensity of heat as required even in extreme winter and also perhaps use during the times of power failure. We can always keep the gas brooders at spare and use it sparingly according to need.

The disadvantage being higher operating...