Livestock Heating

Propane is used extensively to fuel heating systems for incubation and brooding. Propane-powered poultry brooders, for example, offer larger coverage area, more even heating, and lower costs than many other systems. They are available in standard convection air and radiant models.

Convection Air Brooders

Propane convection air brooders, which provide warmth through convection heating, include these typical features:

• Stainless steel housing
• Factory-assembled burner
• Pilot light that pre-mixes air and gas for efficient combustion
• Rigid aluminum or galvanized steel canopy
• Individual control on each brooder

Propane convection brooders require no electricity, so livestock is not endangered in the event of a power failure. Many models also offer the ability to control heating by zones, thus increasing the potential for fuel savings. 

Convection Air Brooder
Source: Shenandoah Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Convection Air Brooder Typical Characteristics

Features	Description
Input rating	25,000 - 40,000 Btu
LP gas supply pressure	11" W.C.
Space between brooders	15' - 25'
Installation height (to canopy edge)	20" - 36"
Maximum LP gas consumption	0.3 GPH

Radiant Brooders

A radiant brooder is an infrared heater for poultry heating, with ceramic fiber radiant brooders representing the newest technology. Retrofit kits are available for converting convection air brooders to radiant heating, which has certain advantages over convection heat:

Radiant (Infrared) Brooder
Source: Shenandoah Manufacturing Co., Inc.

• More effective heating - floor and animals are warmed, not the air
• Greater efficiency - as much as 25 percent fuel savings over standard brooders
• Larger comfort zone and less of a "hot spot" directly under the brooder

Radiant Brooder Typical Characteristics

Features	Description
Input rating	17,000 - 25,000 Btu
LP gas supply pressure	11" W.C.
Space between brooders	15' - 25'
Installation height (to canopy edge)	30"
Maximum LP gas consumption	0.27 GPH