Heating Degree-Days for Estimating Energy Consumption in Poultry Houses and Incubators in Nigeria

Energy is consumed for heating in poultry hatchery operations such as incubation of eggs and brooding of chicks even in a tropical country like Nigeria. Hourly dry bulb temperature data for 18 places spread over the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria, for a 15-year period (either 1994–2008 or 1995–2009). Using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet 2007 version, heating degree-days for the 12 months of the year for the 18 locations were computed for the base temperatures: 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38 and 40°C. Values of heating degree-days can be substituted in equations relating energy consumption to heating degree-days to predict energy requirements for poultry houses or incubators. From the results of the annual heating degree-days for the eighteen locations, the three places having the lowest heating degree-days and hence cost of heating are Yola, Bauchi and Owerri whereas the places where heating degree-days are the highest are Jos, Kaduna and Ondo. The months having the lowest heating degree-days, which is the best time to raise day-old chicks, were identified for each location. ©, Copyright Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).