May Experimental Results

The graph shows the temperature in the chicken coop, the temperature of the air in the vent pipe coming from the biomeiler, and the temperature of the outdoor air.  The electrical energy usage would be shown for any days when the electric heater was used, but it was not needed this month.

All month long, the biomeiler kept the air entering the coop in the temperature range of 32-41F.  The body heat from the birds and the heat from the outdoor air warmed the coop with the result that the temperature was in the range of 72-79F for the entire month, with the exception of one day.  The outdoor air temperatures shown in the graph were measured at about 7 P.M. each day, which is the time when I do the evening chores.  The daytime temperatures have typically been in the mid-60s to mid-70s.

It is a continuing source of wonder that, even though the outdoor temperatures have been between 50 and 75F, the biomeiler is cooling the incoming air to such an extent that it arrives in the coop at near-freezing temperatures!  The details of the cooling effect will be addressed more fully in part 2 of the May update.

As I have written in previous posts, the coop is uncomfortable for the birds when the temperature rises above 80F.  This month, the coop has generally been pleasant for me to work in and the birds seem to be living happily.  Because the Cornish Cross chickens are disinclined to scratch the bedding much, I have to be vigilant about adding sawdust over the fresh droppings.  If I shirk this duty, the birds’ feathers rapidly get dirtier.  They seem to have no good sense about choosing a clean place to rest.  

With the temperatures consistently in the mid-70s, the litter dries fairly well. Interestingly, there seems to be a burst of heat and humidity immediately following feeding time.  The best explanation I have come up with is that the birds are sweating and panting to cool themselves after their exertions during the inevitable feeding frenzy.  It intrigues me that their metabolic rate could accelerate to a degree sufficient to produce a clearly perceptible change in the air.

Because the biomeiler has become an effective air conditioner, I have been able to postpone moving the meat birds to the outdoor pen on our Goldstream lot.  Remarkable though it is, the cooling power of the biomeiler is limited and, at some near point in time, the summer air temperatures will rise past the point it can cope with.  In the meantime, we are happy to realize a cost reduction.  Since we have not yet begun our summer work on that lot, any driving we would do would be solely for the care of the birds.  Once we are working on the lot, it will be sensible to move the birds there because the cost of gasoline will be better justified.