Poultry Log
Field tools

Inlet System Effectiveness

Estimate how much minimum ventilation air enters through side-wall inlets versus house cracks, based on poultry house leakage area, inlet count, inlet size, and fan capacity.

ft²

Prefilled if continuing from the Tightness / Leakage calculator.

CFM
count
in
in

Enter inputs on the left and click Calculate to view engineering results.

Results

Excellent

Warnings

Methods & Assumptions
    Disclaimer: This calculator provides an engineering estimate for planning and comparison. Poultry houses, equipment, birds, weather, and integrator requirements vary. Confirm major ventilation, heating, cooling, and animal welfare decisions with your integrator, poultry technician, extension specialist, equipment manufacturer, or poultry house engineer.

    Inlets vs. Cracks: Why Air Direction Matters

    Not all incoming air in a negative-pressure house behaves the same way. Air coming through properly adjusted sidewall inlets enters at high speed (around 750 feet per minute), allowing it to shoot along the ceiling to the center of the house, mixing with rising heat and warming up before dropping to bird level.

    If the house has too many leaks, much of the fan suction capacity is wasted pulling slow, freezing air through cracks. This air drops straight to the floor, wetting the litter and creating severe temperature gradients.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Why can I not run inlets fully open during min vent?

    If inlets open too wide during minimum ventilation, static pressure drops and incoming air velocity falls. Cold air will drop straight onto the birds instead of reaching the central ceiling.

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