Sue
New member
Had anyone had any experience of the Brinsea EcoGlow 20 Chick Brooder? If so, what are your thoughts regarding whether it is a good product or not.
Brinsea brooder
- Thread starter Sue
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I have two of these which I used for my fledgling quail once they were out of the brooder with its ceramic heat lamp and into outdoor cages in thequail house when it was still cold at night. I really only found out about them once I'd got the heat lamp setup, and I think in future if I hatch I shall do it the same way, ie start with the lamp and progress to the ecoglow once they are a bit more feathered up. I just had the feeling that the lamp warmed the whole brooder area, with a warmer area in the middle under the lamp and room to move away round the edges, so they were always running around when not actually sleeping, whereas when I tried swapping to the ecoglow at an early stage they tended just to huddle underneath it and not come out to feed and drink in such an active way. So I wondered if it was warm enough for them. I was using a max/min thermometer in the brooder to help me find out how much to lower the lamp at night when it was getting really cold in February after the central heating went off. When I put this under the ecoglow I couldn't seem to get it up to the temperature they needed, ie about a degree or so cooler than the incubator. I spoke to a dealer at a poultry show who told me they heat wasn't the radiant kind you get from a lamp because it was infra red. But I could see the chicks weren't warm enough, and so at least for quail I don't feel they are suitable in the early stages. Once they feathered up a bit I removed the lamp and they were fine under the ecoglow. I think I may even treat them to an ecoglow in their cages in the quail house next winter, at night - quail can stand cold, like chickens, but last winter they didn't look comfortable when it was so cold their water bottles froze overnight. I may be wrong, but the story about the infra red heat registering a lower temperature than they were actually telling me they were experiencing was not very believable. The top of the ecoglow is really just a plastic-covered plank with an element in it, and is probably fine for bigger chicks than quail or at a warmer time of the year.
They are easy to clean, dismantle for storage, and can be erected with the front higher than the back, ie on a slope so the chicks can choose how close to the heat to go. Yes, a useful bit of equipment, but shop around online, as the prices when I was looking ranged from about £45 down to £29 for the same kit. Actually one of mine was from someone on another forum who was selling his, and so I got my second one for only £15, so worth checking eBay etc.
They are easy to clean, dismantle for storage, and can be erected with the front higher than the back, ie on a slope so the chicks can choose how close to the heat to go. Yes, a useful bit of equipment, but shop around online, as the prices when I was looking ranged from about £45 down to £29 for the same kit. Actually one of mine was from someone on another forum who was selling his, and so I got my second one for only £15, so worth checking eBay etc.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Good point that Marigold about early feeding with an electric hen. Think we will stick with the lamp and 24 hour daylight for the first week and then put the hen on (just bought one for France, 75W unit).
dinosaw
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We used one on a hatch of 5 bantam chicks born at the start of april from day one and had no problems. Started it on the lowest level and blocked the back of the brooder with card to keep the heat in as recommended if you have a smaller number of chicks. Easy to clean which is just as well as the chicks were soon jumping on top of it and pooping all over it. We adjusted it upwards after about 7 days as they were tending to sleep on the oustside edges suggesting it was too hot in the middle. It was in the spare bedroom and for the first couple of weeks we had the heating timed to go on and off to keep the room at a reasonable temperature, obviously couldn't say how it would fare at low temperatures as experienced by marigold but it was the coldest April for 23 years and outside temperatures were averaging 8 degrees where we were. I can see why it might be a problem for quail chicks with them being so small, at the lowest level our chicks were not very far from the hot plate at all with the welsummers having to crouch a little to go under. I think that if you are using it for regular sized chicks it would be fine especially if you were raising them indooors where you could control the ambient temperature
The early Ecoglows were not giving out enough heat (only about four years ago) and were a much complained about product. Brinsea were able to adapt them and many went back but e-bay was flooded with them as many chose to sell rather than be caught out again. Didn't do the Brinsea reputaion any good as it was a new product.
The later versions have proved OK but if buying, you need to be sure that you do not buy one of the unsatisfactry ones becuas ethere may be some sat around on shelves or because it's a used one not adapted.
I haven't used one myself (have used an electric hen though) but most seem satisfied with the newer versions.
The later versions have proved OK but if buying, you need to be sure that you do not buy one of the unsatisfactry ones becuas ethere may be some sat around on shelves or because it's a used one not adapted.
I haven't used one myself (have used an electric hen though) but most seem satisfied with the newer versions.
Both of mine are the newer versions - I had found out about the problem before buying and enquired, especially when buying my second hand one. I think I remember the thing to look out for is what colour the bottom of the heating plate is - the old ones were silver and the new ones are black. All the ones on sale new should be the up-to-date version by now.
They are certainly super little 'tea-cosies' for chicks, and I expect they would be better at the start with bigger chicks, but I think I would still prefer to start with a ceramic lamp so I can see better what the chicks are telling me by the way they move around in the brooder. A bit more trouble to set up, but more adjustable as the temperature changes between day and night, especially in cold periods. Ihe drawback about the ecoglow when the ambient temperature is too low for comfort for the chicks is that it only heats its own small area, and the rest of the brooder will show quite a big temperature drop, even if you've insulated the sides, as I did.
They are certainly super little 'tea-cosies' for chicks, and I expect they would be better at the start with bigger chicks, but I think I would still prefer to start with a ceramic lamp so I can see better what the chicks are telling me by the way they move around in the brooder. A bit more trouble to set up, but more adjustable as the temperature changes between day and night, especially in cold periods. Ihe drawback about the ecoglow when the ambient temperature is too low for comfort for the chicks is that it only heats its own small area, and the rest of the brooder will show quite a big temperature drop, even if you've insulated the sides, as I did.
Sue
New member
The reason I've asked this question is because I'm 'considering' getting some day old ducklings (not sure what breed yet) and only about 3 or 4. They would be kept in the house. How long do they stay in the brooder with heat? Do they then still stay indoors without heat for a while and what age do they go outside?
Haven't decided 100% to get any yet. Just weighing up the pros and cons. I don't want to hatch any as that would mean buying even more equipment, but thought if I bought day olds that would cut down on the cost. As I'm not going to be raising chicks regularly I don't want to put a lot of money out, but would like to watch them grow.
There are some of these brooders on ebay at the moment for £35, but I have no idea whether they are the new or old version.
Haven't decided 100% to get any yet. Just weighing up the pros and cons. I don't want to hatch any as that would mean buying even more equipment, but thought if I bought day olds that would cut down on the cost. As I'm not going to be raising chicks regularly I don't want to put a lot of money out, but would like to watch them grow.
There are some of these brooders on ebay at the moment for £35, but I have no idea whether they are the new or old version.
You can always use the 'Ask a Question' option to e-mail the seller, which is what I did. If theyre sold as new, most probably no problem. Just ask what colour the base plate is. Or if you would like to borrow one of mine you are welcome - just PM me your address. I'm not planning to use them again for some time. I don't know anything about raising ducklings, best ask the duck people, ie maybe re-post in the Waterfowl section? Or I'll move this thread for you if you like.