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Getting the Best out of Your EcoGlow Brooder
Are you thinking of buying chicks, or do you have some on the way? Whether you’re incubating your own or raiding your local feed store, all new chicks need a brooder. Besides food and water, chicks need heat to keep them alive before they grow feathers. Below is more information on how to get the most out of your EcoGlow brooder, the safe and economical chick brooder from Brinsea!
EcoGlow Quick Tips
- Safe & Economical: EcoGlows use only 12-18 watts compared to 250 watts for most heat lamps, drastically reducing fire risk and energy costs.
- Indoor Use Only: For optimal performance, use the EcoGlow indoors where the ambient temperature does not drop below 50°F.
- Adjust Height Based on Behavior: Start with the brooder at about 3" high and watch your chicks. Huddled chicks are cold (lower the plate), while panting chicks are too hot (raise the plate).
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Why Choose an EcoGlow Brooder?
The EcoGlow offers significant advantages over traditional heat lamps, focusing on safety, efficiency, and providing a more natural environment for your chicks.
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Far Safer
Unlike 250W heat lamps which are a significant fire hazard, the EcoGlow's low-voltage design and radiant heat technology provide complete peace of mind.
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Economical
Since brooders run 24/7, energy use matters. The EcoGlow consumes only 12-18 watts compared to the 250 watts used by most heat lamps, resulting in significant savings.
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Radiant Heat
The EcoGlow uses radiant heat to warm the chicks directly by its warm underneath surface, much like a mother hen would. It doesn't heat the air, so you can't measure it with a thermometer. The plate is safe to touch; your chicks' behavior is the best indicator of their comfort.
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Setting Up Your EcoGlow
1. Choose the Right Location
The EcoGlow works differently than other heat sources. For best results, it's important to use it correctly. We always recommend our EcoGlows for indoor use only.
Ambient Temperature is Key
The area that the brooder is in should never drop below 50°F or the chicks may become too cold.
2. Adjust the Height
On our new EcoGlow models (the 600 and 1200), the height is easily adjusted via the legs that screw into the four corners. The lower the height, the more the chicks will be heated as they nestle underneath the heat plate.
When in doubt, set the brooder to about 3 inches for standard-sized chicks. Then, watch their behavior to see if you need to raise or lower it.
Pro Tip: Brooding Mixed-Size Chicks
If you have varying sizes of chicks, you can set one side of the brooder to be higher than the other. This creates a temperature gradient and ensures all of your chicks can find a spot where they are comfortable.
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Advanced Tips
Get the most out of your EcoGlow with these simple but effective tricks for heat conservation and brooding larger flocks.
Conserving Heat
- Place against a wall: Position the brooder against one side of the enclosure. This reduces drafts and helps conserve warmth underneath while still allowing chicks to move freely.
- Insulate from below: Place about 1” of Styrofoam underneath the entire brooder setup to prevent heat from escaping into the floor.
Brooding Larger Flocks
If you are planning on having a lot of chicks, our brooders can be placed side by side to accommodate larger numbers.
We do not recommend placing more than four EcoGlow brooders together at a time. You should always give your chicks the ability to move about freely.