Brinsea Safety

We're getting our first batch of chicks next week but unfortunately I'll be away for three weeks. My wife is getting started by herself, and knows less about these things than I do. My current brooder set up is a wire dog kennel lined with cardboard on the sides. I'm using the brinsea heater. Could someone help me with a few questions?

1. I have two options to keep them: The basement and the shed. Normally they'd be in the shed, but it gets down to 30 degrees here some nights and I'm concerned the brinsea might not be warm enough for them?

2. Should I line the floor of the brooder with pine shavings and/or newspaper? If so, is that safe for the brinsea? I wouldn't want to put paper or shavings against or under the heater and burn my house down while I'm away. Will it get hot enough to ignite anything? It doesn't seem to get that hot.

3. Should I put the back of the brinsea against the cardboard walls? Some directions say to eliminate drafts.

4. What else am I missing?

My primary concern is not burning down the house.

The ecoglow is extremely safe and will not ignite bedding. The chick goes under it and actually has to touch their backs to the underside to get warm...it does not warm the air (simulating a mama hen). So make sure it is adjusted low enough so they can reach it with their backs. If you are getting a significant number of chicks, I would make sure that they have access to both sides to enter/exit so no one gets trapped underneath and overheats. Ventilation is fine, it is actual drafts directly on the chicks you want to avoid. Brooding in the shed should be fine. The chicks will pop under the ecoglow whenever they need the warmth, but as long as you can keep the water liquid, they should do fine. They won't eat/drink overnight, they'll sleep as long as it's dark.

Oh, and newspaper is too slippery. Use shavings or straw. Paper towels will also work, but are less cozy so if you brood in the shed, I'd use shavings.

Jensownzoo said:

The ecoglow is extremely safe and will not ignite bedding. The chick goes under it and actually has to touch their backs to the underside to get warm...it does not warm the air (simulating a mama hen). So make sure it is adjusted low enough so they can reach it with their backs. If you are getting a significant number of chicks, I would make sure that they have access to both sides to enter/exit so no one gets trapped underneath and overheats. Ventilation is fine, it is actual drafts directly on the chicks you want to avoid. Brooding in the shed should be fine. The chicks will pop under the ecoglow whenever they need the warmth, but as long as you can keep the water liquid, they should do fine. They won't eat/drink overnight, they'll sleep as long as it's dark.

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Thanks. 32 degrees isn't too cold for them outside with the brinsea?

Martlet said:

Thanks.  32 degrees isn't too cold for them outside with the brinsea?

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Nope. A mama hen would raise her babies outside in those temps. The ecoglow is functioning as a mama hen.