Brinsea EcoGlow 50 - anyone have problems with them?

So - an update

I still use the Brinsea EcoGlows, both the 50 (I have two now) and the 20 (just one still, but going to get another one!).

I still LOVE them - yes, the bottom plate feels too hot in some spots and in the 50's it warps, but so far we haven't had any cooked chicks in the 3 years we have used them. I have used them with chicks, meat chicks, turkeys, and meat turkeys. I do get the occasional pastybutt, not sure why, could be stress, too much heat, etc, but I haven't lost a chick/poult from it and it typically clears up rather quickly.

I have had to replace 2 of the 50's transformers, they just burn out. Yes - they do get very warm! I make sure to place them where they are not likely to get over-hot or catch something on fire. The first one lasted about 2 years and the 2nd one less than 9 months, but Brinsea replaced that one. The 20 so far has had no issues with warping or any other problems, just the 50's.

I still believe that the Brinsea radiant heat is much better for baby poultry than a heat lamp and overall safer and more cost affective. However, with that said, they are not designed for a large number of fast-growing meat poultry! The meatie chicks quickly outgrow the Brinsea and can be subject to smothering and getting stuck in the middle with no way out.

I try to time getting them so that by the time they outgrow the Brinsea (within 2 weeks depending on how many you have!), it is warm enough they do not need supplemental heat, but this year we had a long cool streak and I ended up putting them under a heat lamp - which was a complete pain to try and keep the temperature just right! Next time I am just going to separate them into 2 batches so they can utilize the Brinsea 50 longer!


Meat chicks and poults.


Replacement laying chicks and keets.


Meat poultry moved to a bigger area.


Same with the replacement chicks and keets.


Meat chicks getting big - almost 3 weeks old. Getting too crowded
under the Brinsea.

I suppose I should get the extended warranty!

I had 10 chicks under the smaller unit today to out did temp reached in the high 80's I lost 3 week old frizzles under the unit. It was set on the lowest height setting and it looks like they were squished. I'm so upset. I've never had this problem. I just am not sure what happened. Tonight inraisedbitbuo a but and an praying they are all ok in the Am. Their butts were a bit pasty today. How much ACV do you add to their water

I just lost two newly hatched Silver Pheasant chicks that were under a Brinsea 50. They were jammed under the low end and looked squished and were cold. Three other chicks are doing fine. Very puzzling and frustrating.

I lost 2 frizzles as well it was like they were squished in the back not sure if they over heated or were smothered

debir1966 said:

I wanted to post an update.

I got a call from a very nice gentlemen with a lovely english accent today from Brinsea. He told me they tested my first EcoGlow 50 and it was working correctly. We talked extensively about my concerns, the response I received with their customer service, etc. He also gave me several options on how to proceed and left the choice to me. I decided, since they had tested my first EcoGlow and it WAS working right to have them mail that one back to me and return the 2nd one versus getting another new one and starting all over again.

I explained to him that the first time I called with my concerns, I had also wanted to find out more information on the EcoGlow but that there customer services was so good that they just sent me a new one LOL. He told me that they would have a meeting with their people and educate them on answering and asking questions to verify if the EcoGlow was working as it should. I also suggested that they put up a FAQ on their website and he thought that would be a great idea also.

I am completely satisfied with my exprience with Brinsea and would highly recommend them to anyone! They are 100% committed to customer satisfaction and are extremely courteous and professional (with a nice easy-going down-home attitude!). You couldn't ask for more

He said that if the EcoGlow malfunctions, it will just quit working all together. He is also going to let me know if the 2nd one is working correctly. He explained what temp it is supposed to reach, but he was talking celcius and I was talking fahrenheit LOL so I am still unsure of the exact temperaters LOL. I will write down what they are when he calls back and look it up.

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Hi, thanks for your posts I am learning a lot. I’ve just started using my eco glow, I had 8 3 days old chicks and over the past week I have lost 4. I had read a post saying to have one end of the brinsea at 8cm high and the other at 4cm high but my breeder told me 8cm is way too high and I should leave it at 4cm all round. I’ve done that now and lost two more... what am I doing wrong?