For my first order of chicks at the end of June, I purchased the Brinsea EcoGlow 50. I loved it! I didn't have to worry about so much light, too much heat, too little heat, fire, etc.
When they got bigger and started getting up on top of it, I started taking it out of the brooder and cleaning it and I noticed it seemed pretty hot on the black bottom side, hot enough it would make me yank my hand away from it in pain.
I got out my digital thermometer that I had for the incubator and set it on the black part and within several minutes it read over 104 and was still climbing. I called Brinsea and they shipped me out a new one.
Soooo, by the time it got here we decided that the chicks didn't need the extra heat anymore (they were about 3 weeks old and it was pretty warm), so I didn't put the new one in with them.
Today we got another order of chicks and I set it up and let it get warm before we went and got them. I didn't even think to feel the bottom, I mean, surely I wouldn't have the same problem twice!
We got the chicks home and settled and a few minutes later everything was quiet. Then one started peeping pretty loud and insistently, so we went in to check and I picked up the EcoGlow to see if it was stuck (I have one side lower than the other for snuggling), and almost dropped it because it felt like it burnt my hand!
I flipped it over and felt all over the bottom and sure enough it was hot enough to be uncomfortable and the black base plate (on the bottom) is actually warped out on one side - which is the side that feels the hottest. It is warped out enough that I can push it back down and it pops back up when I let go. I called Brinsea again and they too are shocked I would encounter the same problem and are sending ANOTHER one, but now I am wondering if anyone else has had a simular problem?
Once the EcoGlow had been upside down for a while, it didn't feel too hot to touch anymore and I am worried that I am over-reacting. The rep I talked to wondered if I maybe just had very sensative skin and I said no, I hand-wash dishes every day in super hot water and am a farm girl who doesn't wear gloves LOL.
Now I have to be paranoid about cooking my chicks before the new EcoGlow gets here and hope that it too is not malfunctioning!
When they got bigger and started getting up on top of it, I started taking it out of the brooder and cleaning it and I noticed it seemed pretty hot on the black bottom side, hot enough it would make me yank my hand away from it in pain.
I got out my digital thermometer that I had for the incubator and set it on the black part and within several minutes it read over 104 and was still climbing. I called Brinsea and they shipped me out a new one.
Soooo, by the time it got here we decided that the chicks didn't need the extra heat anymore (they were about 3 weeks old and it was pretty warm), so I didn't put the new one in with them.
Today we got another order of chicks and I set it up and let it get warm before we went and got them. I didn't even think to feel the bottom, I mean, surely I wouldn't have the same problem twice!
We got the chicks home and settled and a few minutes later everything was quiet. Then one started peeping pretty loud and insistently, so we went in to check and I picked up the EcoGlow to see if it was stuck (I have one side lower than the other for snuggling), and almost dropped it because it felt like it burnt my hand!
I flipped it over and felt all over the bottom and sure enough it was hot enough to be uncomfortable and the black base plate (on the bottom) is actually warped out on one side - which is the side that feels the hottest. It is warped out enough that I can push it back down and it pops back up when I let go. I called Brinsea again and they too are shocked I would encounter the same problem and are sending ANOTHER one, but now I am wondering if anyone else has had a simular problem?
Once the EcoGlow had been upside down for a while, it didn't feel too hot to touch anymore and I am worried that I am over-reacting. The rep I talked to wondered if I maybe just had very sensative skin and I said no, I hand-wash dishes every day in super hot water and am a farm girl who doesn't wear gloves LOL.
Now I have to be paranoid about cooking my chicks before the new EcoGlow gets here and hope that it too is not malfunctioning!