Brinsea Ecoglow chick brooder - one BIG flaw!

[featherz]

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Mine took.. hmm.. a week I think? I used no heat lamp at all since my chicks were in the house. they did fine. I didn't keep the lights on except for the first few days (and maybe that's not needed, I just did it anyways

). I use pine shavings with paper towels on top for the first few days, then take off the paper towels. As for the pooping. I just clean it, but I've seen others that are trying shelf lining on top.

 

[ChooksChick]

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I leave one black side/leg completely off of it when I have banties. The diagonal lean gives them the ability to self regulate.

 

[wsdareme]

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Dear Neurotic,

1. My EcoGlow took only about a week to arrive.

2. I place mine near the brooder wall because you do have a cord that runs from it. I put mine in a corner so the tinies can huddle up under it against the wall, and the cord just runs up and over the top corner of the brooder to a plug. It doesn't take long before they use it a lot less than you think they would.

3. As long as your room temperature is 50 degrees F or above, you don't need anything else. I have one of my units in the barn, where temperatures have been getting into the high 30's to low 40's, and a simple light bulb of 60w is enough to raise the ambient temperature so the EcoGlow is more than adequate.

4. For lighting during the day, just use a low-wattage fluorescent bulb and let them have dark at night.

5. For #4 above, use a red fluorescent low-wattage bulb -- they're called "Party Lights" and Walmart carries them for a few bucks.

6. Six feet is pretty big for 16 babies, so, yes, I would partition them into a much smaller space until they're a week old or so and have good enough mobility to get back to warmth easily.

7. Start out on paper for the first several days -- but not slippery paper. I use paper towels so they get traction and don't end up with spraddle-leg. Then I switch to pine shavings. I use wood pellets in my horse stalls, but seeing how they plump up when they get damp, I'd be worried about impacted crops. I've never had a problem with chicks on pine shavings, and, yes, they do peck at them.

8. Somebody suggested putting shelf liner on top and changing it periodically. I just let mine have at it, and wipe it off once in a while. It wipes clean very easily and I just disinfect in between hatches.

Hope this answers your questions! You will have a ball with your new chicks!!!

 

[PrettyCoy]

Just bumping this up with my review - I love it!!! Our chicks arrived yesterday morning and they seem to really like the Ecoglow. They scoot under to warm up and then run out to eat, drink and play. I turned off the lights last night (just regular room light, I don't have any extra heat or light on them) and they all fell fast asleep, I even lifted up the Ecoglow to see what they were doing and they didn't wake up. I'm so happy I ordered it, totally worth the $.

Pics here.

 

[andalusn]

I now have two units and they totally replaced the red lights. I use natural daylight and dark at night and its funny...in the morning they come out from under the EcoGlo and do a big stretch like it was the best nights sleep

as the peeps got older they just tended to warm their fannies under the edge all the way around. When I first put it in a new smaller brooder its up against the back corner and wall so the cord is not in the way. as they get older I move it out just a bit and some like the wall space and others find their favorite spot. I am very happy with it and thinking I may need one more or just get the new bigger size.

 

[jenkassai]

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Sooo glad to hear I'm not the only person with their brooder in their bedroom!!! My family thinks I'm crazy and that my DH is a saint

I JUST got my Ecoglow today. My chicks are three days old, I'm having trouble getting them to go under it. I put them under and they run back out! Also how tall should I have it set, I have it on the shortest height but wonder if I should move it up to medium?

 

[AyeUpChuck]

Does anyone feel like theirs isn't very warm? I set it on the second level as my chicks are 1-2wks old with light feathering and they won't go near it!

I found them this morning all huddled together next to it but not under it. I really don't want to put that red light back on! Should I just move it down a notch?

 

[jenkassai]

Okay, I MAY have solved my issue. I went in to check on them and they were all huddled in the corner sleeping (there are only 3 of them right now). I quietly placed the brooder at an angle really close to them so they would HAVE to go under it to get out. That seemed to work with one, she went under and didn't come out and I could hear her chirping underneath it

Her sister is sleeping with her bottom under it and the last one (stubborn!) is trying to not lay under it still but I think will get the hang soon. She is also the one who seems slowest in learning what the feeder is! I had a little tray with starter in it and the feeder with starter in it. Yesterday two (Jersey Giants) were eating out of the feeder but the third (Col. Wyandotte) just wasn't "getting" it

 

[Happy Chooks]

I know this is an old thread, but I was gifted an Eco Glow recently.

How low temp have you brooded chicks with the Eco Glow and not lose any chicks? I brood outside in a small coop which holds heat well, but it's getting into the high 40's at night. I'm watching them, and so far they really like it. They have a 25 watt red party light for light.

I will add a heat lamp if necessary, but I'd love to hear from you experienced people with this brooder, especially those that brood in garages or basements as the temp would be very close to mine outside.

 

[Highlander]

I know this is an old thread, but I was gifted an Eco Glow recently.

How low temp have you brooded chicks with the Eco Glow and not lose any chicks? I brood outside in a small coop which holds heat well, but it's getting into the high 40's at night. I'm watching them, and so far they really like it. They have a 25 watt red party light for light.

I will add a heat lamp if necessary, but I'd love to hear from you experienced people with this brooder, especially those that brood in garages or basements as the temp would be very close to mine outside.

I know I have the same climate as Gypsy07 that loved hers but I have struggled with mine. I brood in the barn and I'm finding the ambient temperature is just not warm enough for the ecoglow alone. I've been using a heat lamp for the first few weeks as well as the ecoglow which kinda defeats the purpose but I did lose one when it either wandered off and got lost or it got kicked out by it's hatchmates. It was around 50 degrees in the barn then. I feel better having the lamp in there as well now for the first couple of weeks at least before removing it.

It worked great for my ducklings though!