Have you used a Brinsea Heat Plate?

[duckduckcaboose]

Hi! I have a ceramic bulb(150 watt) in my brooder right now and it is only heating it to 85 degrees. My ducklings arrive from Metzer next week so I really want to get the temp warm enough for them before they even arrive.
Have you used the Brinsea Ecoglow with your ducklings? If so, can you tell me about your experience with it?
I have done a search on the forums and found that some people use it with their ducklings, but no one ever really goes into how long their ducklings use it and if they found that they were happy with it after extended use so I would love to hear more about that. Also, if you could recommend a size that would be very helpful. I'm looking at the Brinsea Ecoglow 1200 that fits 35 chicks.

 

[Jpat]

If your feeling artistic you can line the inside of the heatlamp housing with tin foil, it might cast the heat just enough to get 90 degrees, Or triple up on towels in the bottom to bring it up closer to the lamp

 

[CoriM]

I used a heat table with my ducklings and liked it. I have no idea what the temperature under there was for them, but they liked going under there, and also sitting on top of it. Even when they got so big that a single duck didn't even fit under there alone, they would still wedge themselves in. I think they enjoyed being under something.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! I have two Eco-Glow 50's that I love! I use mine for ducklings, poults, peachicks, and chicken chicks. I think that anything smaller than the Eco-Glow 50 or the EcoGlow Safety 2000 will be too small for more than 5 ducklings.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I have one too. They love under it and when a little older like string on top. I got the smallest one and by week two it's was too small for 4 ducklings. If I had a do over I would get the next size up. Since I almost burned my barn down with a brood lamp, I didn't mind the expense.

 

[hannahbear]

Welcome to BYC! I have two Eco-Glow 50's that I love! I use mine for ducklings, poults, peachicks, and chicken chicks. I think that anything smaller than the Eco-Glow 50 or the EcoGlow Safety 2000 will be too small for more than 5 ducklings.

Hello, I'm also looking to use an EcoGlow with ducklings for the 1st time. I got the EcoGlow Safety 600 for 8 ducklings (it says up to 20 chicks). Do you think that is too small? Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what height to the heat plate at to start with? Thanks!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

8 ducklings will outgrow that after 7 to 8 days depending on breed. You set the height so there heads just barely touch the plate. With ducklings you'll have to watch and maybe raise it a twist every couple of days. They grow so fast.

 

[duckduckcaboose]

Hello, I'm also looking to use an EcoGlow with ducklings for the 1st time. I got the EcoGlow Safety 600 for 8 ducklings (it says up to 20 chicks). Do you think that is too small? Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what height to the heat plate at to start with? Thanks!

Hi! I ended up loving my heat plate, BUT it only fit them for the first week and then they preferred to be under the heat lamp. I use a ceramic bulb and it stays at about 85 underneath it. However, I was happy to have the heat plate to put them under during that first week. I had a weak, runt duckling and she really needed the security it gave. I set mine up so that the back legs were low and the front legs were tall. That allowed them to run under and also gave them a range of heat options. Definitely, get another heat source as well because they will outgrow the heat plate sooner than you can imagine.

 

[hannahbear]

8 ducklings will outgrow that after 7 to 8 days depending on breed. You set the height so there heads just barely touch the plate. With ducklings you'll have to watch and maybe raise it a twist every couple of days. They grow so fast.

Thanks so much!

 

[hannahbear]

Hi! I ended up loving my heat plate, BUT it only fit them for the first week and then they preferred to be under the heat lamp. I use a ceramic bulb and it stays at about 85 underneath it. However, I was happy to have the heat plate to put them under during that first week. I had a weak, runt duckling and she really needed the security it gave. I set mine up so that the back legs were low and the front legs were tall. That allowed them to run under and also gave them a range of heat options. Definitely, get another heat source as well because they will outgrow the heat plate sooner than you can imagine.

Good to know, thank you for the advice! I have a couple normal heat lamps from my chicks that I can also use but I love the idea of switching to the EcoGlow as much as possible. Those old ones make me a little nervous with regards to fire safety haha. Thanks again!