We are back to give a review on another great Brinsea product that we have been using with our hatched chicks, The Brinsea EcoGlow20 Chick Brooder. For those not familiar with young chicks, they need to be kept warm, really warm for the first few weeks of their life. The traditional item used for this is a 250 Watt incandescent infrared Red Heat Lamp with a red tinted bulb. The idea is that the red tint won’t be as bright, allowing the chicks to sleep…but it still is a light source that they are exposed to 24/7, and there are also many other issues that occur with these style lights as well including;

• Surface temperatures can exceed 400 degrees
• Fire danger
• They are not energy efficient, costing $3-$5+ per week to run
• Continuous light can affect the chicks sleeping habits and may lead to issues later on
• Inconsistent temperature
  
  
  We did use this style light last year and were really not satisfied with it overall, it was something I was always stressing about and the chicks seem to avoid it or not be able to get warm enough under it. When we made the decision to purchase The Brinsea Incubator, it just seemed natural to give this brooder a try as well…
  
  
  
  
  

The Brinsea Eco Glow20 Chick Brooder.
Our Cost; $80

Features and Specifications

• 18 Watt/12v System (adapter included) For Minimal Energy Use and Safety
• Dimensions: 12”long x 8”wide x 8” high
• Adjustable Height to Accommodate Larger Breeds
• Indicator Light
• Two Sizes Available EcoGlow20 (suitable for up to 20 chicks) and EcoGlow50 (suitable for up to 50 chicks)
• Durable Plastic Material for Easy Clean up
• Radiant Heat – Safe and Consistent
  
  

Low cost, efficient, safe and reliable brooders suitable for keeping poultry, game or waterfowl chicks warm. Two sizes are available; the EcoGlow 20 suitable for up to 20 chicks and the EcoGlow 50 can accommodate up to 50. These radiant heaters, rated at a nominal 20 and 50 Watts respectively, are far more efficient than conventional infra red lamps as well as being safer since they run from 12 volts from a mains transformer (supplied). The brooder panel height can be adjusted to match chicks of different sizes from quail to goose.

Source

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What We Thought

We actually love everything about this brooder. It has been so easy to use and the chicks seem perfectly happy snuggled up underneath. The idea that there is no high temperature surface gives me peace of mind and the fact that the chicks can have darkness to sleep while still staying warm is extremely important in my opinion.

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Our Favorite Features

• Simple to Assemble and Use
• Safe to touch, No Fire Risk
• Adjustable Height, for easy use with growing chicks or for larger breeds
• Easy to clean
• Consistent temperature with no “hot spots”
• COST EFFICIENCY! This unit at 18w, costs $1.55/month to run versus the 250w infrared Red Heat Lamp at $21.60/month. That is a huge savings and means the unit pays for itself in energy savings alone, in just 4 months.
• 3 year warranty and amazing customer service
• Resale Value - As with all other Brinsea products, this brooder is selling on ebay right now (used) for over $70.

Complaints?

Well if we had to knit pick, the way to adjust the levels of the brooder could be a bit easier. You do have to use a screwdriver to pop the piece out of place and then snap it into the new location. The EcoGlow50 has a much better design with a threaded bar style for easy adjustment.

Final Thoughts

Overall we couldn’t be more pleased with the Brinsea line in general, and would recommend it to anyone. It really makes the whole process so easy and we think it has had a significant effect on the health of our chicks. We have never had a healthier bunch before, and have to give some of the credit to the Brinsea Incubator we reviewed and this brooder.

Models Available

Brinsea EcoGlow20 Brooder

Brinsea EcoGlow50 Brooder

Looking for an Incubator? Check out our recent review;


Brinsea Incubator Review

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And with that…

Chick Update!

So, everything we ever thought we knew about chicks has been thrown out the window this year, in a good way. Meaning all the things that were such a pain when they were a few days old has not been an issue at all this year. You know, those smaller lethargic chicks that you have to baby and care for hoping they will pull through, and the dreaded “pasty butt”…we have had none of those issues. None! I have not cleaned a single fluffy bum, seriously. The chicks are extremely strong and healthy and have been from the moment they hatched.





As you can see they have grown quite a bit in the last month and are happy as can be. It is amazing how quickly they change, and have already begun to get their feathers and losing their adorable fluff.

Chicks under the brooder

Here are also a couple of very short videos of one of the chicks hatching. The video quality is poor due to the double insulated lid of the incubator, but I thought it was something fun to share. Hopefully we get a better video on the next hatch!

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We hope you have found this review helpful and hope to do more product reviews in the future!

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Thank you for reading,
Happy Homesteading.

All content and Photos are our own. Please do not use any part of this blog without our expressed permission. Thank you.