Electric poultry brooder

After the first 48 hours of life, during which the chick must not be removed from the incubator, the animal is able to feed itself and can therefore be removed from the incubator or poultry brooder and placed in a metal cage or large box sheltered from the cold and any external dangers, with an anti-drowning water bowl and a small container of suitable feed with a high protein content for rapid chick growth.

It is important never to give chicks feed intended for adult poultry, as it is not suitable for weaning and also contains calcium, which is not suitable for newborn chicks. The temperature must be constantly monitored and, if necessary, a heat lamp should be used, positioned about 40 cm above the chicks.

Artificial poultry brooder houses offer numerous advantages over other chick rearing systems. Thanks to their structure and integrated technologies, they guarantee complete control of environmental conditions, ensuring the health and well-being of chicks more efficiently than more traditional methods.

• Precise thermal control: unlike manual systems or those based on external thermal sources, poultry brooders allow the temperature to be precisely adjusted using a potentiometer. This prevents thermal fluctuations that can cause serious health problems in chicks.
• Optimal ventilation: the ventilation systems integrated into artificial brooders ensure constant air exchange, reducing the risk of excessive humidity or the accumulation of harmful gases. In simpler or improvised systems, these factors can pose a health hazard to chicks.
• Ease of cleaning: thanks to the removable drawer for collecting excrement, chick breeders reduce the time needed for cleaning and limit direct interaction with the chicks, minimising the risk of stress for the animals.
• Power-saving: many poultry brooders are designed to optimise energy use, ensuring constant heat maintenance without excessive consumption. This is advantageous over less efficient heating systems such as infrared lamps or heaters.
• Greater safety: chick brooder houses are equipped with safety systems to prevent short circuits or overheating, reducing the risk of fire or malfunctions that can be common in heating methods not specifically designed for breeding.

Artificial brooders are equipped with a number of technical features designed to ensure an ideal environment for chick growth. These features allow for effective control of temperature, ventilation and cleanliness, thus ensuring a safe and healthy environment for the chicks.

• Removable tray: This component allows the chicks' droppings to be collected in a special compartment located at the base of the poultry brooder. Thanks to its ease of removal, the farmer can quickly remove the tray and clean it without disturbing the animals, maintaining a clean environment and reducing the risk of infection.
• Ventilation system: Ventilation is essential to ensure constant air exchange inside the poultry brooder. This system prevents the accumulation of moisture and the formation of mould or pathogens, keeping the air fresh and clean for the chicks. Proper ventilation also reduces thermal stress by preventing temperature fluctuations.
• Temperature control via potentiometer: The potentiometer allows you to precisely set the temperature inside the poultry brooder, which is critical for the health of the chicks. In the early stages of life, chicks need high temperatures that can be adjusted according to their growth and plumage development. The potentiometer offers continuous control, adaptable to the specific needs of the animals.
• Internal lighting: The lamps inside the poultry brooder provide a light source that simulates the natural day-night cycle, improving the biological rhythms of the chicks. In addition, the lighting facilitates constant monitoring of internal conditions, allowing the farmer to control the environment at all times, even in poorly lit environments.
• Drinkers and feeders: These accessories ensure a continuous supply of water and food, guaranteeing that chicks always have access to what they need for healthy growth. Drinkers can be connected to a water supply or external tanks, while feeders are designed to prevent food waste and facilitate equitable distribution among the animals.

Choosing the right poultry brooder is essential to ensure a safe and suitable environment for the chicks to grow. There are some key technical features to consider when purchasing a poultry brooder, as these will directly affect the management of the flock and the welfare of the animals. Below are the main factors to consider when making your choice:

• Poultry brooder size: The size of the structure is important to ensure sufficient space for the chicks. Depending on the number of animals to be reared, it is necessary to choose a poultry brooder with an adequate area so that the chicks have space to move around without overcrowding.
• Temperature control system: The ability to precisely regulate the internal temperature is essential, especially in the first days of the chicks' lives. Ensure that the poultry brooder is equipped with a potentiometer that allows for simple and continuous heat regulation.
• Ease of cleaning: A removable tray or manure collection system greatly simplifies hygiene management. This is essential for maintaining a clean environment and preventing disease.
• Adequate ventilation: A well-designed ventilation system is essential for keeping the air inside the poultry brooder clean and fresh, reducing the risk of respiratory problems for the chicks. Check that the poultry brooder provides effective ventilation without creating harmful draughts.
• Included accessories: Check whether the poultry brooder is equipped with drinkers and feeders that facilitate the management of the chicks' feeding and hydration.

• Professional breeders: For those who manage large farms, it is important to purchase a large poultry brooder with an optimal heating and ventilation system. Features such as ease of cleaning and precise temperature control are crucial for intensive breeding.
• Semi-professional breeders: Those who raise chicks for commercial purposes on a small scale will find a medium-sized poultry brooder useful, offering a good compromise between functionality and cost. An adjustable heating system and efficient ventilation are sufficient to ensure the health of the animals.
• Domestic poultry enthusiasts: For those who raise small groups of chicks at home, it is advisable to choose a compact but well-equipped poultry brooder. Even if space is limited, it is important that the structure is easy to clean and offers accurate temperature control.

Buying chick incubators from the best brands guarantees quality, reliability and durability. At AgriEuro, you can find poultry brooders from leading brands in the sector, offering technologically advanced products suitable for different breeding needs. Here are some of the best brands available:

• FIEM poultry brooder: Fiem is a brand renowned for the production of high-quality artificial brooders. Its products offer precise temperature control and optimal air management, ideal for professional farms.
• Novital chick brooder: Novital specialises in the production of easy-to-use poultry equipment, with a focus on robustness and ease of maintenance. Novital poultry brooders are suitable for both domestic and semi-professional contexts.
• River Systems artificial poultry brooders: River Systems offers poultry brooders with an innovative and functional design. Its models are appreciated for their ease of use and advanced ventilation and temperature control systems.

Buying artificial brooders on AgriEuro offers a number of advantages that ensure a simple and convenient shopping experience. AgriEuro is a leader in the sale of agricultural and livestock equipment, with a wide range of quality products available at competitive prices. Here are some of the main reasons to choose AgriEuro:

• Fast and free shipping: AgriEuro guarantees fast shipping at no extra cost, managed directly by its logistics centres so you receive your poultry brooder quickly.
• Spare parts always available: AgriEuro offers the possibility to order spare parts at any time, ensuring continuous maintenance and uninterrupted operation of chick breeders.
• Attentive and personalised after-sales service: AgriEuro's customer service is available to support customers with personalised advice, resolving any issues or doubts regarding the use and maintenance of poultry brooders.

Thanks to these advantages, purchasing chick breeders on AgriEuro is a safe and convenient choice. Take advantage of this opportunity to improve your farm with the high-quality products available on the website.

A chick is usually born after an incubation period of about 21 days. This process occurs when the egg is kept at the right temperature, around 37.5°C, and is constantly kept moist. During the first 18 days, the egg must be turned regularly to ensure proper embryo development. In the last three days, the chick begins to break the shell using its 'egg tooth', a small protrusion on its beak that falls off shortly after birth.

Optimal conditions for hatching include:

• Constant temperature: 37.5°C throughout the incubation period.
• High humidity: Especially necessary in the last few days to facilitate breaking the shell.
• Regular rotation: Up to 18 days to prevent the embryo from sticking to the membrane.

The standard incubation time for chicken eggs is 21 days. This period may vary slightly depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment, but generally the process occurs in three main stages. During the first 18 days, the egg is incubated at a temperature of 37.5°C with a humidity level of 45-50% and must be turned frequently. In the last three days, turning is stopped and the humidity is increased to 65-70%.

Important factors include:

• Temperature stability: Even a slight variation can compromise embryo development.
• Humidity: This directly affects the chick's ability to break the shell.

Raising chicks without a hen requires special attention to environmental conditions. It is necessary to provide them with an incubator or artificial hen that maintains a temperature between 35 and 37°C in the first days of life. The temperature can be gradually reduced by about 2-3°C per week until the chicks develop all their plumage, usually around the sixth week of life.

The main steps for rearing include:

• Artificial brooder: An infrared lamp or a specific heater.
• Adequate nutrition: Protein-rich starter feed to promote rapid and healthy growth.
• Clean, fresh water: Always available in special drinking troughs.

After hatching, chicks should be placed in a warm, safe environment, such as an artificial brooder or heated box, where the temperature is regulated at around 35-37°C for the first few days. This environment should be well ventilated but draught-free and equipped with a heat source, such as an infrared lamp. As the chicks grow, the temperature can be gradually reduced by 2-3°C per week.

Key elements for housing chicks include:

• Adequate heating: A heat source that covers the entire space.
• Sufficient space: At least 1 square metre for 15-20 chicks.
• Cleanliness: Clean, dry bedding to prevent infection.

Newborn chicks should be given a starter feed specially formulated for the first few days of life, rich in protein (18-20%) and essential vitamins to promote growth and development. This type of feed contains small pellets that are easy to swallow and digest, ideal for their small beaks. In the early days, chicks can also be fed small amounts of sugar water to provide extra energy.

Some essential foods include:

• Starter feed: Rich in protein and nutrients.
• Fresh, clean water: Essential to prevent dehydration.
• Fine grit (fine sand or grit): Helps with the digestion of solid food.

Avoid feeding them food that is too large or unsuitable, such as bread or whole grains, which could cause digestive problems.

The brooder can be removed from the chicks when they have fully developed their plumage, usually around 6-8 weeks of age. At that point, the chicks are able to regulate their own body temperature. Before removing the brooder, it is important to gradually reduce the ambient temperature by 2-3°C per week to acclimatise them to the outside climate.

Factors to consider:

• Body temperature: They must be able to keep themselves warm without the help of the broody hen.
• Full plumage: Plumes act as thermal insulation.
• Outdoor conditions: Avoid removing the brooder if the outdoor climate is too cold or damp.

Chicks should remain under the artificial brooder until they have developed full plumage, usually around 6-8 weeks of age. During this period, it is necessary to adjust the temperature according to their growth, starting at around 35-37°C and gradually reducing it by 2-3°C each week. Once they reach 20°C and have developed all their plumage, the chicks can be transferred to an environment without a brooder.

Things to consider:

• Plumage growth: Chicks must be fully feathered.
• Ambient temperature: Must be stable, without thermal fluctuations.
• Chick behaviour: If they move away from the heat source, it means they are ready for lower temperatures.

The ideal temperature for chicks varies depending on their age. In the first few days of life, chicks require a warm environment with an initial temperature of 35-37°C under the artificial brooder or in the incubator. This temperature must be kept constant for the first 1-2 weeks of life, as chicks are not yet able to regulate their body temperature independently.

After the second week, the temperature can be gradually lowered by 2-3°C each week until it reaches 20-22°C, at which point the chicks should have developed sufficient plumage to survive without an additional heat source. In general, chicks reach the ability to self-regulate their temperature around the sixth week of life, when they are fully feathered.

Key factors for maintaining the ideal temperature:

• Age of chicks: Reduce the temperature gradually each week.
• Thermometer positioned at chick height: To accurately monitor the ambient temperature.
• Chick behaviour: If they huddle close to the heat source, they may be cold; if they scatter far away, it may be too hot.

it is essential that the heat source is adjustable and that there is enough space to allow the chicks to move freely to cooler or warmer areas, depending on their needs.