What gas brooder do I need for rearing pheasants?

The answer to this will all depend on your set up.

Creating an optimal environment for rearing young chicks is of great importance. Especially in the first few days and weeks of life.

To determine what kind of brooder is best firstly determine how many birds you will be rearing. Secondly decide what brooder housing will be used. A brooder house doesn’t have to be all singing and dancing or purpose built.

But the conditions inside the building are vital.

What gas brooder do I need for rearing 800 chicks or less?

The Type 41 is suitable for up to 400 birds and the Type 81 is suitable for up to 800 birds. These heaters are also ideal for smaller brooder sheds.

Ceramic gas brooders are a very reliable solution for heating in livestock environments. Although the ceramic gas brooder is a classic design, it has proved to be very sustainable and reliable.

They remain the most suitable solution for a smaller number of birds.

The Alke Type 41 should be hung at least at least 70 cm from the floor. The Type 81 should be hung at least 120 cm from the floor.

For full operating information take a look at the Manual here!

Can I use a thermostatic gas brooder for rearing less than 1000 birds?

Yes; but the Global’s are designed to hung at a higher height than the ceramic brooders. Therefore the brooder house will need to be big enough and well ventilated enough.

However the Alke AP2; the most recent addition; can be hung at a similar height to the Type 81. It should be hung at least 125cm from the ground. It is also the most affordable thermostatic gas brooder that we have available.

Alke AP2 Manual & Instructions

Thermostatic brooders do come at a higher initial cost. But over time they will save you time and money!

So if you are choosing between a Type 81 and the AP-2 do consider advantages of a thermostatic heater.

Advantages of the Alke AP2 Gas Brooders:

• Direct radiation of radiant heat
• Temperature raise within seconds
• Almost soundless and no air movement
• Wide operating range in gas pressure and capacity
• Stainless steel construction
• Save money on gas as the thermostat will maintain the chosen temperature level for you.

These low maintenance brooders are made from stainless steel and have no breakable ceramics. As a result, they are an excellent solution for smaller rearing sheds.

What is the best gas brooder for rearing over 1000 chicks?

The famous Alke Global design gas brooders are the best gas brooders on the market.

The strong stainless steel reflector & spherical burner helps to radiate 95% of the heat efficiently downwards.

The advantages of the Global design are:

• Two spherical gas burners of special heat resistant stainless steel
• Stainless steel reflector
• Stainless steel venturi pipe
• Spherical gas burner that transmit all produced heat toward the ground
• An individual capillary thermostatic valve, measuring the temperature on floor level
• It localizes the heat on the ground
• No electricity needed
• Uniform temperature, without drastic variations
• Easy maintenance (not effected by water)

The Global 5 Gas Brooder is suitable for up to 1250 chicks and needs to be hung between 140 cm – 170 cm from the ground.

The Global 10 is suitable for up to 2000 chicks and should be hung 180 cm – 200 cm from the ground.

Take a look at the full User Installation and Maintenance Manual for Global Heaters here.

What do our customers think?

“I’ve been a keeper for 21 years now and rearing my own birds for about 15 or so years, I started with just a few 8ft x 8ft sheds rearing 350 chicks per shed with Type 41 heaters.

I soon moved to 24 ft x 19 ft sheds of 2000 chicks with Global 10 heaters with thermostats. These saved me a lot of time and money and have decreased my losses.”

Adam Horn, Kent Gamekeeper

We also offer the full range of spares and accessories for the Alke brooders.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call the team on 01308 485422.

Or contact us here.