Appletons Chick Brooder Starter Package for Rearing Day-Old Chicks
Prepare for your new arrivals with a brooder cage, heating equipment, feeding and drinking accessories, and bedding essentials in one package. The Appletons Chick Brooder Starter Package brings the core equipment together so you can set up and test your brooder before collecting your chicks.
Designed as a starting setup for raising day-old chicks, ducklings, pheasants or quail, with equipment and management suited to the species you are rearing. Chicks and starter feed are not included.
Included in the starter package
Easy-clean chick brooder cage: 1m or 1.2m, according to the option selected.
Chick mat: 90 × 90cm, for use in the brooder during the first few days.
Chick drinker: the type and capacity depend on the heating package selected below.
Crown Chick Trough: 33cm.
Crown Chick Suspension Feeder: 1.5kg, with a chain for hanging it.
Untreated wood shavings: supplied in a plastic bag inside the starter pack. Appletons recommends introducing these when chicks are four to five days old.
Tips and information sheet: guidance for rearing day-old chicks.
Heat source: either the 75W heat package or the Comfort heat plate, as selected.
Choose from three local configurations
75W Heat Package + 1.3L Drinker | 1m: 1m cage with the Appletons radiant heat package and 1.3L Crown chick drinker.
25 × 25cm Comfort Heat Plate + 1L Nipple Drinker | 1m: 1m cage with the contact heat plate and 1L nipple bottle drinker.
75W Heat Package + 1.3L Drinker | 1.2m: 1.2m cage with the Appletons radiant heat package and 1.3L Crown chick drinker.
Each package contains the heating and drinking equipment named in its option, not both heating systems. The 1.2m option listed here uses the 75W heat package.
Radiant heat or contact heat?
75W radiant heat package: uses a ceramic heat emitter to provide warmth without light. Hanging chain and snap hooks are included for securing the heat source as directed. The product-page guide indicates approximately 12–24 day-old chicks for this heat source; actual suitability depends on conditions, bird size and the complete brooder layout.
25 × 25cm Comfort heat plate: provides contact warmth beneath an adjustable-height plate, allowing chicks to rest underneath it. The product-page guide indicates approximately 15–20 day-old chicks for the plate. Ensure all chicks needing warmth can fit comfortably beneath it and adjust the height as they grow. These heat-source estimates are not guaranteed cage capacities or counts for ducklings and other species.
Set up before your chicks arrive
Place the brooder in a sheltered, well-ventilated location away from draughts and other animals. Install and test the selected heat source following its instructions, including required clearances from bedding and other materials. Keep electrical equipment and connections away from water and leave room for chicks to move away from the warmth.
Use the chick mat during the initial days and keep the surface clean and dry. Prepare suitable starter feed separately and make sure every bird can find and use the selected drinker. For quail, ducklings or other young birds, check that drinker access, cage openings and heating arrangements suit their size and needs.
Daily care and growing space
Check birds frequently, refresh feed and water, remove wet bedding and observe whether chicks are comfortable around their heat source. Adjust the setup as they grow, following the equipment instructions and your chick-rearing guidance. Ducklings can wet bedding quickly, so monitor the drinking area closely.
Young birds will need progressively more space. Plan suitable larger accommodation rather than treating this starter cage as permanent housing. Clean the cage and accessories between batches with appropriate poultry-safe products, and let everything dry before adding fresh bedding.
ℹ️ Learn more
Raising Chicks Guide | Appletons - everything you need to know about raising chicks
Blog: Appletons Guide to Raising Your Own Chicks - our step-by-step chick raising guide
Shop Comfort Chick Warmer | Heat Plate - our recommended heat plate for chicks
Shop Chick Brooder Cage - our favourite brooder cage
Read more less
