Successfully rearing poultry and game birds requires the right equipment from the very beginning. From providing reliable heat for newly hatched chicks to feeding, watering, housing and protecting growing birds, each stage brings different requirements.
At Ellmor, we have been supplying specialist game-rearing, poultry and gamekeeping equipment since 1991. Our range is designed to help professional gamekeepers, estates, shoots, farmers and small-scale rearers find practical, dependable equipment for every stage of the rearing process.
Whether you are rearing pheasants, partridges, chickens or other poultry and game birds, this guide explains the main equipment you will need and how those requirements change as your birds develop.
Preparing for Your Birds
Good preparation before chicks arrive can prevent many problems later.
Rearing houses, sheds and pens should be prepared well in advance. Old bedding and waste should be removed and the area thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before fresh bedding and equipment are introduced.
Consider the number of birds being reared and make sure there is sufficient space for feeders, drinkers and heating equipment without overcrowding.
Equipment should ideally be tested before the birds arrive. In particular, check that heaters are operating correctly and that drinkers and water systems are supplying water reliably.
Having spare components available can also be invaluable during the busy rearing season.
Equipment to consider
Rearing houses and shelters, disinfectants and cleaning products, bedding, feeders, drinkers, water-system components, heaters and brooding equipment should all be prepared before the chicks arrive.
Heating & Brooding
Providing chicks with reliable and controllable warmth is one of the most important parts of early rearing.
Young birds are unable to regulate their body temperature effectively and therefore require an external heat source during their first weeks.
The heating system needs to provide sufficient warmth while allowing the birds to move towards or away from the heat as required.
Ellmor supplies specialist brooder and infrared heating equipment, including Cerem Infraconic gas heaters, together with associated components and replacement parts.
The behaviour of the chicks is often one of the best indicators of whether conditions are comfortable. Birds gathering tightly underneath a heater may indicate that they are too cold, while birds consistently keeping away from the heated area may indicate excessive heat.
As birds grow and feather, their dependence on supplementary heat gradually reduces.
Shop heating & brooding equipment
Browse Ellmor’s range of Cerem heaters, brooding equipment, regulators, hoses, fittings and replacement components for poultry and game-rearing applications.
Feeding Chicks
Access to feed is essential from the moment chicks enter the rearing environment.
During the early stages, feeders should make food easy for small birds to locate and access while helping to minimise contamination and unnecessary feed wastage.
Enough feeding positions should be provided so that birds do not have to compete excessively for food.
As chicks grow, their feeding requirements increase considerably. Small chick feeders can gradually be supplemented or replaced with larger-capacity feeders suitable for growing and adult birds.
Choosing the right feeder
When selecting feeding equipment, consider:
- The age and size of the birds
- The number of birds being fed
- Feeder capacity
- Protection from rain and contamination
- Ease of filling and cleaning
- Feed wastage
- Whether the feeder will be used inside a rearing house or outdoors
Ellmor supplies feeding equipment suitable for different stages of poultry, pheasant and game-bird rearing.
Drinking Water
A clean and dependable water supply is equally important.
Drinkers for young chicks should provide easy access to water while reducing the risk of birds becoming wet or contaminating the supply.
As birds develop, larger-capacity drinking systems can be introduced.
Ellmor supplies a range of poultry and game-bird drinkers, including larger tripod drinkers and the associated tanks, pipework and fittings required to create practical watering systems.
The BEC 30 Litre Tripod Drinker, for example, is suitable for poultry and game birds as well as ducks, geese and turkeys.
Maintaining a reliable water supply
Drinkers should be inspected regularly and kept clean. Water systems should also be checked for leaks, blockages and contamination.
For larger rearing setups, a properly planned system incorporating header tanks, pipework and multiple drinking points can considerably reduce the amount of manual water handling required.
Ellmor stocks many of the components required to build, maintain and repair these systems.
Feeders & Drinkers as Birds Grow
One common mistake when planning a rearing setup is considering only the requirements of newly arrived chicks.
Birds grow rapidly.
Equipment that is perfectly adequate during the first few days may become unsuitable as the birds become larger and consume greater quantities of food and water.
Planning the transition from chick feeders and drinkers to larger-capacity equipment makes management easier and helps ensure continuous access to feed and water.
Larger feeders can also reduce the frequency with which feed needs to be replenished.
For outdoor use, equipment should be selected with weather protection, stability and durability in mind.
Rearing Pens & Outdoor Areas
As birds mature, they require progressively more space and will eventually move from their initial brooding environment into larger rearing or release areas.
Pens need to provide a secure environment while allowing birds sufficient space to develop naturally.
Depending upon the type of setup, equipment may include pen netting, posts, gates, shelters, feeders, drinkers and electric fencing.
Regular inspection is important. Damage to netting or fencing can quickly create an opportunity for birds to escape or predators to enter.
Electric Fencing & Predator Protection
Predator control and protection are major considerations when rearing game birds.
Electric fencing can provide an additional level of protection around rearing and release areas when correctly installed and maintained.
Ellmor supplies a comprehensive range of Hotline electric fencing equipment, including mains, battery and solar-powered energisers.
The range also includes fencing accessories and testing equipment.
Choosing an energiser will depend upon factors including the length and type of fence, vegetation levels, availability of mains electricity and whether the system needs to be portable.
A fence tester is particularly useful because the physical appearance of an electric fence does not confirm that it is operating effectively.
Regular testing throughout the season can identify problems before they compromise the protection of the birds.
Moving Birds to Release Pens
Moving game birds from the controlled rearing environment into release pens is an important transition.
By this stage, equipment requirements have changed considerably from those needed for young chicks.
Feed and water consumption will be substantially higher, and equipment needs to be suitable for outdoor conditions and larger numbers of growing birds.
Before birds arrive, release pens should be inspected carefully.
Check fencing, netting, gates and electric fencing systems, and ensure feeders and drinkers are positioned and functioning correctly.
Planning this stage in advance reduces disruption and allows birds to settle into their new environment.
Hygiene & Biosecurity
Good hygiene should be maintained throughout the entire rearing period.
Feeders and drinkers can quickly become contaminated if they are not cleaned regularly, while damp bedding and accumulated waste can create undesirable conditions.
A sensible routine includes regular cleaning and disinfection of equipment, removing wet or contaminated bedding, checking drinking systems and preventing unnecessary contamination of stored feed.
Equipment should also be cleaned thoroughly between batches of birds.
Ellmor supplies a selection of cleaning, hygiene and poultry/game-rearing products to help rearers maintain their equipment and facilities.
Vitamins, Supplements & Water Treatment
Depending upon the rearing system, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and other nutritional or water-management products may form part of a wider husbandry programme.
Where supplements are used, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding dosage, preparation and suitability.
Drinking-water equipment should also be maintained carefully when products are administered through a water system to prevent residues or blockages developing.
Browse Ellmor’s poultry and game-rearing range for available supplements, water-treatment and associated products.
Monitoring Rearing & Release Areas
Modern technology can make monitoring rearing and release areas considerably easier.
Trail cameras can help monitor activity around feeders, pens and other locations without requiring someone to be physically present.
They can also provide useful information about wildlife and predator activity around a site.
For gamekeepers and estates, thermal imaging equipment and monoculars can provide additional monitoring capabilities, particularly in low-light conditions.
Ellmor stocks a growing range of specialist gamekeeping and field equipment alongside its traditional rearing products.
Game-Rearing Equipment Checklist
The exact equipment required will depend upon the species being reared, number of birds and the type of rearing system, but a typical setup may include:
Before chicks arrive: rearing house or shelter, heating equipment, brooder heaters, gas regulators and hoses, bedding, chick feeders, chick drinkers, disinfectant and cleaning equipment.
During early rearing: feeders, drinkers, reliable water supply, heating equipment and spares, cleaning products and suitable husbandry supplies.
As birds grow: larger feeders, higher-capacity drinkers, water tanks, pipework and fittings, additional housing or pen equipment.
For outdoor and release areas: pen netting, posts, gates, feeders, drinkers, water-storage equipment, electric fencing, energisers, batteries or solar equipment and fence-testing equipment.
For monitoring and management: trail cameras, thermal imaging equipment, binoculars or monoculars and other gamekeeping equipment.
Planning these requirements before the season begins makes it much easier to identify missing equipment and obtain spares before they are urgently required.
Poultry & Game Rearing Equipment from Ellmor
Ellmor has supplied game-rearing, poultry, gamekeeping and estate equipment since 1991.
Our experience means we understand that rearers do not simply need individual products — they need equipment that works together throughout the complete rearing cycle.
From the first days under a brooder heater through to moving mature game birds into release pens, Ellmor can supply equipment for each stage.
Our range includes:
Heating & Brooding Equipment
Cerem Infraconic heaters, regulators, hoses, fittings and associated equipment.
Poultry & Game Feeders
Feeding equipment for chicks, growing birds and outdoor use.
Poultry & Game Drinkers
Chick drinkers, larger-capacity drinkers and associated equipment.
Water Systems
Header tanks, pipework, fittings and replacement components.
Fencing & Pen Equipment
Products for constructing, maintaining and protecting rearing and release areas.
Electric Fencing
Hotline mains, battery and solar energisers together with fencing accessories and testers.
Rearing & Husbandry Supplies
Practical equipment and consumables used throughout the rearing season.
Gamekeeping Equipment
Specialist equipment for managing and monitoring birds, pens, estates and shoots.
Need Help Choosing Your Equipment?
With such a wide range of equipment available, choosing the correct product is not always straightforward.
Whether you need a replacement component for an existing rearing system or are putting together equipment for a new setup, Ellmor is here to help.
Tell us what you are rearing, approximately how many birds you have and what equipment you already use, and we can help you identify suitable products from our range.
Explore our Poultry & Game Rearing range and prepare for the season with Ellmor.