I got a Premeir 50 and as the chicks got older they often preferred to sleep on top of the heat plate. It also gave more room for them , some slept under, some on top. I just washed the top off once a day - it was not a big deal. Others use a peel off clear wrap. I also put a vertical nipple water bottle on top of the heat plate (it hangs over the edge, got it from Premier) and they really liked that, though I did have to remove and replace wood shavings under the vertical nipple daily - just a handful to keep things very dry. I had 25 chicks with the 50 Premier and I wouldn't have wanted more chicks using it in cold spring months. They are fairly big before they are fully feathered.
But, it worked like a charm. I kept one end a bit higher than the other - raising the whole thing up as they grew. The chicks were very well behaved in the dark, but had problems when I needed to put some of them under a heat lamp when they got older (long story)- they did not sleep at all well with the light (even a red one) since they were used to total darkness.
But, it worked like a charm. I kept one end a bit higher than the other - raising the whole thing up as they grew. The chicks were very well behaved in the dark, but had problems when I needed to put some of them under a heat lamp when they got older (long story)- they did not sleep at all well with the light (even a red one) since they were used to total darkness.
