Another brooder question

By using the heat plate, you will not have to regulate the temperature. The chicks will regulate it themselves. When cold, they will scurry underneath and then when warm enough they will come out and eat, drink and run around. That’s one of the wonderful things about the heat plate. Also, your entire room will not be 90*, and they use much less electricity.
 
I use a chick waterer for two weeks then introduce a horizontal nipple waterer. I leave both waterers in the brooder for a week. After that, most of them are usually using the nipples, so I take the chick waterer out. This time I'm gonna put the nipple waterer in after a week and see how they do. My chicks should arrive March 8th.

Brooder waterer, I'm gonna add a couple more nipples before I use it this time.

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I am getting 10 chicks total. I have read online that mt healthy has sent 1 or 2 extra in some reviews. I will be getting EE, buff orpington, black Australop, amber link and brown leghorns.
I decided my brooder will be 20 sq ft total and only getting 1 heat plate. I found a chick jungle gym that I will be making so I want I the brooder big enough to have adequate space.
What are your thoughts on nipple waterers when they are that young? I was given a regular waterer but would like them to have nipple waterers in their coop and in their run.
Thanks so much for your help
Is your brooder plate big enough to accommodate 20 chicks?

Sounds like you have a good mix coming! I don't know anything about nipple waterers, so will leave that to the others that use them.
 
I plan on getting the premier heat plate with the top that claims it is good for up to 20 chicks, the dimensions are 12x12. They do have a large which is 16x16 and if that will be better I will order that. The website says that size is good for up to 30 chicks.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have changed my coop plans from 10x6 to 8x12 now. I am also making a bigger brooder. I will make sure I have both waterers in my brooder since I will have both anyway.
 
I plan on getting the premier heat plate with the top that claims it is good for up to 20 chicks, the dimensions are 12x12. They do have a large which is 16x16 and if that will be better I will order that. The website says that size is good for up to 30 chicks.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have changed my coop plans from 10x6 to 8x12 now. I am also making a bigger brooder. I will make sure I have both waterers in my brooder since I will have both anyway.
Get the large one.
The number of birds specified for plates are as bad as the tiny coops, buyer beware.

I have had 16 chicks under a 12x24 heating pad, they were spilling out from under the edges by the time they were feathered out.

Oh, and, Kudos on wanting to provide large area for a brooder space.
When you plan your coop, plan on an area to be sectioned off for new chicks in the future. I like to brood chicks in coop from a week after hatch until I integrate at 4-6 weeks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
 

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