Update on heat plate:
I combined all of the5-6 day old chicks, some of which were using a heat lamp, into a regular brooder now with just the plate. They have lots of room to run around. After standing around screaming for a while, they've all figured it out. They'll be running around eating one minute, and then all gone the next. There is no light other than the natural daylight.
So far, so good!
Honestly, I've been nervous about them staying warm enough.
There is something so easy about seeing a red glow and being able to instantly see how the chicks are. This is very different and is going to take some getting used to.
One good thing is that the heat plate chicks can tolerate dark right from the start. My 3 week old chicks just about died when I turned their light off to move things around. Because I'm a softie, those guys will have a "night light" FOREVER because of that panic when the lights go out.
I also wonder if the heat lamp doesn't condition them to need it extra warm, too.