Little chick too cold?

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I already have three 20 day old chicks in a brooder with a heat plate raised to the height of just above their backs. I've been having issues with this heatplate being a bit too hot and it caused bald spots and even minor burns on the backs of the chicks in the first week so I had to raise it up higher and higher so their backs don't quite touch it as they grow.
This was working OK until I was given a n unwanted single younger chick last night. This chick is only 10 days old and much smaller, therefore the heat plate is quite far away from it when it stands underneath. It seems to be cold most of the time because it wants to follow its older brooder mates around while they spend most of their time not under the heat plate as well. Then I'm concerned that when it does return to the heat plate, it is not getting a high enough temperature. It spends a lot of its time chirrupping in that way that I've learned means it is chilly and tired, but not all the time.

Will it be OK if it is constantly at a slightly cooler than ideal temperature? Is there anything I can do for it? I darent lower the heat plate because it will damage the other larger chicks.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do they sleep in a pile?
Is the little one in the pile with them?

If so I think you will be fine keeping things as is.

The little one is brand new to the brooder......not knowing how it was kept warm before coming to you....It may be trying to adjust to the new flockmates and a different heating method.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The only other thought I have, how big is the heat plate? Is it adjustable where you can lower one side? If you can't lower one side how about placing a block of wood or something under the plate (cover with a piece of cloth) for the chick to get onto - essentially raising the chick to the plate.