We like heat plates for our brooder boxes, when we use them. What we do that is probably different is that we have kept numerous 'pelts' over the last few years when butchering. We have skinned a number of the adult birds, stretched the skins to dry and then use them to line the box under and behind the heat plate. This gives the chicks feathers to snuggle in to. The skins wash well and we just swap in clean ones as needed and wash the others and allow to air dry.
This may not work when dealing with large numbers of chicks but does great for our use.