chicks arrive tomorrow - brooder question

I'm setting up the brooder today, which is an old dog crate, the plastic kind with the wire 'door' and wire windows on the sides. I'm planning to take the top off and use the bottom with a piece of wire over it.

When I put the shavings in, then the bottom isn't really flat enough for the waterer and feeder to sit in a way that seems stable enough to me. Any advice?

I put a block of wood or a bowl upside down for the water to sit on.. If they are very little.. I clear a place for the wood to sit on.. and put the shavings around it.. so they can stand on the 2x4 to get a drink without figuring out how to jump up.

I was thinking to put a brick in there and use it in a similar fashion, just because I have bricks but the wood would be harder for me to come by. That would be okay, wouldn't it?

Probably better.. just as long as it's not too tall for them to get up on...