Welcome To BYC .. I am a True Chicken A' Holic now, and Have a room in My house for Baby chicks and Weak or toubled chicks.. I at this point can not even Hear them lol ! I think Its like Living by a Train track after a while you dont even hear the trains go by HA HA .. I Do cleen the cages very regularly to keep down that Barn smell : ) I Recommend strongly good tight containers for feed in the house as you dont want to call mice .. Enjoy your new Farm .. If I were a Betting Woman with the extra space I would bet you won't stop at 12 .. Enjoy !!