Hello Everyone! My name is Elizabeth and I am VERY new to the chicken world. I am a city girl, just 1/2 block out of the city. I (and my family) am building a coop as quickly as possible because I bought chicks, and then more chicks, and then more chicks, and then even some more chicks. We have ISA Browns, Ameraucanas, Amber Links, Barred Rocks, Black Sex LInks, and a few that were labeled Silver Laced Wyandottes (but were the wrong color, so I think they are just going to be our mystery chicks). We have a total of 23! Yes, I was only going to get 5, and I ended up with 23!
Our coop is 8' x 12', which I believe is big enough for 24 chickens. Whew, I came in just under the wire on that one! My plan for the chicken run was going to be 8' x 20' off each side of the coop with a coop door on either side of the coop. They can pick and choose which run to be in or go back and forth.
My question is... Is that enough run space for 23 chickens?
I also have a few Indiana specific questions...
Do you have your coop insulated? Does it need to be insulated?
Do you have a heat light in your coop? Do you need one in there (besides the one under the water in winter).?
I have 5 windows to help ventilate in the summer as well as a vent fan and a second vent? Will the vent fan and the second vent be enough ventilation in the winter?
Do I have to cover and keep my runs free of snow in the winter, or do they go out in the snow?
Thank you so much in advance for all of your knowledge, and for sharing that knowledge with me.
Elizabeth
