Integrating new chickens...a unique situation.

:hugs It is a little scary when everything is new! But ventilation is your friend, even more than insulation. My concern is that metal roof, where you may have condensation and water dripping down from that. But I'm no expert in that. Not sure who is, so I will tag a few folks here and if they do not directly know the answer (they probably do, they are very knowledgeable!), they will certainly know who does. As for your very helpful family, if they do not themselves have chickens, just smile and thank them for their concern. Here at BYC you will have the benefit of people with many years of experience, like these:
@Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock, @aart.
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! I'm wondering if the condensation thing will be an issue because my husband put plywood up under the vent areas to direct airflow up and in and not have wind blowing straight in the vents. I added a couple pictures that hopefully show what I mean. So right above the chickens' heads is not actually metal, but wood. The walls are what worry me.. And some airflow around the doors which I think I will try and find some kind of weather stripping or something to fix before there's cold wind blowing through the cracks. My husband is also going to make an actual pop door, because currently we have been opening the huge door for them in the morning... Or on rainy days having it partly open, as you can see in the last picture. But that definitely won't fly in the winter! Still some work to be done, but it's nearly there.

As for my concerned family, no, they do not have chickens. They know a couple people who have chickens though, so that makes them experts, right? My father-in-law called the vents we put in the stupidest thing ever and asked my husband why he did it. My husband just pointed at me and said "she told me to and she's the one who did all the research." Lol. Thanks for throwing me under the bus. 🙄
 

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Wow, that's impressive! I wouldn't put weatherstripping in yet till you hear from some of the folks I tagged. Give it a couple of days anyway. You don't want drafts but you do want airflow. Again, i'm not an expert, I'm just ... Well.. I guess I'm just an encouraging busybody, lol! Don't panic, you don't have any icy weather moving in right away, do you?
 
If I want 4sqft per chicken I need 24 chickens.
Ok... already addressed. And actually, if it is super cold and nasty out, then you want MORE inside space since the chickens will not be wanting to go outside. I try to aim for 9 Square feet per bird of indoor housing.

Both ladies I'm getting chickens from seem to think that adding all these new chickens at once will be ok because there's not just one or two that might get picked on.
I agree. Toss them all in at the same time, on a day when you can sit out there for a couple of hours and watch.

It will probably be fine, but if there is an issue then you can round up the problem individuals and put them in "see but no touch" kennels or some such.

I did note though... you have ladder roosts... if ALL of the chickens can not comfortably fit on the TOP bar, then that might result in fighting.

I would recommend enough roost space for everyone, all at the same level

Quote:
And the normal temperature for the winter is -20C (-4F) on a good day.

That is a perfectly fine temp for chickens.

Personally I think under -20F on a daily basis (not short dips, or the low, but staying in the -30F range or colder for weeks at a time) does require some kind of heating.

Warmer than that and the chickens will be fine with zero heat. However, if you are far north, or are often overcast, along with 0F or colder, I STRONGLY recommend the use of lights on a timer. Chickens will not eat or drink in the dark. They eat WAY MORE the colder they get. I find 10 or 11 hours of light a good choice. But the colder it gets I might increase the light a bit more, just try not to use so much light that they are forced to lay... which I think is 14 hours???
 

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