from WI. I got 5 chickens this spring and have asked some of the same questions.....I dd some reading beforehand and finally decided on a handful of breeds that are supposed to do well in colder climates, are good egg layers and nice plump birds (Just for looks, nobody will end up in a stew, I am vegetarian) Then I had to see where to get them, mail order was not my first choice. I found someone not too far that had some of the breeds I was interested in. I ended up with 3 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 1 Easter Egger (picked out by a friends 10 y/o daughter 'cause she was just the cutest little yellow fluffball) and 1 Salmon Faverolle. I was worried about the feathered feet on the Faverolle, that's why I only have the one. But she is the sweetest, funniest, most inquisitive friendly girl!!!!! And cute.....
I am not planning to really heat th coop during winter, the pen is 1/2 open (chickenwire/hardware cloth on 2 sides), I heard providing a dry area out of the wind should be OK for the most part. I have a heatlamp for the sleeping coop if needed. I am planning on keeping an area of the patio adjacent to the coop and run shoveled during the winter. Have to see how that works. I am prepared to cover the pen more if needed
