I have mine in the garage. They smell, If you go the garage route you may have to buy some new door jam seals on the door entrance to the residence so the smell dont seep into the house. I currently have about 20 to 30 thousand bugs which will clean a deer skull in about 3 to 4 days. So if you plan on just getting them to do you own skulls I would get them about (3 to 5 hundred) in like May so that they can reproduce into a nice colony by the time you need them. PM me I have plenty if you need some no cost. With that being said, I myself think Maceration is by far less work, and a hole lot easier.