It has been a long time since I have cleaned out the chicken coop. A LONG time. So long, in fact, that I can't remember the last time I cleaned it. Go ahead and say it. I am a terrible chicken owner. First, I don't clean their little safe haven and second I bring new puppies (that like to kill chickens) home.
For the past few months 3 of the chickens have been molting. While they are molting, they don't lay any eggs. Well, the hens have since feathered out, but they haven't started laying eggs again. So, I put my thinking cap on. Perhaps it is the added stress of the new dogs. Perhaps it is because I haven't been putting out treats since the dogs will most likely eat them instead. Perhaps they just aren't happy hens.
I took a look at their coop the other day when I was refilling their food and I was a bit appalled. Mostly at myself. Their living conditions were less than ideal. Let's just put it that way. I had some work to do. The coop got swept out and a fresh layer of pine shavings. It was looking pretty awesome.
That night I had a dream that the nest box was full of eggs the next morning. When I woke up, I had this theory that the hens might just want a CLEAN place to lay their eggs. I know I would!
Later that morning Harriet left an egg in the nest box. Now I just need to teach B the proper way to clean a coop. AND, if I offer him $2, it might get done very frequently!
No comments:
Post a Comment