Oh joy! Today we get to do the monthly coop and chicken run cleaning. Isn't that fun?
Actually with only two hens it's not too bad. If we want the girls to stay healthy and not get foot rot, we need to make sure the nesting area and run is clean and dry. We use pine shavings that are easy, smell great, and provide good insulation for the girls in the nesting and cooping area. They are cheap too.
We clean out the poop from their nests every day, as chickens are indiscriminate poopers, and the same with the run. It's only about a 5 minute task.
But today we are throwing the girls a curve. We're going to move the coop inside of the chicken run so they have more room, then well as change the bedding with clean fresh pine shavings. I have noted that chickens like humans are creatures of habit. I hope moving the coop won't throw them for a loop. ( see I made a poem there)
We are also reseeding the grass today that they destroyed off our patio. It took us several weeks to notice. It was subtle, then holy crap the lawn is now mud. Chickens are hell on lawn. This is why we no longer let them free range all day. They took a while to become adjusted to being in a lot of the day. They cackled and grumbled for about two weeks, then settled in to this new routine. They still dash out lickety split each morning, to get the worms.
They just love it when we clean the coop/run. They kick pine shavings all around, and have a great time.
While cleaning the chicken area is not my favorite task, it pales in comparison to what I had to do when I worked as an RN. All you nurses out there know what I'm talking about. And...Mable and Barbara are worth it.
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