The less glamorous side of raising chickens. Coop clean out day. Every weekend I go down to the chickens, don a pair of rubber gloves and commence cleaning out the coop and run.
This involves cleaning out the nesting boxes, which they like to sleep in even though we have tried to discourage it; cleaning out the main coop and replacing the wood shavings when needed. Then I rake up all the poop, and may I just say they are prolific poopers, and finally, rinse out their water and feed containers (we actually clean out the water container several times a week).
The girls are very curious about the clean up activities. As soon as I open up the nesting box door or the clean out door they come running up the ramp to see what I am doing. They also love a fresh clean bed. Who doesn't?
So far this once a week cleaning is working. The coop doesn't ever smell bad and everyone appears healthy and happy with the arrangement. When the weather gets wetter I'm guessing it might be more of an ordeal and might need to be done more often to keep the smell down and to keep their environment healthy.
After I clean their coop and run I give them a little treat of some scratch. What cracks me up about this picture is that Rick walked up to the back side of the coop and they all pretty much ignored me and my offerings to see what Rick was doing. They love him. He is like some sort of Dr. Doolittle. All animals love him.
Look at that – they could care less about me.
I absolutely love your chicken palace and your chickens. I am a farm girl myself, growing up on one, so I love what you’ve done! Funny how animals are that way with people, never know who they will take to and sometimes it is those who weren’t fond of them to begin with. Have a good day.
Not Dr Doolittle…more like a chick magnet! Ha! The girls are getting so big and pretty!
Love your chicken coop! Adorable. One bit of advice from a chicken lover and keeper, make sure your coop is dog-proof. Just trust me on this. My girls have a shed-size house with a high bar to roost on surrounded by chain link, surrounded by a fenced-in yard. And we still have had some close calls.