I use pine shavings it's easiest for me I also put a tray right under their roosts. Since that's where all the poop is. Then I clean up the tray once a week and clean out the coop once every other month. That's easy for me and it doesn't take much time to clean up.
You need to show the dogs the chicks when they are young but only when you are their. I would do this a couple of minutes each day until they get used to them.
Chickens will always molt once a year so they are probably molting. But chickens need 14 hours of sunlight to lay an egg so they may not be getting enough sunlight.
I was wondering if any one is willing any chickens right now. I'm looking for hens but will take a rooster if it comes with some hens. I'm looking fo cream legbars, Easter eggers, Polish(any kind), silkie(any kind), olive egger, or any other chicken that will lay a blue or green egg.
He could have an allergy to one of the ingredients. I would switch dog food. I just got a chihuahua mixed with a corgi about 2 weeks ago. He does not scratch but he does not like to eat dog food. So sometimes I have to force feed him.
Hens need 14 hours of light to lay an egg and if she is not getting those 14 hours she may not lay. But you can put a light in your coop if you have not already done so.