Funny because here in Columbus, NM it's also so dry that we finally gave up composting. I use alfalfa in my coop and change it once a month. I have 5 hens and 2 roos. My hubby mows the lawn, I shovel and wheel the alfalfa to the lawn and hubby spreads it out, straight from the coop. And water it...
I have a boombox in my chicken coop that plays the oldies station ... 60's oldies. And they love it. Started them when they were babies because they wouldn't sleep at night so I put on Pandora (they were in my office). Moved them to the coop at 8 weeks and they were restless at night, for 5 days...