moment and tapped the hanging nest box. Out came the fourth hen! Also, out came the power screwdriver and I removed the nest box. Sure enough, there were eggs under it. With the accumulation of frozen poop and deep litter, they used that nice dark spot to lay. 
Yeah, it's no fun and you can't be thorough. I use the deep bedding method and usually wait until spring to clean.
This is what I keep trying to do, but it just isn't working. I've read about it, watched videos about it, but I still end up with a frozen mess on top of litter than doesn't decompose.
Deep bedding isn't meant to decompose. I think you're thinking of the deep litter method.
Okay, I may be confusing things then. Thought they were the same. In any case, it's still freezing into poopsicles.
Wow, glad you're alright and it all didn't happen during the snowstorm! Great news about the eggs!Did a first cursory candle of the eggs (day three) and I think all but one of them is developing!!! Saw some very clear veining in some of them. Will double check in a couple of days.
And in other news, we're battening down the hatches in preparation of our first (and hopefully only) major snow storm of the season. I knew the minimal amounts we'd been getting was too good to be true. We still have about 45-60 cm of the stuff on the ground, but it was all in small (but frequent) dumps.
I think I would have preferred one huge snowfall at the start of the season and nothing for the rest of it.
Went into town to grab supplies, and blew a tire. And of course, I didn't have a spare. Only good thing about it is that it popped not too far from town. Drove extra slow to the first garage I could find and the tire was completely shredded by the time I got there. Thankfully, they were very understanding and even though they had to order one in for me, they made sure I got my car back within a few hours.
