How I made my flock happy today

[marvun22]

Usually when I clean out my coops, I do a certain section and then do other sections later. Today I cleaned out 1 coop and put brand new straw everywhere. I have two coops which are just separated by a door which I usually leave open so they can go back and forth. My ducks, geese, and chickens were mad at me because I locked them all in second coop while I was cleaning out the 1st one. They really shouldn't have been mad. My 2nd coop is bigger and it contains all food, water, and nesting boxes. After I was done with the cleaning, I reopened the coop-to-coop door. You should have seen their reaction. Everything (besides my little chicks), whether tame or scared, ran right past me or between my legs to get to all their new straw. Ten seconds later and every chicken is digging around in it and all the ducks and geese are sticking their beaks into it looking for food.

 

[DawnMarie64]

I have shavings in my coop and they keep pushing it out so my husband put a "lip" in the door so it wouldn't be so easy for them to do. I'm wondering if I put straw in, if they would do the same thing?

 

[gryeyes]

My flock does the same thing when I put in new bales of shavings. As a matter of fact, I don't spread the bales, I just open them, remove the plastic, and let the birds spread the piles of shavings. They have so much fun with it.

The next day I might use a rake to even out the high and low spots, but the chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese do a darned good job!

 

[DawnMarie64]

That's a good idea; I will have to try it.