I'm never gonna get an egg!!!

[apryl29]

I don't want to hear about excess rain, my yard still squishes after two flipping days and some areas where the chickens hang out smell like old fritos and butt.

Doesn't Suzi like the frito smell? LOL I'll see if we have our 'pond' later.. There's a rather low spot in the side yard and it fills with water so it looks like we have a huge pond. I hate when it warms up and rains b/c the water can't drain. Fortunately we put the coop on a little hill so they don't flood, but w/ all the mud we should get a pig.

 

[Chickassan]

I think she does like fritos lol! All i absolutely know without a shadow of a doubt is that rain and chicken mess are a nasty combination. I normally don't smell them but right now i can totally tell where they like to be. I feel bad for people who have a ton of chickens in this slop.

Doesn't Suzi like the frito smell? LOL I'll see if we have our 'pond' later.. There's a rather low spot in the side yard and it fills with water so it looks like we have a huge pond. I hate when it warms up and rains b/c the water can't drain. Fortunately we put the coop on a little hill so they don't flood, but w/ all the mud we should get a pig.

 

[apryl29]

I think she does like fritos lol! All i absolutely know without a shadow of a doubt is that rain and chicken mess are a nasty combination. I normally don't smell them but right now i can totally tell where they like to be. I feel bad for people who have a ton of chickens in this slop.

Mine have reeked for a little while now. I recently tossed some straw in there and it helped for about 2 seconds, but everything is damp and gross. I cannot wait for it to be warm and dry enough to clean them out. It's soooo gross.

 

[Chickassan]

Ugh, i hear ya.The worst here is the run they don't have to hang there but they do. Did like you added straw and between the straw mud and poop it's like ice skating in there. They won't let grass grow in there ever, got a whole freaking acre to eat but will not let grass happen in the run.

Mine have reeked for a little while now. I recently tossed some straw in there and it helped for about 2 seconds, but everything is damp and gross. I cannot wait for it to be warm and dry enough to clean them out. It's soooo gross.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I almost fell twice tonight going to shut the guinea door and the pop doors ! And i met a guy at Lowes that wants guinea keets this spring!

I don't want to hear about excess rain, my yard still squishes after two flipping days and some areas where the chickens hang out smell like old fritos and butt.

 

[Killer Tomato]

Ugh, i hear ya.The worst here is the run they don't have to hang there but they do. Did like you added straw and between the straw mud and poop it's like ice skating in there. They won't let grass grow in there ever, got a whole freaking acre to eat but will not let grass happen in the run.

There were SO many times last winter where I was ice skating on a frozen poop sidewalk hidden under the snow thanks to my lazy dogs. Ten years in Oregon, you'd think they'd be used to the rain and cold, but they turn into incredible wusses sometimes and do their business as close to the back door as possible. I pick up every day, but still! Grrrrrr.

My chickens seem really tidy compared to the Prima Donna dogs.

 

[Chickassan]

Honestly I think they get bored in the winter and think up new ways to kill us. I swear I watched chickens go to the run, poop and then walk out.

There were SO many times last winter where I was ice skating on a frozen poop sidewalk hidden under the snow thanks to my lazy dogs. Ten years in Oregon, you'd think they'd be used to the rain and cold, but they turn into incredible wusses sometimes and do their business as close to the back door as possible. I pick up every day, but still! Grrrrrr.

My chickens seem really tidy compared to the Prima Donna dogs.

 

[CapricornFarm]

There were SO many times last winter where I was ice skating on a frozen poop sidewalk hidden under the snow thanks to my lazy dogs. Ten years in Oregon, you'd think they'd be used to the rain and cold, but they turn into incredible wusses sometimes and do their business as close to the back door as possible. I pick up every day, but still! Grrrrrr.

My chickens seem really tidy compared to the Prima Donna dogs.

One of my dogs(the old one) poops mostly on the deck, even after i make him go down off the deck when i let him off.

 

[Chickassan]

Oh Cappy, lol! At least he dosent poop on the steps. That's a new trick mine have learned, i don't like it much.

One of my dogs(the old one) poops mostly on the deck, even after i make him go down off the deck when i let him off.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I'll give you some of our expected rain too! I was so excited b/c today it's supposed to be in the 50's, but then by the time I get out of work it's supposed to be raining. The yard is already a swampy muddy mess. Their runs don't have any grass anymore so they're going to be horrible. Anyone ever toss gravel into their run? I wonder if it'd help or just make things worse in the long run.

It sounds like your little ones are doing well. I have a couple who've always been a bit timid. Are the others picking on Eve? How old are the littles now?
If I don't scoop the poop in the am I get the unsiftable stuff too from them walking around in it. I've noticed that it's very dusty when I scoop it now. Do you ever replace all of it? I'm kinda worried about the dust getting in the air, not sure if it might be bad for them. A couple want to watch while I do it b/c they think I'll start tossing out treats or something.

No need to send rain, we're supposed to get some but I haven't watched the news to find out when. So far the run is ok -- poopy but not muddy. I ended up putting a lot of the chunky wood chips in there and that's helped a lot.

I have been scooping the 2 largest poop boards, where the youngins like to hang out, about 3 times a day but still ends up a mess. I haven't emptied an entire poop board, but have been scooping out the wettest stuff.

I also can't wait till the weather is warm so I can give their house a good cleaning. It's SUPER dusty in there. It doesn't seem to bother them, but I end up with big ol' dirt boogers after I go fluff everything. I think the dust is mainly from the diatomaceous earth I put down initially, and then from straw and wood chips. I don't think the poop board sand is really that dusty. maybe you can push some of the sand to the side and use a dustpan to collect the fine stuff. I have one of those little hand broom and dustpans they sell in the automotive section - easy to get in small spaces.

They are doing pretty well, but still run and hide when the older chickens come along. There isn't too much squabbling going on now, but occasionally a hen gets a wild hair up her butt and starts picking on someone. I think a few of the boys like to try mating Eve, she squeals and runs and then they chase her. She does a lot of hiding. Eve is 4 months now and the others are 3 months. I was trying to snuggle one of the boys today and he wasn't interested. He kicked me in the cheek and put a nice scratch on it lol.