I typically use straw for coop bedding as I can compost it when I clean the coop out (the pine shavings are exclusively for the nesting boxes as it is softer and more moisture absorbent than straw to keep the eggs clean). When I first put straw in the new coop I was nervous the young hens would start laying eggs underneath the nesting boxes, but so far that hasn't been the case. I had a silkie bantam build a nest outside the coop before (was trying to brood on 20 eggs). She would disappear for long periods of time and then magically reappear. I figure she didn't want to try to brood eggs in highly contested nesting spots especially since she was at the bottom of the pecking order. A couple times raiding her secret nest spot and she eventually gave up on the endeavor and resumed laying in the coop.
My problem is that in the past when I made chicken soup, I started with canned chicken. Now I have a couple of cockerels in the freezer and ... well, you know. Normally I just stick the frozen bird in the crock pot, add water, veggies and seasonings, cook it all day, then take it off the bones and add dumplings (that's the short version but you get the idea). And it's been years. So I don't have a recipe. Help a gal out? Thanks in advance! (I can only get canned chopped chilis here, sad to say. Not even frozen Hatch chilis! But it will have to do.)
