It's really important to clean up wet spots in your coop, and to plug leaking holes. For a few reasons I can think of offhand:
1.) smell and ammonia seem to collect quickly in a damp coop
2.) diseases multiply quickly.
The maggots are just a sign you have a problem to address, and I wouldn't panic (although I agree, check your birds for wounds.. that would be bad).
My vote goes: move maggots on t-shirt outside, let chickens get to them and decide out THERE.
Clean up all the wet spots you find and put dry bedding down.
Personally, I disagree with a lot of people saying they NEED to be roosting on poles. My girls and I had a fight about it about 2 months ago.. every night I moved them OFF the nest boxes, ONTO the roosts.. finally I gave up. Some roost on the poles, some roost on the nestboxes. Lately it's been VERY cold, and some are cuddling together on the floor (deep litter, and I'm assuming provides some warmth by itself). I clean my nestboxes every few days (more if they are icky), and let the ladies decide.
Sounds like you love your birds if you are letting them borrow clothes out of your closet
Meghan
1.) smell and ammonia seem to collect quickly in a damp coop
2.) diseases multiply quickly.
The maggots are just a sign you have a problem to address, and I wouldn't panic (although I agree, check your birds for wounds.. that would be bad).
My vote goes: move maggots on t-shirt outside, let chickens get to them and decide out THERE.
Clean up all the wet spots you find and put dry bedding down.
Personally, I disagree with a lot of people saying they NEED to be roosting on poles. My girls and I had a fight about it about 2 months ago.. every night I moved them OFF the nest boxes, ONTO the roosts.. finally I gave up. Some roost on the poles, some roost on the nestboxes. Lately it's been VERY cold, and some are cuddling together on the floor (deep litter, and I'm assuming provides some warmth by itself). I clean my nestboxes every few days (more if they are icky), and let the ladies decide.
Sounds like you love your birds if you are letting them borrow clothes out of your closet
Meghan
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