Howdy. Me and the Mrs. were recently gifted two hens for eggs. July I believe it was. They had just started laying. I moved a small wooden house into an unused 10x10 kennel. Hung some shade tarps over it and fed them each a cup of chick starter twice daily. That's what the lady gave them to us said to feed them. A week ago I bought them laying pellets. Purina, and they turned their nose up at it. So now I have to pulverize it for them or they won't eat it. Hope they'll start in on it theirselves before long. Rain had been bad for about a week now. (They usually roost on top of the doghouse and wont get in it even in a downpour.) The pen had got to smelling pretty ripe so I went online to find advice what to do about it and found this place. First thing I did was run to town and buy a few bags of course sand. Came home, raked and scooped it out, poured the sand and they seem to like it. It doesn't smell nowhere near as bad as it did. Thanks. I wonder if I should put a bigger house in for them with a roosting pole in it? I also wonder if I should put a waterproof top on it? Here is what they have. I dont know what kind they are. One lays a blue egg, the other lays a brown egg. Any advice is appreciated, and like Minnie Pearl at the Grand Ole Opry...."I'm just so proud to be here!"