I'm pulling off the oak leaves and a little attached soil that we leave on the perennial beds to overwinter. If it's safe for chickens, I'm lining the bottom of my newly built coop with dried leaves. I'm hoping this encourages deep litter to compost since my coop doesn't have a dirt floor. I also cut down the hakonechloa grass and stuffed it in the laying nests. Brought some of it upstairs for the girls to play with in the brooder.
I left the coop doors open last night to let the leaves dry, and when I went out this morning there were robins in there foraging ;-).
We're finally having above-freezing nights and warm days here in upstate NY, so I think the 3WO chicks will be out in a 4 x 8 kennel crate with me this week while I'm gardening.