House Cleaning...

Today was a great day for house cleaning...but not mine!

Today it was the chickens' turn... 

I emptied out the shed, and started shovelling.  Last spring, I put the straw and manure on my garden for fertilizer, but decided against it this fall.  Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, and too much nitrogen in the soil tends to produce large plants, but little "fruit", so I think I'll have Jim spread some cow manure on the garden this winter instead.  It will have plenty of time to work it's way into the soil before I plant next spring.

I put the feeder outside while I was shovelling, and the ladies had a feast...

And just in case you ever wondered if a chicken has a tongue...

The whole time I was working, I had a guard covering the gate, watching for escapees...

It's a good feeling to have this job complete.  I always think that once their shed is house cleaned, the chickens should lay more eggs, but it doesn't seem to work that way!  The days are getting noticably shorter, and I've been finding fewer eggs this past week.  But there's nothing wrong with hoping, is there?