I cleaned, they messed it up again.

[Graham K]

Hi all,

I have just done the first clean up of my new birds house and was surprised how little mess there was. I replaced all the straw in the nest box (they're too young yet but I want them to learn) and put down clean shredded paper in the roost. Poop picked in the run and replaced bark to cover the "holes".

So far so good, opened the door to the roost/nest box and they were back in like a shot to see what I had been up to. Two minutes later and all the straw was out of the nest box and all over the place, hanging out of the door, down the ramp you name it.

Q; Do I have a trio of very fussy birds, or do they have a sense of humor and just enjoy winding me up?

Any comments?

Graham K.

[MaureenHall]

It's called "helping" My lot always re-arrange everything to their liking. To me it looks untidy, but to them it's comfy

[dexterdoglancashire]

Good innit? I put a big pile of straw down in the run and the girls spread it out themselves wherever they want - it gives them something to play with. I also spread a little corn/seed as a tea-time treat throughout the straw each day and they keep themselves busy trying to find it.

[BUFFS]

Hi all,

I have just done the first clean up of my new birds house and was surprised how little mess there was. I replaced all the straw in the nest box (they're too young yet but I want them to learn) and put down clean shredded paper in the roost. Poop picked in the run and replaced bark to cover the "holes".

So far so good, opened the door to the roost/nest box and they were back in like a shot to see what I had been up to. Two minutes later and all the straw was out of the nest box and all over the place, hanging out of the door, down the ramp you name it.

Q; Do I have a trio of very fussy birds, or do they have a sense of humor and just enjoy winding me up?

Any comments?

Graham K.

they are obviously like teenagers,just when they got it right ,you come along and tidy up,wait til they start to feel settled in...chaos will reign

[HayleyB]

My girls love the new straw in the stables, it's because there's still some wheat on the ends and they scrabble to make sure they get some..

[Graham K]

So much for egg laying "pets", I just got me a "second family".

Bring on the scrambled!

[MrsC]

Lol, my girls always like to mess up a tidy hen house. They even help me while I do it, so funny. I've given up now and leave them to it!

[matthew2riches]

My lot do it I just dump the wood shavings inside the door and let them get on with it. They can then put it how they like it

[Nicos]

They must love you...not many peeps think of providing play things for their chooks!!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

So much for egg laying "pets", I just got me a "second family".

Bring on the scrambled!

Any photos? Of your girls of course! Not scrambled eggs!

[Graham K]

Just thought I would let you know what happened yesterday.

The hens have/are still scraping out all the fresh straw/paper as soon as I have cleaned out the nest box. Yesterday I got completely fed up with tidying after tidying and locked them in the nest box and "left them to it".

I let them out again about half an hour later when they had finished scratching and kicking around in the "clean stuff" and that was it! They seem to have done their bit and have not been back in to mess up since, they are even roosting on the perches again instead of sleeping in the nest box.

Don't know if they just got fed up with messing up their "home" or what but everything is a lot cleaner now.

Graham.