It’s not as bad as I feared!
By Fleur
@Fleura (31664)
United Kingdom
January 2, 2023 6:32am CST
Well I did go ahead and move the chickens into the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago when the weather was exceptionally cold.
https://www.mylot.com/post/3536222/is-this-a-stupid-idea
They were not enjoying spending their days standing about in their run on frozen mud with nothing to do (and they are under chicken ‘house arrest’ at the moment due to the risk of bird flu so they couldn’t explore further afield).
I tidied up the greenhouse, moved in a spare house I happened to have, and blocked off the space under the bench with a big sheet of glass (an old shower door). They seem to be much happier there. The space is obviously higher so they can jump onto a perch and flap their wings. The soil in the border is dry so they can scratch about in it to their hearts’ content and even enjoy a dust bath. Of course they scratch a lot of it out onto the path and every couple of days I have to sweep it up and shovel it back in so they can do it again! Otherwise I soon wouldn’t be able to open the door enough to get through – I’ve put a floor brush just inside the door so if they scratch so much soil behind the door that I can only open it a couple of inches, I can still get an arm in to grab the brush and push it back!
The weather now is much milder again, but wetter. I haven’t rushed to put them back outside because they don’t enjoy the wet either, so I figured they may as well stay there, since I won’t need it again until the spring. Maybe they’ll even clear out some of the spiders!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.
11 people like this
11 responses
@DaddyEvil (147769)
• United States
2 Jan 23


2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (147769)
• United States
2 Jan 23
@Fleura The chickens might have liked him before I squished him... He was a big spider!

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (49578)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Jan 23
Nice greenhouse. Is it attached to the house or freestanding?
1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (49578)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Jan 23
@Fleura Wish I had at least a sunroom.
1 person likes this

@allknowing (145386)
• India
3 Jan 23
Better there for your chickens than out in the cold. Atleast you will be rid of all spiders.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (84795)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Jan 23
I am glad that the chickens are happier, All the best to you and them,
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
2 Jan 23
The chickens in the greenhouse should clean out almost all of your insect pests. We used to let them roam our gardens after the harvest every year for that very purpose.
1 person likes this
