The Old Girls Move Out

The original plan was to move the laying hens out of the hoophouse and onto the pasture around April 15th. But the snow didn't leave and the grass didn't come and they had to stay another two weeks.

Before they could move, we needed to outfit a chicken pen with nestboxes so that they could lay their eggs in the straw-lined comfort they have become accustomed to.

John built five nestboxes on each side of a 10 foot by 10 foot pen.


We had to catch the hens in the hoophouse. There are no pictures of that because it took both of us and it was still a circus!

All 38 of them love their new home, they started eating grass right away!


Kiddo1 helped me line the nestboxes with straw.


Then we carefully placed one egg in each nestbox. This fools the chickens into thinking that another hen layed her egg here so it must be a safe place. Within a day or two, all the chickens will have layed an egg in a box and it will be routine.


These pens will be moved every day to fresh grass. It should only take 10 days for the rich orange color to return to their yolks...I can't wait!