Had to be up very early today (for us. And for a Sunday). DH had arranged to meet someone at 9am, about 30 miles from here.
It was a really lovely day. Was. When I got up.
I decided to make the most of it, and I went straight down to the Allotment to clean out and Poultry Shield the breeding gang's shed.
I worked as quickly as I could. The Girls hadn't laid, and I knew they would want to. I cleaned and poultry shielded one nest box, and pt it out in the sun to dry while I concentrated on getting the shed emptied, swept, and Poultry Shielded. I have quite a big sprayer now, and it's so much easier than when I used a hand trigger thing.
When I'd done, I put the nest box back inside Not ideal, but OK in an emergency. I then got on and did the other nest boxes, leaving them in the sun to dry out. Next, scrubbing the poo trays, followed by disinfecting the waterers.
While I waited for everything to dry, I I mucked out the Big Girls coop, and the Dinner Chickens (DCs) coop. Both coops were Diatomed, and I put in fresh Aubiose.
I cleaned and disinfected the DCs' waterer. It's one of those white bucket things, and it's a pain to clean.
I checked feeders.
By now, Henry's Girls were wanting to lay. They'd been in and out of the shed a bit, compaining. Henry had been in to inspect.
I put the poo trays back in, and lined them with Aubiose. Henry tried to show one of the Girls how she could back up into a corner on the poo tray and lay here egg there. She didn't look convinced. She still didn't look convinced when Henry showed her.
I put everything away in my car. I was tired. I'd been there for hours. I looked in the shed, and decided it was dry enough to put stuff back. I put the nest boxes in, Diatomed, and new Aubiose. Finally, a lght covering of Aubiose on the floor, and it was done.
I was hot. I was bothered. I was wearing a plastic showercap which, whilst preventing me getting poultry shield and crud in my hair, made me even hotter.
Removing it - bliss!
I'd just finished a bottle of Ecover washing up liquid (thank you Compost Woman for the recommendation), and the bottle cap (and the bottle, of course) looked like it would make a very good Diatom puffer. It did. Much better than my fairy liquid bottles, which I'd used previously.
I might have to use some more Ecover, just so I can get bottles for the Stalosan, and some for my Garden Girls stuff.
As I left the Allotments, it started to rain.
So glad I siezed the moment.
