So far so good…

I waited rather impatiently to see if the new, improved nesting box would have the desired effect…

And so far yes it has. The pullet(s) making the mess are content to roost on top, leaving the innards free to serve their purpose. That one egg is intact, and judging from its temperature it was laid late yesterday (unusual for the hens) and they’ve had plenty of time to destroy it but didn’t.

This arrangement is merely interim, of course, which is why I’m throwing the various mods together with no concern for quality of construction. Before the pullets come to egg-laying age I need at least one more nesting box, and I’m hoping to sort of duplicate the original floor-level nesting area, but roofed and suspended above the floor. Just trying to get it right before I put a lot of effort into something permanent that won’t work.

And BTW, look who’s getting his adult plumage!

Introducing Seymour, full name Principal Seymour Skinner. Which shows that he was named by Landlady, a desperately addicted Simpsons fan.

Seymour might actually work out. He has been caught crowing exactly twice, several weeks ago when he was barely fledged at all, and never once since. And he’s so far by far the most timid of the pullets, a helpless punching bag for the hens. I expect that to change, but if he doesn’t become an abusive asshole the way Upgrayedd did we’ll see if having a cock in the chicken yard is a good thing to do. I can always eat him, but I can only do it once so I’m in no hurry.