Thursday, October 7, 2010

Letters to Lizzy - Raising the Royal Chicken Dander??

Good morning Lizzy,
I am so very glad that your column has taken off. I have a somewhat personal question, however, to ask you. Why do chickens smell? Do you not have a shower in the hen house?
Signed,
City Ignorant
ooooOOOOoooo!  Miss Lizzy's Blood is beginning to BOIL!
Dear Ignorant,
This question just BLEW off Miss Lizzy's SPECTACLES! If there is ANY odor to a hen or her HOUSE, the fault lies with the KEEPER of the COOP, NOT with the chickens!!!  Our housekeeper cleans nest boxes out daily for our laying enjoyment; the house is completely cleaned each and every week, and the floors are dusted for pests that might wish to "bug" us Working Girls.  Our run is cleaned once a week, and the feathers and waste are burned and destroyed.  Fresh kiln dried pine shavings are used for bedding, and they smell just wonderful!  In the Spring and Summer, fresh cut Lavender and Lemon Balm are added to the corners inside our little house, and the aroma is SpEGG-tacular and ever so relaxing!  What therapeutic clippings are not used for aromatherapy can be readily eaten without harming any of us Ladies!

Coop care is so important to the health of any flock.  If there are odors, they can harm our delicate respiratory systems (causing disease and illness), but also odors attract bugs and rodents as well.  Visitors to our Chicken Palace have often remarked that if they did not see us or hear our gentle clucking, they would never know chickens lived in that coop!

As for your question about showers being provided, we girls prefer a good dust bath instead, containing 1 part sand to 1 part sifted wood ash.  Dust baths, when done properly, will drive away lice and some breeds of mites, and help remove the dander that accumulates under our feathers and upon our skin.  Dust baths are a daily necessity, and we find it ever so enjoyable!

Thank you (I THINK!) for your question, my dear "Ignorant" - - I hope this has helped educate you and others with questions concerning (cough!cough!) ODORS in the POOP  COOP and Hens that SMELL!  There should be no odors from EITHER!  (Now, I hope I can suck in my eyeballs before they swell this way permanently!!!)

Signed,
the Queen Lizzy

10 comments:

Cindy said...

Oh my..some people!! Of course you don't smell.

We love you Queen Lizzy

Roo-Roo and the hen house gang

aka..Cindy Rick-Rack and Gingham

Angela said...

I do hope that you'll be able to get your eyes popped back into place! You are such a beautiful hen!

You are so lucky to have the Chicken Wrangler taking care of you and the other working girls!

Have a Great Day!
Angela

Unknown said...

Chuckle! Too cute!
Have a great weekend.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Evening Sweet Lizzy...
Oh honey don't you just look divine without your spectacles? I love your eyes sweetie, they are just bulging with happiness.

I am so thrilled that you educated City Ignorant, as any properly cared for coop never has an odor unless of course it is the lavender. You girls would never think any less. I could smell the lavender as soon as I opened the page. Monica is such a beautiful keeper for sure. She takes good care of her girls. I love it.

Many hugs sweetie, please know that you are so loved. Sherry

Denny said...

Lmao...Looks like you have spent some time puffing on some 'weed' there..;)

My OH hates what he calls "Wet Chook" smell.I cant boil a chook here without him having to leave the room.He nearly gags!lol!

Hope Chickie...fixes your eyes soon..:)

kim said...

Hello Lizzie! You are a very intellectual hen. I bet you love your clean henhouse. I need you to come talk to the girls at my house and tell them "Eggs or Dumplings".
You need to put your glasses back on. I enjoy reading your posts I learn alot from them. For instance putting the lemon balm,etc. at the houses. Have a nice day.

Chatty Crone said...

You tell them Lizzy - it wouldn't be your fault at all - it would be that keeper of yours fault if there was any smell!

Hey my eyes look like yours tonight. sandie

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

You go Lizzie!

Rose said...

i love your blog. humour with alot of info. i'll remember the dust baths. hope eye balls get better. thanks for your comment onmy post re crying. i think it's ok to cry, do chicken'roosters cry? rose

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Lizzy honey..can we talk?
Bugged out eyeballs is NOT a good look for you!
You have the right to be indignant, that is for certain, boy, dumb ol' city slickers anyway!