The aracaunas, pretending it’s time for a spring dustbath, even though they haven’t resumed laying yet. None of the chickens have, and they’re about a month delayed. Casting about for ways to kickstart them, though my inclination is ‘they’ll lay when they lay.’ We’re hoping there isn’t an underlying problem. They certainly seem healthy in every other way — very much so, after they got through the December molt.
We had wondered if rats were taking eggs, or simply if the presence of rats were enough to inhibit them laying. So we are attacking the rats on a broader front. But I don’t really think that’s the whole answer.
Meanwhile, they laze about and eat our food.