Welcome home Michael! Hoping to see more restoration work on the cottage, more art, more walks. more piano, more cooking, more garden tours, more fun -- no pressure :) Stay well!
Welcome home, can’t wait to see more cooking videos, too. What are you using for ventilation in the chateau kitchen, and the cottage kitchen, to clear the carbon monoxide and petrol solvents?
Let me add to the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of others who I am sure are all saying the same thing - it feels so good seeing you back at the chateau with your brother, Dad and the rest of your family. I really do believe that you needed that break and how fortuitous that the two weeks became two months. You seem restored and ready to “get cracking”again. I think even the hens missed you and I’m positive that all of us have. Welcome back, Michael
Good that the water damage in the cottage can be repaired rather easily. Digging a french drain at the back should put an end to that problem. Glad you are home.
Two brothers together, helping each other. We need more of this in the world. Life’s a village. The Pethericks are such a United family. Prosperity will always be with them. God bless the whole family. Michael very happy to see you back. ❤️
Gwen smiles to the camera...we all catch ourselves smiling back at her😊. Alot of essential work has been done on the Chateau, good on you Billy and Dad! Excellent video 🙏. Feel up to date now. Thank you 😊
I am so glad to see you back. Even though you needed and deserved a well earned break. I hope you are staying in touch with the person that brought you joy during your vacation
@@fionaokeefe1906 To me, it doesn't matter, that is his personal business that I don't want to pry into. I am interested in what he wants us to see. His private life is his private life.
@@chapichapo78 I think you deserve a well earned break as well. I hope you have one and enjoy it. It’s not hard hard to be nice and wish the best for someone. I am personally taking a well earned week break at the end of June and plan a lovely trip to the beach with my family. Where will you go?
PRIME THOSE WALLS with a stain blocker before you paint them green! You never want to paint directly on unfinished cement/plaster board walls, it will suck up your paint at different rates and your entire finish will be uneven.
Yay so good to see you back making videos Michael and you look refreshed and happy 😁. Good to take a breather and to look after yourself. Just know you are supported and we see your talents and appreciate them 🙏🏻
Well done Ernest! AND well done Gwendelyn for letting him serve himself. 😜 Can just see his confidence growing. And what a wonderful mum and sister you have Michael, keeping the greenhouse in check! Not forgetting chief mechanical man Papa Pethridge and chief cook and bottle washer Billy. Beautiful family. Stay safe, stay well, stay happy! Good to have you home again.
Welcome back Michael!! You’re looking well and refreshed. Hard to believe how much happened while you were away. Lovely of your mom to care for your garden and Sadie loving on Bertie. He’s so big now. I’m sure he’s happy you’re back too.
I am so glad you are home. There is no place like home. We are all so looking forward to hearing about your trip to Spain and your new love interest. Thank you for giving us this latest video. We love seeing you happy and home!
Welcome back Michael you look much much better and happier. Too many eggs, do what I do in the summer when the hens are too productive, preserve them in Hydrated Lime and water, 1oz wheight not fluid oz of lime to 1 quart cold water - pref @ room temp. Multiply this to amount required. These eggs will stay preserved for 12 months and more. Store with the pointed bit downwards. These will keep you going during the winter months when the hens stop laying or slow down. It really is good to see the family back together.
Happy that Michael is home safe & sound and I'm looking forward to a regular viewing schedule from one of my favorite people! Watching Michael with Stephanie & her gang was fun, Thanks!
Billy’s been working hard! Your garden and chickens are beautiful! Sorry your wood bowed. Hope you get that restored and properly fixed. Ernest is an amazing server. Welcome home!
Darling Earnest was so good at placing his salad in his dish! So glad you are back Michael. Damage in cottage doesn’t look too bad but of course I’m not doing the work to repair it! Hope you planted some basil for those tomatoes 🍅.
What a delight to see you back home reunited with your family. You’ll soon get the cottage sorted. Greenhouse and herb garden is thriving, ready for your culinary magic. Welcome back 🤗
Just hearing the intro again is thrilling lol Like the first time I saw the channel on episode 1! I found you through The Chateau Diaries just before lockdown as I was looking for romantic and charming French cottage decorating ideas! So blessed that you encouraged Stephanie to put her Instagram stories on UA-cam and start her channel ❤💕 What a legacy you both started through your friendship and brought so many people together!🍾🥂
Well done Earnest with the salad servers, looks yummy the salad, extra super with your own eggs. Great to see the greenhouse and walled garden coming on with lots of produce. Really wonderful to have you back Michael and to see that sparkle in your eyes back again and your smashing cottage. WCL
Welcome home, sweet Michael!!! We all missed seeing you! I am excited to see what you have in store with your cottage. I have been putting together a package for you and your home, which I plan on sending sometime next month. Your brother has been working hard while you were away and things are looking great! Would love to hear more about your trip and what adventures you had. You look so refreshed and happy. Thank you, for always sharing your life and adventures with us! Much love from the USA (Winder, Georgia),♡ Joy Carey
Ernest's coordination and steadiness with the salad utensils was great for a child his age! Well done mom and dad for spending the time working with him on this. So many parents do everything for their children and suddenly they are 14 and can't cut their own meat.
So nice to see you back Michael and so happy as well! Too bad about the cottage but it sounds like it is a not too difficult of a repair which is a blessing! Billy has certainly been busy, he has done an amazing job with every thing. It was so nice to see Gwen, Ernest and your dad as well. You have a wonderful family. Thank you for the updates and keep well!!
Great vlog. Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you sort out the water damage. Don't get discouraged by it. There will be a few setbacks. You have youth and energy on your side. The tomatoes look fantastic .
I’d like to know why UA-cam won’t let me like this with 2 thumbs up.. because that is even insufficient to express how much I like seeing you back at it with that shining smile.
Yes and they trimmed the hedges, planted flowering bushes (and flowers as you already mentioned), cut the grass etc. etc! 👏🏼WELL DONE/BRAVO Sadie and mum.
So great to have you back at the chateau and back on youtube!!!! Loads of jobs to do but hopefully the rain is past and a proper summer will soon arrive! Earnest has REALLY grown! Welcome home and Cheers to a brilliant summer!
Great to see you back looking wonderfully well with you “zing” fully restored. Billy has been a busy bee with restoration and maintenance. Love seeing how the progress made. Time for omelette, frittata, scotch eggs, egg custard, mayonnaise, flans, egg fried rice etc etc - don’t waste those eggs
🇨🇦❤️Welcome back, Michael! I thoroughly enjoyed your Instagram posts and videos from Spain, so thank you again for those. I’m sure you’re going to make quick work of the new repairs that are needed on the gardeners cottage. It’s obvious that your family is happy that you’re back safe and sound, and the chickens are obviously pleased as well. I loved the chickens my parents kept and I especially loved those free-range eggs. Thanks for sharing your return with us, Michael, and I hope the rest of your week goes well.
It is so good to see you look so happy and healthy.. Billy has realy cracked one with the chateau... your cottage looks amazing,wow so meny eggs, you can pickle some to so good....
YaY!!! You're back, I can't wait to hear about who you met, etc!🤗✨ Your Dads place looks great, so good to see him too! Your mom cared wonderfully for all your plants... much accomplished Billy and Michael I know you’ll fix the cottage wonderfully well. WELCOME HOME!✨😊✨👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Yay!!!!! You’re back! I have missed you. I hope your time in Madrid was wonderful. It’s so nice to see everyone from Stephanie to Billy and Gwen and little Ernest!
What a treat to have you back home Michael! Billy it's a treat to see you chatting with Michael again and sharing all the work you have accomplished! Good job handling the serving spoons Ernest! I sure am looking forward to the next video folks!
I am so happy for you guys you are doing what most people dream about and making it work wonderfully i commend you so much for what you have accomplished .
Aw,good to see you at home, Michael. Loved having the update and tour and see what's been growing in the garden! So lovely! Hope the repairs in the cottage go quickly and easily. Can't wait to see that gorgeous green paint go up!
Wow so many videos recently it's great, excited to see you are back!!! Earnest's room is so pretty, the teal and cute but elegant wallpaper is exactly how I would decorate as a 24 year old so I'm not sure what that says about me but I really love it 😂
Such a great vlog, lovely to see you all. Gwen you look gorgeous! Ernest as adorable as ever. No wonder you haven’t been filming Billy, you’ve done so much work, bathroom is gorgeous! Xxx
"WELCOME HOME" MICHAEL !!! Doesn't it always feel good to be home when you have been traveling?! Enjoy getting settled back in. We have ALL missed you - much love always. Thanks for the tour around the Chateaux.
So happy to see Michael at home with his family. Can't wait to see more work on the cottage. Looking forward to seeing more videos from Billy as well!!
Welcome home, Michael. It was fun seeing all the finished and near finished work that's been going on. Loved seeing your lovely chickens. The green house is looking fine inside and out. Lots of hard work on the ivy covered wall. Ernest continues being adorable. Cheers to you all.
Glad you made it back healthy and you look refreshed for the upcoming work. It is a bummer to see what happened with the water at the oak penelling. But I am sure you will have that back to its glory in short time. And I am now looking forward what will happen next. Welcome home Michael you were missed by us and I am sure by your family as well. See you in the next video 😀
I just learned that about easy peeling of eggs after being a cook for 10 yrs. But thanks,for passing on your tip! Thank you , Michael and Billy for sharing your lives with us!
I really appreciate Billy showing all of us his recent projects- that we just had hints of. It is lovely to see the brothers together! Welcome home😘
Baby Ernest is a teenager. THAT'S how long Michael's been gone. LOL
LOL
LOL 😂
Lol 😂
😂😂😂😂
LOL
Welcome home Michael! Hoping to see more restoration work on the cottage, more art, more walks. more piano, more cooking, more garden tours, more fun -- no pressure :) Stay well!
But no pressure 😉🤣🤣!!
Welcome home, can’t wait to see more cooking videos, too. What are you using for ventilation in the chateau kitchen, and the cottage kitchen, to clear the carbon monoxide and petrol solvents?
We always write the date on the eggs with a pencil. So you always knows which are the oldest.
Let me add to the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of others who I am sure are all saying the same thing - it feels so good seeing you back at the chateau with your brother, Dad and the rest of your family. I really do believe that you needed that break and how fortuitous that the two weeks became two months. You seem restored and ready to “get cracking”again. I think even the hens missed you and I’m positive that all of us have. Welcome back, Michael
“Brenda is in the zoo with the other Gibbons” 😂😂
Well done, Billy, with all the projects! The drainage system is great! Welcome back, Michael, you were missed!
No wonder your brother hasn't been uploading, he has been busy
Billy you are such a positive person and a wonderful brother. So enjoy your videos Michael. So glad to see you.
Good that the water damage in the cottage can be repaired rather easily. Digging a french drain at the back should put an end to that problem. Glad you are home.
That's good to hear 👂
Two brothers together, helping each other. We need more of this in the world. Life’s a village. The Pethericks are such a United family. Prosperity will always be with them. God bless the whole family.
Michael very happy to see you back. ❤️
Which of the brothers is the oldest. I heard Michael say once when they were younger, people thought they were twins. So how close in age are they?
Gwen smiles to the camera...we all catch ourselves smiling back at her😊. Alot of essential work has been done on the Chateau, good on you Billy and Dad! Excellent video 🙏. Feel up to date now. Thank you 😊
"Gwen smiles to the camera"...I know, she is very lovely, isn't she?
I am so glad to see you back. Even though you needed and deserved a well earned break. I hope you are staying in touch with the person that brought you joy during your vacation
@@chapichapo78 Nope, because everyone deserves it. It isn't excessive at all.
@@Thadius_Invictus why didn’t he bring his SO with him to France? I’m just curious as to why he left them back in Spain☹️
@@fionaokeefe1906 To me, it doesn't matter, that is his personal business that I don't want to pry into. I am interested in what he wants us to see. His private life is his private life.
@@chapichapo78 I think you deserve a well earned break as well. I hope you have one and enjoy it. It’s not hard hard to be nice and wish the best for someone. I am personally taking a well earned week break at the end of June and plan a lovely trip to the beach with my family. Where will you go?
Really looking forward to this Micheal , it’s great to have you back in a positive frame of mind. You have thousands of us wishing you to do well. Xxx
PRIME THOSE WALLS with a stain blocker before you paint them green! You never want to paint directly on unfinished cement/plaster board walls, it will suck up your paint at different rates and your entire finish will be uneven.
Yay so good to see you back making videos Michael and you look refreshed and happy 😁. Good to take a breather and to look after yourself. Just know you are supported and we see your talents and appreciate them 🙏🏻
Well done Ernest! AND well done Gwendelyn for letting him serve himself. 😜 Can just see his confidence growing. And what a wonderful mum and sister you have Michael, keeping the greenhouse in check! Not forgetting chief mechanical man Papa Pethridge and chief cook and bottle washer Billy. Beautiful family. Stay safe, stay well, stay happy! Good to have you home again.
Who was taking care of chickens while you were away
I just adore this Family. Love your Vlogs. Binge watching until I catch up.
Welcome back Michael!! You’re looking well and refreshed. Hard to believe how much happened while you were away. Lovely of your mom to care for your garden and Sadie loving on Bertie. He’s so big now. I’m sure he’s happy you’re back too.
That's so nice of you Linda,,,,,,,,, hello 👋 how are you doing I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Thanks, How are you doing?
Michael. You have returned with more energy and confidence. Your followers will be delighted to see you looking so well and happy. Go for it.
Tom-A-toe, Tom-AH-toe
Welcome Michael back to the chateau
With Earnest, Billy and Gwen
The family is back together again!
-- Happy Days.
Who else has lawn mower envy? So good to see Michael back and catch up with his family.
Happy to see the Petherick boys back together! Can’t wait for your vlogs! Welcome back!!
I am so glad you are home. There is no place like home. We are all so looking forward to hearing about your trip to Spain and your new love interest. Thank you for giving us this latest video. We love seeing you happy and home!
Welcome back! And big kudos to Billy for all the incredible work you've done. Very cool.
Welcome back home Michael. You have been missed. 🤗
Wow Billy you have been busy! Well done! Everything looks so good!
Beyond excited for this ❤️❤️❤️😎 so happy that you are back x x x
Love to you all 🥰
Me. Too. Anna can’t wait 🇨🇦🥰
Billy is so positive and supportive. I love his attitude towards things.
Billy has been working hard; that bathroom looks stunning! Such beauties ...
Welcome back Michael you look much much better and happier. Too many eggs, do what I do in the summer when the hens are too productive, preserve them in Hydrated Lime and water,
1oz wheight not fluid oz of lime to 1 quart cold water - pref @ room temp. Multiply this to amount required. These eggs will stay preserved for 12 months and more. Store with the pointed bit downwards. These will keep you going during the winter months when the hens stop laying or slow down. It really is good to see the family back together.
Happy that Michael is home safe & sound and I'm looking forward to a regular viewing schedule from one of my favorite people! Watching Michael with Stephanie & her gang was fun, Thanks!
Billy’s been working hard! Your garden and chickens are beautiful! Sorry your wood bowed. Hope you get that restored and properly fixed. Ernest is an amazing server. Welcome home!
Gotta say Billy and Pa Petherick have done great. The shower nearly finished. The drainage. Well done you two..
Michael, I can't wait to see what you do next in the cottage! You look so happy and full of life, that holiday worked wonders! Xx
Darling Earnest was so good at placing his salad in his dish! So glad you are back Michael. Damage in cottage doesn’t look too bad but of course I’m not doing the work to repair it! Hope you planted some basil for those tomatoes 🍅.
Welcome home. Glad the damage was minimal and easily fixed inside.
Everyone needs some more time. Glad to see you back Michael.
What a delight to see you back home reunited with your family. You’ll soon get the cottage sorted. Greenhouse and herb garden is thriving, ready for your culinary magic. Welcome back 🤗
Glad you are home Michael. Blessings.
Wow, must be amazing being able to take off 2 months.
Hope you enjoyed your vacation, can’t wait to see what’s going on with the cottage!
Good job Mum for looking after Michael's veg etc., great to see things getting back to normal at the chateau. Billy doing a good job. Welcome home. Xx
Just hearing the intro again is thrilling lol Like the first time I saw the channel on episode 1! I found you through The Chateau Diaries just before lockdown as I was looking for romantic and charming French cottage decorating ideas! So blessed that you encouraged Stephanie to put her Instagram stories on UA-cam and start her channel ❤💕 What a legacy you both started through your friendship and brought so many people together!🍾🥂
So pleased to see you and that you have got your bounce back.
This has been wonderful to watch. Xx
That's so nice of you,,,,,,, hello 👋 Karen how are you doing I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Well done Earnest with the salad servers, looks yummy the salad, extra super with your own eggs. Great to see the greenhouse and walled garden coming on with lots of produce. Really wonderful to have you back Michael and to see that sparkle in your eyes back again and your smashing cottage. WCL
You two look a lot alike. So glad to see you guys again
Welcome home, sweet Michael!!! We all missed seeing you! I am excited to see what you have in store with your cottage. I have been putting together a package for you and your home, which I plan on sending sometime next month. Your brother has been working hard while you were away and things are looking great! Would love to hear more about your trip and what adventures you had. You look so refreshed and happy. Thank you, for always sharing your life and adventures with us!
Much love from the USA (Winder, Georgia),♡
Joy Carey
Ernest's coordination and steadiness with the salad utensils was great for a child his age! Well done mom and dad for spending the time working with him on this. So many parents do everything for their children and suddenly they are 14 and can't cut their own meat.
So nice to see you back Michael and so happy as well! Too bad about the cottage but it sounds like it is a not too difficult of a repair which is a blessing! Billy has certainly been busy, he has done an amazing job with every thing. It was so nice to see Gwen, Ernest and your dad as well. You have a wonderful family. Thank you for the updates and keep well!!
Great vlog. Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you sort out the water damage. Don't get discouraged by it. There will be a few setbacks. You have youth and energy on your side. The tomatoes look fantastic .
I’d like to know why UA-cam won’t let me like this with 2 thumbs up.. because that is even insufficient to express how much I like seeing you back at it with that shining smile.
Same here...100 thumbs up and more!
Hope you noticed the flowers your Mom and Sadie planted for your cottage. 🌿
Yes and they trimmed the hedges, planted flowering bushes (and flowers as you already mentioned), cut the grass etc. etc! 👏🏼WELL DONE/BRAVO Sadie and mum.
AND did quite a bit of work in the chapel.
Great to see you again. Love your talent and energy! Blessings from BC Canada
So great to have you back at the chateau and back on youtube!!!! Loads of jobs to do but hopefully the rain is past and a proper summer will soon arrive! Earnest has REALLY grown! Welcome home and Cheers to a brilliant summer!
That's so nice of you him,,,,,, hello 👋 Jill I hope you are taking good care of yourself.
Welcome back Micheal really missed you. Pleased you had a good holiday, you're looking well and refreshed. Take ❤ care ❤ Maggie from Somerset
That's so nice of you,,,,,,, hello 👋 how are you doing I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Thanks, how are you doing?
Great to see you back looking wonderfully well with you “zing” fully restored. Billy has been a busy bee with restoration and maintenance. Love seeing how the progress made. Time for omelette, frittata, scotch eggs, egg custard, mayonnaise, flans, egg fried rice etc etc - don’t waste those eggs
Just wonderful to see you home again. Love seeing your whole family together. Cant wait to see you finish the cottage. LOVE from Chicago
Have missed you nice to see you back. 🇨🇦
Good to see you back, Michael!
Tremendous that you would share all of this us. Men always love watching other men repair, replace, rebuild. Thanks for sharing from a new subscriber.
It’s so good to see you and Billy together again and Ernest is so cute .so missed your great vlogs x
That's so nice of you,,,,,,,,, hello 👋 pat how are you doing I hope you are having a wonderful day.
I never realized how much I had missed that intro!
(Moira Ashton) Great to have you back, and its LOVELY to hear that intro music again -I LOVE it... 🥰😍🤩
Loved the video Michael and Billy . Glad you're back !
Looking forward to seeing more cottage updates!!!!!!!
🇨🇦❤️Welcome back, Michael!
I thoroughly enjoyed your Instagram posts and videos from Spain, so thank you again for those.
I’m sure you’re going to make quick work of the new repairs that are needed on the gardeners cottage.
It’s obvious that your family is happy that you’re back safe and sound, and the chickens are obviously pleased as well.
I loved the chickens my parents kept and I especially loved those free-range eggs.
Thanks for sharing your return with us, Michael, and I hope the rest of your week goes well.
The chickens! The chickens are happy! You have them in a good spot and they're well relaxed.
It is so good to see you look so happy and healthy.. Billy has realy cracked one with the chateau... your cottage looks amazing,wow so meny eggs, you can pickle some to so good....
Good to see you & the cottage adventures! We have missed you. & your family!
Glad you got a vacation, but I’m excited to see what’s next for the cottage! ❤️
YaY!!! You're back, I can't wait to hear about who you met, etc!🤗✨ Your Dads place looks great, so good to see him too! Your mom cared wonderfully for all your plants... much accomplished Billy and Michael I know you’ll fix the cottage wonderfully well. WELCOME HOME!✨😊✨👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Welcome home Michael, we have missed you so much. So happy to have you back!
Yay!!!!! You’re back! I have missed you. I hope your time in Madrid was wonderful. It’s so nice to see everyone from Stephanie to Billy and Gwen and little Ernest!
You are looking Amazing Michael!
What a treat to have you back home Michael! Billy it's a treat to see you chatting with Michael again and sharing all the work you have accomplished! Good job handling the serving spoons Ernest! I sure am looking forward to the next video folks!
Very exciting! I am so happy to have Michael back with us. Am looking forward to watching this.
I'm glad to see this channel returning to renovations or work regarding the chateau and gardener's cottage.
I am so happy for you guys you are doing what most people dream about and making it work wonderfully i commend you so much for what you have accomplished .
Greetings from across the pond. 🇨🇦🥰
We're glad you are back to it Michael, I hope you are doing well. Congratulations to Gwen and Billy!
Yay! You’re back! I hope the damage isn’t too bad Michael 😮 It’s so lovely to see you smiling & looking happy ☺️💕
@@littleladybugmom
Hi,
It’s in the description... damage in the cottage :(
Welcome home! Been a real treat seeing you on the other channels!
I really want to watch this. But 4:45am is not a good time here is south Australia. 😂😂😂 I’m happy to see you back and you look so rejuvenated!
I cannot wait to see the green paint for the cottage!
Welcome back. Nice to se you energized and ready for the chateau life again ❤️
So looking forward to seeing your vlog XXX
Aw,good to see you at home, Michael. Loved having the update and tour and see what's been growing in the garden! So lovely! Hope the repairs in the cottage go quickly and easily. Can't wait to see that gorgeous green paint go up!
Lovely to see you back with your family. Your break has done you good, you look really well xx
Wow so many videos recently it's great, excited to see you are back!!! Earnest's room is so pretty, the teal and cute but elegant wallpaper is exactly how I would decorate as a 24 year old so I'm not sure what that says about me but I really love it 😂
Such a great vlog, lovely to see you all. Gwen you look gorgeous! Ernest as adorable as ever. No wonder you haven’t been filming Billy, you’ve done so much work, bathroom is gorgeous! Xxx
Great to see you back Michael, and seeing you full of energy is great! The time away was good for you!
"WELCOME HOME" MICHAEL !!! Doesn't it always feel good to be home when you have been traveling?! Enjoy getting settled back in. We have ALL missed you - much love always. Thanks for the tour around the Chateaux.
Omg I missed you sooooo much lol.
I missed this place and everyone. Glad you are home safe Michael. And thank you for this lovely long video.
So happy to see Michael at home with his family. Can't wait to see more work on the cottage. Looking forward to seeing more videos from Billy as well!!
Glad your back Michal loved watching. Earnest is growing so fast .Looks like you have lots of jobs to do . Cannot wait till the next vlog.
Oh yes-look how tall Ernest is now!!
Welcome home, Michael. It was fun seeing all the finished and near finished work that's been going on. Loved seeing your lovely chickens. The green house is looking fine inside and out.
Lots of hard work on the ivy covered wall.
Ernest continues being adorable.
Cheers to you all.
Glad you made it back healthy and you look refreshed for the upcoming work. It is a bummer to see what happened with the water at the oak penelling. But I am sure you will have that back to its glory in short time. And I am now looking forward what will happen next. Welcome home Michael you were missed by us and I am sure by your family as well. See you in the next video 😀
Can't wait 🤗 missed your face 🧡
Glad you're back Michael so are your sweet dogs they love you so much🐕🐩
I just learned that about easy peeling of eggs after being a cook for 10 yrs. But thanks,for passing on your tip! Thank you , Michael and Billy for sharing your lives with us!
Not much straw in the hen house. Definitely need a layer in nestboxes. Leaving eggs on the food is asking for rats/nice