fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[1muttsfan]

Wow that is so unfortunate. They are just mysteries sometimes

 

[lightm]

I am so sorry about Martha. Do you have any idea what happened?

Congrats on your POW, fuzzi!

 

[fuzzi]

I am so sorry about Martha. Do you have any idea what happened?

Congrats on your POW, fuzzi!

Thank you. No, I don't, nothing obvious. She'd been broody for a few days, that's all.

 

[fuzzi]

What I did on Monday (after work):

They do not move, but are stable.


I found some bolts with matching nuts that were long enough to go through a plank I had on hand.

I drilled a hole through each box while they were positioned under the plank, open ends down. Then I screwed the bolts through the boxes and plank, adding the nut to the back. I held the nut in place with an adjustable wrench while I used a ratchet to tighten the bolt from the inside of the box.

I placed the two attached boxes to the top of the upsidedown planter box, zip-tying the plank to the cattle panel frame.

There was still a little "play" so I added a small length of 2x4 between the boxes, and now they do not move, at all.

I added fresh straw and a faux egg to each box.

I mounted a perch on one side, just inside the door, securing it with metal hanging strap and screws. I put a second "log" on the ground on the other side of the door, sawing off branch ends (for safety) and securing it with zip-ties. Eventually I will put a higher perch there, through upended concrete blocks, but I will need to create a flat base first.

Then I rearranged the wheelbarrow and added an upsidedown plastic planter for "clutter" and interest. A little clutter can help a hen avoid unwanted attention from others, female or male.

A feeder, waterer, and a dish of oyster shell flakes completed the setup.

I'll make more tweaks, but it was good enough for residents...who moved in last night...

Abigail, Tamar, Silas, Naomi, and Esther

Tuesday Update
Today when I got home I found an egg in the wheelbarrow.

Zack's flock got mower clippings!

Starting at the top: Zacchaeus, Joanna, Rahab, Hannah (most white), and Priscilla.

 

[fuzzi]

And the fence is up!

 

[ChaosMom]

And the fence is up!
View attachment 4099833
View attachment 4099834
View attachment 4099836

Wow, did you build the fence too?!

 

[fuzzi]

Wow, did you build the fence too?!

Me??!?!
No!

I hired Chris, who was part of the original tree removal team, back from October. He also assisted with the brush clearing.

That's the same tree in the third photo, in my post above. Chris is the one in the orange shirt. He installed the fence just to the left of the tree. The new coop is situated behind where the guy in the gray shirt is standing.

From February:

And a month later, blueberries added:

 

[ChaosMom]

Me??!?!
No!

I hired Chris, who was part of the original tree removal team, back from October. He also assisted with the brush clearing.
View attachment 4100044
That's the same tree in the third photo, in my post above. Chris is the one in the orange shirt. He installed the fence just to the left of the tree. The new coop is situated behind where the guy in the gray shirt is standing.

From February:
View attachment 4100064

And a month later, blueberries added:
View attachment 4100065

Whew, I would have been SO demoralized if you had pulled that off, too!

 

[1muttsfan]

Wow nice!

 

[fuzzi]

Silas did something this afternoon that I hadn't seen him do before...

...he tidbitted!

When I have offered extras like bits of fruit or seeds Silas would gobble without regard for the hens. I threw a handful of wild strawberries in the run this afternoon, and noticed that when Silas found a strawberry he called the hens to come and get it!

He's almost 11 months, and growing up.