fuzzi's Chicken Journal

1muttsfan · 2025-04-15T12:32:45-0500

Wow that is so unfortunate. They are just mysteries sometimes :hugs

lightm · 2025-04-15T19:55:06-0500

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

Congrats on your POW, fuzzi!

fuzzi · 2025-04-15T19:57:28-0500

lightm said:
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 · 2025-04-15T20:14:03-0500

What I did on Monday (after work):

They do not move, but are stable.
:yesss:

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.