fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

I admire your industriousness, everything is really coming together well

Thank you. I am attempting to "beat the heat". Once it gets up to mid 80s and above here it's hard to do anything strenuous, so I have an incentive to push myself.

And Martha's broody, so I am hoping to get the flocks separate in the next few days.

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you. It's close, very close. What remains is mostly just securing, which is tedious, but necessary...as we all know. The apron needs to be completed on door and back sides, add a roof, and then complete with inside stuff like a ramp/ladder and the nesting boxes.

As I said, very close.

@Shadrach I would also like to see pictures of the quince, other plants around the field. Feel free to post some here.

I'll try to remember to take some pictures over the next few days.

 

[fuzzi]

It's DONE!

Mostly...

My son assisted with the roof, helped me place the tarp on top. I'd gotten a 16'x12', but folded it in half, so there's a double thickness over the roost area. All the grommets on the sides were zip-tied. Then he helped me place a shade cloth over the whole coop. I put holes in the cloth just above the hem, ran zip-ties through and snugged it to the cattle panels, after pulling it taut. It was on the first coop, so I didn't mind putting some small holes along the edges.

Temporary job on the back, not permanent. The apron needs a few more landscaping pins, I ran out.

I didn't move any chickens over to the second coop this evening since I didn't quite get the inside finished. The nest boxes aren't affixed, and I need to add a little more indoor decor, daytime perches, etc.

Even though I need more landscaping pins for the apron it's safe enough. And I got all the exposed screws covered.

Yes, those are plastic wall anchors!

I've hit a snag on how to stabilize two nest boxes that are different sizes.

The wheelbarrow is the temporary ramp.

When I had it in the other coop it was the preferred method of some to access the night roost.

Will be tweaking the inside some today after work...might even move in the new residents.

 

[Molpet]

look good

 

[1muttsfan]

Great job

 

[fuzzi]

After dark this evening I found Martha on the ground underneath the roost. She must have died just after dusk, and I didn't see it coming. She was broody earlier this week, and her uncharacteristic quietness yesterday I attributed to that.

She used to peck on my skirt for attention.

She was the broody mother of Zacchaeus, too.

Two of the eggs were delayed, and she sat an additional three days to hatch them. One was Zacchaeus.

She was my favorite.

Go back to God, little sparrow. I will miss you.

 

[fuzzi]

The second coop is finished and chickens have been moved. I'll post about it tomorrow.

 

[CoopBoots]

I am so sorry, Fuzzi. She was safe, loved, and happy fulfilling her instincts as a mama because you made that happen for her. A very good life for a very special hen. We can only control so much and the rest is out of our hands.

Rest well, sweet Martha.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to read about Martha, Fuzzi


The coop looks very good.

 

[NanaK]

Coop looks good!

So sorry about Martha.