A pedestal for Magic

On By CarynIn chickens

Magic the hen is having her recurring pain flareup. I think it has something to do with a leg joint. She hurts it, then has trouble walking, loses weight, it heals, she puts on weight, then she hurts it again. It is about a six month cycle. She is in the stage where she can’t jump up onto the roost at night, so I built her an elevated nest.

Photo description: Pine shavings built up in the corner of the coop next to the roost and topped with straw. Magic the hen has climbed the pile to investigate.

The other chickens had to check out what I did as well, but Magic was the first.

Photo description: Simple 2×4 wood frame roost with 2×3 removable roost bars. The pine shavings are built up in the corner nearly to the height of the roost, and all six chickens are headed toward Magic who is at the top of the pile.

This is the corner Magic huddles in when she can’t roost. She appreciated the elevation, and I feel better about her not getting bombed by the other hens in the morning.

Photo description: Night view, with five chickens on the roost, and Magic on her slightly diminished pine shavings pile in the corner.

I do have to rebuild the corner in the morning, because the chickens kick away the shavings looking for bugs, but I think this is less stressful for her than when I go in and place her on the roost at night.