Monday (after work)
Ta da!
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.
I added fresh straw and a faux egg to each box.
I mounted a perch to the left side, just inside the door, securing it with metal hanging strap and screws. I put a second "log" on the ground on the right 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 now it was good enough for residents.
The new tenants moved in last night...
Abigail, Tamar, Silas, Naomi, and Esther
