Henbogle

For some reason, hens love to perch upon the fonts, and with perching comes the inevitable poop.  Ick. They start as soon as they can fly and their skills improve with age, thus the founts need very frequent refreshing, and regular scrubbing out with a brush to keep them clean.  When one of our founts developed a leak, we decided to look for alternatives.

Noodling about the interwebs, I saw the idea for a nipple valve fount using a five gallon bucket online.  We will make one, but with winter and freezing temps on the horizon, we needed a heated solution so I opted for a heated bucket.  I looked at several options and finally selected a flat-backed livestock bucket made by Allied Precision.  It is supposed to be safe from cracking due to cold temps, and I liked the way the heating element was hidden in a false bottom that secured over the bucket with screws.  It also seemed to have a sturdy handle and a divot on the handle for hanging from a hook.  I ordered the nipple valves from Amazon.  We got 5 valves and used 2; we are saving the remaining three for a non-heated fount for next summer.

Dan made the fount in an hour or so last weekend. He removed the false bottom and with the jigsaw, carefully cut away a section of the bottom to allow access to the nipples.  He then drilled two holes in the bucket, installed the valves, put the false bottom back on the bucket and called it good. 

So far no leaks, but it will be easy enough to add some silicone caulk should leaks develop.  It took the girls a couple of hours to figure it out.  We sped up the process by sticking a piece of straw into the valve causing it to drip.  A few of the girls thought it was a shower, but eventually they figured it out.

To keep the water clean, I added the cover to the cheap turkey fryer pot that came with the big propane burner I use for lobster cooking.  It fits almost as though it were made for the bucket.

I love it, it stays much cleaner, and it easy to swish out when it does need cleaning.  We’ll hang it in the coop during the winter months and will be able to get rid of the old heater, giving the girls that much more floor space.  Total cost was a bit less than a new galvanized fount.

Our big adventure is drawing near.  Dan’s mom is taking care of Henbogle House, and we are very, very grateful, (as are the kitties since they won’t be left to starve) but the chickens were too much to ask, so they needed to find a new home, or go to freezer camp.  Lucky for them, they found a home.

Sunday, a friend from work who wants to keep chickens formally adopted the Henbogle girls.  I am so pleased that Ellen and her family have offered the girls new digs and will provide a wonderful home for them, full of new places to make dustbaths and search for delicious bugs.  Of course we will miss them, especially Bea and Lily, but I am certain Ellen will be a great chicken mom.

The transfer was not without drama.  We left the girls in Henbogle Coop until Ellen and entourage arrived to collect them, and then caught them one at a time to place them in their deluxe paper box for transport.  All was going well until one of the Barred Rocks escaped from the Coop.  She was obviously stressed so we left her to hide in the yard while we secured all the others.  Then, Ellen her son and I brought the girls down to the driveway for loading into Ellen’s truck, and Dan and Ellen’s husband caught the hen on the run.

Except they were not able to catch our hen on the run.  No, she flew the coop, and flapped and hopped her way over the fences into the overgrown bramble patch that is our back 40 feet.  Once out, there was no hope.  She was off and running through the puckerbrush. Sigh.

So we left the gates to the chicken run open, and Henbogle Coop open, and as dusk set in, Dan and I went to see if she was in the Coop.  Oh yes, she was, but promptly flew the Coop again upon hearing us arrive.  So I scattered some scratch grain and we left her again.  After dark, we went down to check and she was alone on the roost sleeping.

This morning, I loaded her into a cat carrier and brought her to Ellen.  Earlier this evening, Ellen e-mailed me to report they got 4 eggs and all hens appeared well and happy.  Thanks for all the good eating, girls, and be generous with your new henkeepers!

And thanks, Ellen, for the photos!

Julia Moskin of the NYTimes on the backyard henkeeping movement.

appears to have worked.  We have contributions from Bea and from Lily, and today, gathered 6 eggs from our 10 hens.  To the other 4 I say, get to work!