This is what I call my "Fifth Hen". It makes an appearance in the chicken run every winter.
The Fifth Hen is not just an upside-down clay flower pot and saucer--it is actually a warmer for the hens to cozy up to on cold days. It is wired with a porcelain socket containing a 75-watt light bulb, and it plugs into an outlet in the coop. I got the "idea" from the February/March 2008 edition of Backyard Poultry.
The heat radiates warmth to the surrounding perch area.
I often find Meg snuggled up to the Fifth Hen. She does not have as much heavy feathering and fat as the big girls, and it has been a cold winter!!
I won't argue with the fact that the Fifth Hen probably does more for my conscience than the hens' comfort. What can I say? I just adore my girls!
(And I think my girls kinda like me, too!)
Love, Bonnie Jo
5 comments:
I am relieved to know they have something warm to cozy up to!
kim
What a wonderful idea! :)
Bonnie,
I love gettting to know "your girls". The fifth hen is very cool.
Gina
I love it, Bonnie! I guess that I didn't know you used a "fifth hen". How cool... I gotta admit, last night I had a dream about your chickens. You had given one to me... it wound up getting sick... and the vet said that it would need $3000 worth of treatment to cure it! Yikes!!! Where does the mind come up with such ideas? ~ Suzy
I love hearing about your "girls". I wondered what you did with them in the winter and how you keep them warm. Now I know. I bet they are very anxious for spring.
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