Kansas coop in use for well over 50 years

[BeccaOH]

I recently visited my aunt's home in NW Kansas, and of course, I was interested in her chicken set up. Her main coop is old, and it does not have an attached run. (A smaller coop does have a run for when she is raising chicks.) My aunt has lived here over 40 years, but her in-laws farmed the place before her.

Here is the building, which is starting to show termite damage.

Here is the old feeder. Right now they are feeding 100% whole wheat kernels that they harvested themselves. The chickens are also getting a lot of grasshoppers, which are all over the place right now. The chickens are able to roam all over the farm, but she sometimes will lose one to coyotes. The chickens are locked in the coop at night. The nearest house is one mile.

Here is the roost that will pull up on a chain so it can be cleaned underneath. They cover the floor with hay and only fully clean the coop every couple of years. She said it was about due, but there was really no smell. The coop housed around 15 chickens, but could handle many more.

I asked my aunt if she had a chicken we could butcher and was surprised when she said YES! We butchered a 3-4 year old Buff Orpington hen. It was my first experience, and I was surprised how little mess it made of the yard and us.

I'll treasure this visit.

 

[scooter147]

Absolutely love it!!!
That is basically what comes to my mind when i think of a chicken house.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

This is a really neat post. I love learning from those that have gone before.

Awesome!

 

[havi]

I love the set up, its really nice. I bet it was a nice experience too. I love those old feeders. I wish I could find one around here. That and one of those old metal nesting boxes.

 

[speckledhen]

What a neat old coop!

 

[BeccaOH]

They had a wall with wooden shelf-like nest boxes. I should have taken a picture of that. I'd estimate there were 12 nests -- 4 across and 3 rows high.

 

[lotzahenz]

Becca, Thank you for sharing your pics. That is just the most perfect chicken house. Well thought out too, don't you love the little perches on that feeder? I think I have an idea for my chicks who keep the shavings flying into their food and water. Next time, show us the nest boxes too. Someone should help her spray for termites! help preserve that old coop. Here in KY we have a park, and it has an old chicken coop, the roosts are built on the outside side walls, over boards that have spaces between them, so the poo drops out onto the ground, not in the coop. It is a strange building, but a really great idea, like it has wings on each side. I would love to have one someday like that too. The spaces are not too big, just big enough for poo. I'll get a pic next time we go there to ride horses.

HenZ

 

[ducks4you]

These are great pics--could you link them to your website?
thx