Chicken Coop

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No trip to a farm is complete without chickens. However, historians tell us chickens were not a typical farm animal prior to the 1900s. A variety of chicken breeds live here, but they are all ladies. No roosters in this house!

Our chicken coop dates to a time later than the rest of the outbuildings. Knowledge of local farming practices of the time suggests that chickens were probably not kept at Mt. Pleasant until the 1940s.

Some unique features include perches and nesting boxes in the back half of the structure for safety and protection from the weather. Protection extends into the open yard with screening above, around, and even below ground. (See the two layers of screening at the ground level.) Also, notice the small door that leads from the enclosed coop into the yard. This door can be raised or lowered to either let the chickens out or to keep them inside.

You may also notice other engagement activities for the chickens in the yard, such as mirrors, perches, and even hanging metal balls where we can insert a lettuce core. We encourage our chickens to peck and stay active.

Your next steps:

This walk is about 5 minutes: continue down the hill from the chicken coup.  You will pass the goat pen on your left and then come to a clearing with a junction in the path.  Turn left and follow the trail up the hill, past the meeting space and garden, and you will see the barn.

Map to barn
Guinea hen house exterior