Silicon Valley Chickens Are Ruling the Roost
Check out how these 4 homeowners and their chickens are surprisingly at home in a high-tech world
Chickens have been steadily making the move from barnyards to suburban and urban backyards over the past few years. Still, it was a bit of a surprise to discover that the Silicon Valley Tour de Coop was not only in its fifth year of showcasing chicken coops from San Carlos to Los Gatos, with plenty of stops in between, but that this year’s tour included more than 35 coops. They could be found everywhere from schools to organic suppliers to small backyard enclosures. There were also plenty of enthusiastic chicken owners, who were quick to extol the benefits of raising backyard chickens.
Carrie started raising chickens almost two years ago, locating the coop and run in her mother-in-law’s yard because it had more space and the chickens wouldn’t be stressed by Carrie’s two bird dogs and two other energetic pups. Josefina’s four Chihuahuas are much more accepting of the birds.
The larger coop to the right housed their first chickens, a Black Barred Plymouth Rock named Frida; a Welsummer named Matilda; and Mini Cooper, a Golden Sex Link who is their most prolific egg layer. About nine months ago they introduced two Cuckoo Marans, Pepper and Oprah, and two Ameraucanas, Charlotte and Scarlette, to the flock. They added the red coop when the older chickens and the newcomers weren’t sharing well.
The larger coop to the right housed their first chickens, a Black Barred Plymouth Rock named Frida; a Welsummer named Matilda; and Mini Cooper, a Golden Sex Link who is their most prolific egg layer. About nine months ago they introduced two Cuckoo Marans, Pepper and Oprah, and two Ameraucanas, Charlotte and Scarlette, to the flock. They added the red coop when the older chickens and the newcomers weren’t sharing well.
The “ladies” can easily walk up into the coops at night, including this one with a heart cutout.
The chickens generally come when called, but the unusually long stick next to the run opening works as a “chicken wrangler” to gently urge them to return to the coop if needed.
The run is covered with chicken wire, but Carrie plans to replace it with hardware cloth, which is sturdier. She’s also planning to add removable panels over most of the run this winter to help keep the ground from becoming too soggy.
The run is covered with chicken wire, but Carrie plans to replace it with hardware cloth, which is sturdier. She’s also planning to add removable panels over most of the run this winter to help keep the ground from becoming too soggy.
Frida shows off her fine feathers. The yard is raked daily, and food and water is resupplied weekly.
A tree’s stumped branch provides the perfect spot for a chicken to perch.
Chickadee Cottage: A Front-Yard Henhouse
Tony Nolasco’s family first started raising chickens when his daughter was in 4-H. She has since moved on, but the chickens remain. There are seven chickens occupying this space: a gold-colored Japanese Selkie named Nugget; Ethel and Lucy, who are Polish chickens with black bodies and distinctive white feathered heads; two brown Brahmas, aptly named Sugar and Honey; and two gray Ameraucanas, Cee Cee and Dee Dee.
Nolasco, who founded the Nolasco Construction Group, built the coop himself eight years ago. It started out in the backyard but was moved to the front, nearer the house, when they relandscaped the back. Another landscaping project moved it closer to the street, next to the driveway. Nolasco was going to move it back but realized it had become a popular destination for the kids on the street. “They like to check out the chickens,” he says. Nolasco says the youngsters are well-behaved with the birds. “Mostly they’re concerned about knowing their names.”
Tony Nolasco’s family first started raising chickens when his daughter was in 4-H. She has since moved on, but the chickens remain. There are seven chickens occupying this space: a gold-colored Japanese Selkie named Nugget; Ethel and Lucy, who are Polish chickens with black bodies and distinctive white feathered heads; two brown Brahmas, aptly named Sugar and Honey; and two gray Ameraucanas, Cee Cee and Dee Dee.
Nolasco, who founded the Nolasco Construction Group, built the coop himself eight years ago. It started out in the backyard but was moved to the front, nearer the house, when they relandscaped the back. Another landscaping project moved it closer to the street, next to the driveway. Nolasco was going to move it back but realized it had become a popular destination for the kids on the street. “They like to check out the chickens,” he says. Nolasco says the youngsters are well-behaved with the birds. “Mostly they’re concerned about knowing their names.”
The coop includes laying boxes on each side that are easily reached. Nolasco also searched the internet for design ideas and added the wood shingles, skylight, rounded door, window and fascia trim and the ladder. Doors on both levels make it easy to clean and provide food and water.
Nolasco added the run about a year ago, lining it with hardware cloth. He kept the existing small palm trees in place and refers to it as a chicken atrium.
Nolasco added the run about a year ago, lining it with hardware cloth. He kept the existing small palm trees in place and refers to it as a chicken atrium.
Chez Poulet: 4-H Coop Co-Op
The owners of this stylish chicken coop can be considered second-generation chicken lovers and 4-H members. The mother started raising chickens when she was young, and then her daughter began raising and showing chickens as a member of the local 4-H chapter 15 years ago, with the ribbons and trophies to prove it.
Now that their daughter is gone, the homeowners are creating a chicken co-op in their backyard. It will be a place where local 4-H families can share in the care and eggs of their seven chickens, “test-driving” what it’s like before making a commitment.
To make this move, the homeowners replaced their previous chicken coop, a converted shed, with this one, designed by Heather Bullard. It’s designed for kids to use. That includes having a covered interior run that’s large enough to stand up in, making it easy to clean.
There’s also easy access to the two levels of the nesting area, so scooping out the bedding is easy. On the lower level, sliding doors designed to provide access to the “play yard” are attached to a cable system, so there’s no need to go into the coop itself to raise and lower them.
Other amenities include clean sand on the ground, which is easy to clean, and having the feed and water completely covered so it won’t be fouled by wild birds. The brick pad around it also keeps things from becoming too muddy.
The owners of this stylish chicken coop can be considered second-generation chicken lovers and 4-H members. The mother started raising chickens when she was young, and then her daughter began raising and showing chickens as a member of the local 4-H chapter 15 years ago, with the ribbons and trophies to prove it.
Now that their daughter is gone, the homeowners are creating a chicken co-op in their backyard. It will be a place where local 4-H families can share in the care and eggs of their seven chickens, “test-driving” what it’s like before making a commitment.
To make this move, the homeowners replaced their previous chicken coop, a converted shed, with this one, designed by Heather Bullard. It’s designed for kids to use. That includes having a covered interior run that’s large enough to stand up in, making it easy to clean.
There’s also easy access to the two levels of the nesting area, so scooping out the bedding is easy. On the lower level, sliding doors designed to provide access to the “play yard” are attached to a cable system, so there’s no need to go into the coop itself to raise and lower them.
Other amenities include clean sand on the ground, which is easy to clean, and having the feed and water completely covered so it won’t be fouled by wild birds. The brick pad around it also keeps things from becoming too muddy.
The nesting boxes are on the left side of the coop. The access door folds down, which is easier for kids to use, and has a lip to prevent the eggs from rolling out. Here, one box is occupied by Russell, a classic white Plymouth Rock chicken.
Supplies are stored in the closed compartments below the nesting box.
Supplies are stored in the closed compartments below the nesting box.
The “play yard” sits to the left of the coop. The chickens enjoy the sun, dirt baths and small spaces to hide in.
Russell hatched this batch of chickens in July. The yellow-legged Welsummers lay dark brown eggs, while the green-legged Ameraucanas lay blue or green eggs.
Russell hatched this batch of chickens in July. The yellow-legged Welsummers lay dark brown eggs, while the green-legged Ameraucanas lay blue or green eggs.
The chickens share the yard with Jordan, a 15-year-old captivity-bred desert tortoise, and three Havana rabbits, mom Mia and Angelina and Ashton. They all have their own spaces, though they enjoy visits from the family rescue dogs, Lizzy and Griffin.
Half-Acre Hobby Farm: A Suburban ‘Homestead’
Half an acre would have been small for a traditional homestead, but for one family, it’s the right amount of space to raise their six chickens and enjoy their eggs — along with honey from their beehives, wine from their grapevines and produce from their large edible garden.
Building the chicken coop, which stretches along one side of an existing shed, was the do-it-yourself work of three generations: dad, grandfather and sons. They matched the coop to the shed’s style so it would blend in. They also placed it next to the edible garden, which makes it easy to provide scraps and greens.
Half an acre would have been small for a traditional homestead, but for one family, it’s the right amount of space to raise their six chickens and enjoy their eggs — along with honey from their beehives, wine from their grapevines and produce from their large edible garden.
Building the chicken coop, which stretches along one side of an existing shed, was the do-it-yourself work of three generations: dad, grandfather and sons. They matched the coop to the shed’s style so it would blend in. They also placed it next to the edible garden, which makes it easy to provide scraps and greens.
The family has been raising chickens for several years. Their current flock includes three Ameraucanas, named Spook, Lily and Caramel; two Barred Plymouth Rocks, or Barred Rocks, named Justine and Roxy; and Snowflake, a Light Brahma. They range in age from 8 years to 4 months. The family notes that this batch gets along really well, which hasn’t always been the case.
One ongoing issue had been keeping the drinking water clean. The homeowners eventually installed a raised bucket with filtration system that’s enclosed, then added a bar with nipples for the chickens to drink from. “They learned to use it right away,” family members say. Both the watering unit and the feeder are large enough that they need to be refilled only once a week.
From spring through fall, the chickens are seldom let out into the area outside the run because they will eat the vegetables if left there. Come winter, they are free-range, and their manure and scratching helps prepare the soil for next year’s garden.
More
Quirky Meets Practical in a Dallas Chicken Coop
Houzz TV: An Edible Backyard in an Eichler Home
More
Quirky Meets Practical in a Dallas Chicken Coop
Houzz TV: An Edible Backyard in an Eichler Home
The Egg-Plant: A Family Affair
A tall palm stands over two coops set inside an enclosed 36-by-11-foot space that is now home to seven chickens. Carrie Bergner is the “official” chicken owner, but the coops are in the backyard of her mother-in-law, Josefina Bergner. Fortunately, that’s close at hand; Carrie, her husband, her three young children and their four dogs and two cats live across the street.
The palm trees provide shade for the chickens and help to shield them from overhead predators when they have the run of the yard. “A hawk swooped down and flew really low through the yard,” Carrie says. “We only let them free range now when we’re in the yard. We’re also planning to add another tree as screening.”
Fruit that drops from the fruit trees — they have a fig, an apple, a pear and a persimmon — are fed to the chickens along with greens from the garden and kitchen. Carrie also picks dandelions and deadheads roses when they start to fade to give to the chickens. “They love the roses,” she says.
In return, she notes that the trees are benefiting from the chickens as well. Since adding the composted manure around the fruit trees, the crops have been much larger.