Last updated: September 15, 2021
Place
Chicken House & Brooder Coop
NPS/Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Quick Facts
Location:
Grant Kohrs Ranch
Significance:
Historical Structure
Designation:
National Historic Site
Amenities
3 listed
Cellular Signal, Picnic Table, Scenic View/Photo Spot
This chicken house and adjacent brooder coop were built in 1935 by Conrad Warren during a time when he was upgrading and remodeling several buildings and facilities around the ranch. Being able to raise and grow a variety of renewable and reliable food sources not only improved the bottom line, but helped make the ranch self-sufficient.
The house provides shelter, warmth, and shade for laying hens. The interior of the building features a chicken roost for sleeping and nesting boxes for laying eggs. The smaller brooding coop is used to incubate young birds until they are large enough to be placed with the adults. The high fence keeps the chickens from wandering around the ranch and prevents predators such as coyotes from entering the yard. However, the chickens must be “cooped up” each evening by park staff because some predators like foxes and bobcats can easily climb over the fence!
Over the years a variety of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese have been raised on site for both their eggs and meat. On special occasions such as Christmas dinner or a family celebration, the Kohrs family would serve roasted poultry with special cranberry or lingonberry sauces.
Today, visitors will typically see Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds running around the yard, loudly clucking to each other, soaking up the warm sun, and digging lots of holes.
The house provides shelter, warmth, and shade for laying hens. The interior of the building features a chicken roost for sleeping and nesting boxes for laying eggs. The smaller brooding coop is used to incubate young birds until they are large enough to be placed with the adults. The high fence keeps the chickens from wandering around the ranch and prevents predators such as coyotes from entering the yard. However, the chickens must be “cooped up” each evening by park staff because some predators like foxes and bobcats can easily climb over the fence!
Over the years a variety of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese have been raised on site for both their eggs and meat. On special occasions such as Christmas dinner or a family celebration, the Kohrs family would serve roasted poultry with special cranberry or lingonberry sauces.
Today, visitors will typically see Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds running around the yard, loudly clucking to each other, soaking up the warm sun, and digging lots of holes.