Coop Story: Visit Dickie Bird Farm

by Jennifer Sartell
Photos by author

When I received the photos of Dickie Bird Farm, it was the rural ambiance that attracted me to this entry.

The rich monotone browns of the barn wood and the sunlight through the chinks in the boards gives it an almost candlelit glow. Our barn is like this, and you can see the hay particles float through the air like sparkling fairies. This is my favorite type of coop. Earthy, rustic and beautifully plain.

I also fell in love with the vintage feed sack murals that they have on the coop walls. I must admit, I am slightly obsessed with old feed and flour sacks. I decorate with them all over our home. I turn them into pillows, wall hangings, or just fold them neatly and display them in a basket. The murals were a major factor in Dickie Bird Farm’s feature.

This amazing coop belongs to farmer/homesteader Ivory Harlow. Like Zach and I here at Iron Oak Farm, she is not only a chicken enthusiast, but also raises turkeys.

The breeds that call Dickie Bird Farm Home include Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Welsummer and Black Australorp chickens and Blue Slate, Bronze Standards, Red Bourbon and White Broad Breasted turkeys.

Ivory writes that her birds provide “delicious dark orange yolk eggs and natural, free range meat. They also provide us with free manure for the garden, kitchen scrap disposal and plenty of rural entertainment.”

Dicki Bird Farm is home to three coops. “The largest is for the grown chickens, a slightly smaller coop contains the turkeys and a big brooder box for chicks/poults under 6 weeks old.”

Ivory writes that they bought their home in 2011 and that “adding the coops and acquiring chickens was one of the first projects they undertook on the homestead.”

The Dimensions

The dimensions on the coops are as follows:

Chicken coop 14×19

Turkey coop 10×12

Brooder box/coop 4×8

A shot of the Turkey Coop

Things They Love!

When asked to name 5 things that they love about their coops at Dicki Bird Farm, Ivory replied:

1. All coops have concrete floors. This eases cleaning and keeps the coops cool throughout summer.

2. The main coop roosts have hinges that allow them to be lifted and locked for easy coop cleaning.

3. Our barn is gambrel style, with a split door at each corner. The turkey and chicken coop are at opposing corners of the barn, each has its own door to the outside world. I love being able to open the doors and shovel manure and soiled bedding directly into our mulch pile behind the barn. The doors also prove helpful when we have to herd poultry in because of bad weather, coyote sighting, etc.

4. Our coop is adapted to facilitate handicaps. Fabio, our Buff Orpington Rooster, is a rescue rooster who came to us missing two toes. He had a hard time gripping the roost until we rounded the edges of the bars. We installed bars in front of our nesting boxes that allow Fabio easy access to a soft bed.

5. The front and sides of the brooder box are wire. This allows chicks to see outside and feel the wind blowing through the barn doors but keeps them safe from predators until they are big enough to go to pasture.

Another shot of the Turkey Coop

Two things to change:

1. We thought our barn was big before coop construction, feed storage and hay filled up the space. We are limited to what other types of livestock we can add to DB Farm because we have no place to put them. Diversified farmers may want to consider constructing their coop as an outbuilding.

2. Galvanized metal food and grit holders are worth paying more over plastic. Cover your feeders if you don’t want birds roosting (and pooping) in them. An electric water container is essential for the winter coop. Feed should be stored in a feed bin or sealed in a large container with a lid to keep coons out! These little tricks will save money if you use them the first time (unfortunately we didn’t).

How is their coop unique?

Old feed sacks inspired the murals on the side of our coop. A collection of antique tools found around the barn and property lines adorn the other exterior wall. We hope the décor makes the chickens’ house a home.

3 Comments

Coffeekittie

9 years ago

(Reply)

Really nice designs and I’m sure it’s pleasant being in there collecting eggs or even cleaning up. As chickens and turkeys are more vulnerable to predators than many other types of livestock, you can build outbuildings for your other animals and they should be fine (as opposed to making the poultry live in outbuildings).

Impressive.

Paula

9 years ago

(Reply)

Great coop. I am the same way in that even the work of shoveling manure is enjoyable when you love to care for chickens. I’m at 17 chickens now with 4 generations and I love every minute of caring for them. I love your coop style. I think I’ll get out there and start painting some murals on my coop. Just as soon as this Isaac storm passes.

Paula,
Louisiana

melynda

9 years ago

(Reply)

This is a lovely coop. I’ll bet the concrete floors are wonderful for chickens and people! Enjoy~