Chicken McMansions, spas and suites all part of coop tour

May 2nd, 2011, 11:34 am · 2 Comments · posted by Debbie Kelley

My husband and I went on the second annual Take-A-Peak Chicken Coop Tour Sunday, and it was a hoot. OK, wrong bird. It was a place to meet a lot of great chicks.

From Monument to Manitou Springs, about 15 poultry owners opened their coops to the public on Saturday and Sunday for a Parades of Homes of sorts.

Coops varied from small and cute to grandiose and McMansion-esque. There even was a mobile chicken coop at A Joyful Noise Farm in Black Forest. The design helps with the natural vegetative cycle of the farm, which, in addition to 150 chickens, also has a cow, pigs and goats.

The farm of The Goat Cheese Lady, also known as Lindsey Aparicio and her husband Herbert, was another great example of what can be done in your own back yard. Located in Colorado Springs, the expansive spread enables the chickens to roam free, amongst the goats and bunnies.

Want to learn about backyard chicken rearing? A workshop is set for this weekend. Here are the details:

An Introduction to Backyard Chickens

Date: Saturday, May 7

Time: 10 a.m. to moon

Cost: $25 per person

Location: Harlan Wolfe Ranch, 915 W. Cheyenne Road (one block west of 8th Street) on the west side of Colorado Springs

Register: www.ajoyfulnoisefarm.com

Program: Learn about the basics, including choosing breeds, roosters, housing, predators, nutrition, care, wellness, benefits and eggs.

Get answers to frequently asked questions: Can I have chickens in my neighborhood? What are the best breeds for our climate? Do I need a rooster? What do they eat? How many eggs will I get? Should I start with chicks? Do green eggs taste the same?

All proceeds will be donated to Pikes Peak Urban Gardens.