Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 10.01 Agriculture
Presentation #1 Title
Cock-a-doodle-coop: An Architect’s Response to the Call of Chickens Needing Shelter in Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
In both rural and urban areas of Appalachia, the sound of backyard chickens is getting louder, with more homeowners owning a family flock; however, suitable shelter is not always inherently available as most newcomers to chicken husbandry lack outbuildings. This paper intends to illustrate the necessary research, design, and construction of a modern chicken coop through an example project by the author, architect Chad Everhart. Before embarking on the journey into tending a flock of his own laying hens, Everhart had never eaten a fresh egg, much less touched a live chicken. Also, he had only worked with and designed for human clients; therefore, a substantial amount of research was conducted before developing a design or building a structure. From incorporating solar power to inventing a chicken toilet, readers will witness a unique intertwining of vernacular and modern design techniques while also understanding the continued value of outbuildings, even our technologically-advanced society.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Chad Everhart, an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Building Science in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design at Appalachian State University, is a design educator and practicing architect in the North Carolina High Country. His scholarly endeavors and professional practice focus on the building vernacular inherent to an area as a catalyst for creating modern, sustainably designed buildings.
Cock-a-doodle-coop: An Architect’s Response to the Call of Chickens Needing Shelter in Appalachia
In both rural and urban areas of Appalachia, the sound of backyard chickens is getting louder, with more homeowners owning a family flock; however, suitable shelter is not always inherently available as most newcomers to chicken husbandry lack outbuildings. This paper intends to illustrate the necessary research, design, and construction of a modern chicken coop through an example project by the author, architect Chad Everhart. Before embarking on the journey into tending a flock of his own laying hens, Everhart had never eaten a fresh egg, much less touched a live chicken. Also, he had only worked with and designed for human clients; therefore, a substantial amount of research was conducted before developing a design or building a structure. From incorporating solar power to inventing a chicken toilet, readers will witness a unique intertwining of vernacular and modern design techniques while also understanding the continued value of outbuildings, even our technologically-advanced society.
