History and description of chicken scratching shed at Tallgrass Prairie NPres

Tour Stop 4: The Scratch Shed

According to the 1881 book, Barn Plans and Outbuildings, "the latest idea in poultry houses is to provide an open shed attached to the roosting room, in order that the fowl may have a place to exercise in the open air during the winter months. If the floor is kept covered with several inches of straw, chaff, leaves or other dry, light material, the whole grain is scattered in this. The fowl will get abundant exercise in scratching for their feed. This keeps them warm as well as busy and they are healthy for it, lay more eggs, and are more fertile."

The Scratch Shed was, in essence, the chicken gymnasium, devoid of treadmills, cycles, and barbells. The front of the shed was closed off in severe weather. The scratch shed has been converted to a vehicle storage shed over the years. The original structure has a series of windows on the front side. The chickens would roost in the sod-covered house by night and then visit the building to the west to feed during the day. This lavish poultry complex provided the essential requirements to keep hens healthy for maximum egg production and safe from owls, hawks, skunks, and cats. A coop of this size could easily accommodate 20 to 35 chickens. The scratch shed has been converted over the years to accommodate vehicle storage needs for the ranch.