Help Bring the Historic Coop Back to Life
The Heritage Hen Collective is about much more than chickens.
It is about preserving and a piece of Greendale history by returning the 1938 chicken coop to its original purpose and honoring the agricultural heritage of Trimborn Farm.
Rather than allowing the building to remain boarded up and relegated a storage shed, the Heritage Hen Collective seeks to bring it back to life as a working chicken coop - connecting visitors to the agricultural traditions that helped shape Trimborn Farm and the surrounding community.
With your help, we can preserve the coop, return it to active use, and create a place where the community can learn, connect, and participate in hands-on stewardship on this historic site.
The Current State of the Coop
The historic chicken coop has been part of the Trimborn Farm landscape since 1938, but has not served its original purpose in decades.
Since the 1970s, the coop has been boarded up and used for storage. Years of exposure to Wisconsin weather and deferred maintenance have left the building in need of significant repair and preservation work. Today, the coop shows signs of aging, including roof leaks, broken windows, deteriorated paint, and areas of rotting or weather-damaged wood.
Despite these challenges, the building remains structurally sound and worthy of preservation. With community support, the coop can once again become an active part of Trimborn Farm, serving as both a functional chicken coop and a place where visitors can connect with the site's agricultural history.
The work ahead is substantial, but so is the opportunity to bring this historic structure back to life.
Creating a Safe Outdoor Home for the Flock
Our hens need a secure outdoor space where they can safely scratch, forage, dust bathe, and enjoy natural daylight, while being safe from predators and without wandering onto surrounding properties.
To provide that environment, the Heritage Hen Collective must construct a fully enclosed chicken run adjacent to the coop. Once completed, it will allow the hens to enjoy the benefits of outdoor access while ensuring they remain safe, healthy, and well cared for.
RECOGNITION & APPRECIATION
Everyone who helps reactivate the historic chicken coop becomes part of the story of the Heritage Hen Collective.
As a Founding Preservation Partner, you'll receive:
Recognition on the Heritage Hen Collective website
Inclusion in project updates and preservation milestones
Invitation to an exclusive Grand Opening Celebration
Founding Heritage Credits through our Heritage Rewards Program, recognizing your role in bringing the Heritage Hen Collective to life
NAMING, DEDICATION & SPONSORSHIP
Looking for a more lasting way to support the project?
A limited number of naming, dedication and sponsorship opportunities are available for select project features.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Sponsor a Featured Area (such as the Roosting Area, Nesting Boxes, etc)
Donate to the General Preservation Fund to be used as needed
Join our Founders Club (The first 100 people to donate $100 or more)
Lend a helping hand
CURRENT PROJECT NEEDS
Historic Coop Preservation
Roof Repairs & Preservation
Wood Repair & Stabilization
Exterior Preservation & Painting
Window repairs
Interior Coop Improvements
Interior Cleaning, Scraping & Painting
Roosting Bars Installation
Hen Health & Care Area
Nesting Box Installation
Automatic Poultry Door System
Ventilation Fan System
Chicken Run Construction
Chicken Run Structural Frame
Predator-Proof Hardware Cloth
Coop-to-Run Access Tunnel
Additional Enclosure Posts & Supports
Stain, Paint & Protective Finishes
Hardware, Fasteners & Gates
SKILLED VOLUNTEER & LABOR NEEDS
We are seeking volunteers, contractors, tradespeople, and skilled community members who are willing to contribute their time and expertise.
Current labor needs include:
Assembly of the chicken run framing system
Pouring concrete footers and setting posts
Site and ground preparation
General carpentry and handyman work
Roof repair and maintenance
Painting and surface preparation
Landscaping and site improvements
Project coordination and construction assistance
Social media marketing
Whether you can contribute a few hours, a specialized skill, equipment, or professional services, your support can make a significant impact on the success of this project.