Questions? Comments? Email us at liz@thecapecoop.com
(please note I do not accept guest blogger/writer requests)
Welcome! Ever since I was a child I have loved animals and daydreamed about owning my own farm – growing a huge garden, caring for animals, enjoying a simpler life. I used to think that I could not enjoy those things unless I won the lottery, quit my job, and moved to the country. While that still sounds like a pretty solid plan, I am not going to wait around for that dream to come true. I am going to fit that dream life around my real life, and into my backyard. I hope this site will inspire you to follow your dreams no matter where you call home!
Our name, The Cape Coop, is a nod to our home on beautiful Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I am a 12th-generation New Englander, I feel truly blessed to have grown up on Cape & to be able to raise my kids in the same community.
The Cape takes pride in inviting people to slow down, unplug, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. We aren’t a flashy, thrill-a-minute destination and that’s just fine with us. We are barefoot in the sand, we are come as you are. I share my life with my husband, our four children, two grandkids, and our ever-expanding herd of furry & feathered friends.
Our Farm Journey Through the Years
Our backyard “farm” adventure began in 1998 when we bought our first house. I knew we would have a garden; my mom always had a wonderful kitchen garden. I had so many fond memories of harvesting ripe, warm strawberries and plucking sweet peas off vines that towered over my head. That first summer I had a tiny plot of dirt where pretty much everything I planted died. Over the years my garden has grown and I’d like to think I have learned quite a bit over the years.
Right around New Year’s 2012, my farming dreams started to become reality. I was browsing through Pinterest, dreaming up a garden plan for the spring, when I came across the cutest little chicken coop. I stared at that coop for a long time thinking to myself “I wish I could have chickens”. Staring at that photo, I realized the only thing standing in the way of my dreams was me. I knew my town allowed chickens because the couple down the street had them. We called them “the chicken people”. Could I be a “chicken person” too? For days I read all I could on keeping chickens before I told my husband & kids – they were all on board and within a month we had 4 tiny fuzzy baby chicks!
I had zero experience with chickens and farming, but we have learned a lot along the way. 2015 was a big year for us, we expanded our backyard farm with the addition of rabbits, and The Cape Coop was born with the start of this blog and the decision to turn my hobby of soap making into a business (click here to see our soap & spa products)!
In 2016 ducks became a fun new addition on the farm.
In 2020 we were so blessed to find a little farm right in our hometown. So we packed up our house & home of 22 years, all our animals (that was an adventure!), and took a leap of faith by purchasing an 1850s farmhouse complete with a huge barn and 1-acre lot. The home and barn are in need of work and I admit I was a little bummed about leaving my gardens & fruit trees behind, but I am excited to make this old homestead shine again.
Now that we had this huge barn we needed to get to work filling it! A few months after moving in, we got a small herd of alpacas and have been so happy with them. They are so gentle and sweet, and provide us with lots of fiber for making socks, hats, gloves, and more (click here to see our alpaca products!).
In 2022 we added geese to the growing poultry flock, they are so hilarious and personable!
2023 saw the addition of Nigerian Dwarf goats. Not only are they super adorable, but they will provide us with plenty of fresh goat’s milk for soap making! In 2023 one of our children also decided they would like to raise fancy show pigeons. We built a little aviary and they have been taking great care of the birds.
We definitely feel like “real” farmers now and love this crazy, busy life we have built!
I am a family history buff, so you can imagine how excited I was when shortly after we decided to raise chickens my grandfather shared these photos with me from when he was a young boy. I didn’t know it, but he had grown up on a farm in Connecticut with his parents, sisters & grandparents where they raised chickens! It was such a treat to discover this special connection. I guess being a “chicken person” has been in my blood all along!
Legal Stuff
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by Liz Martin. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at liz@thecapecoop.com. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified independently.
I am not a veterinarian, just an animal owner & lover sharing my opinions and experiences. Any advice on caring for animals or diagnosing & treating medical conditions for animals should be evaluated by a trained veterinarian.
The intent of this blog is to educate & inspire people currently or hoping to live a more sustainable life. To compensate for my time I do accept paid compensation such as advertising. If content/products are paid or sponsored it will be clearly identified. I will always give my honest opinion or experience on sponsored posts or products regardless of compensation and I won’t promote products that are completely off-topic, any product or sponsor will be for something that is useful to homesteaders trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Affiliate Disclosure – Amazon:
“The Cape Coop” is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This means if you click on a sponsored Amazon link and make a qualifying purchase I may receive a small commission. This program does not cost you any additional money.
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Jenna
Thursday 7th of November 2024
Hello! I have been contemplating adding two ducks to our "little farm". Currently, we have three chickens, one died shortly after its arrival. We raised the chicks very well in the brooder, but she somehow died from being suffocated by the other chick. In any event, we also have four cats, but I would like to expand to adding ducks. I want goats as well but we dont have the space. How big of a yard do we need to raise ducks? I want to keep them in a separate "house" from the other hens. There is also a huge long creek behind our home, will my ducks start to fly away and seek out a life in the creek or will they stay on our property? Im concerned about bio-security hazards as well. Every spring wild ducks fly in to the creek for months then they fly away. Im concerned about them bringing bird flu to my ducks if my ducks decide to mingle with them in the creek bed. Pls let me know your thoughts! Thx!
Liz
Wednesday 13th of November 2024
Hi Jenna! I love that you are thinking all this through before jumping in with ducks. They are a really fun addition to the farm with their big personalities. Ducks require the same space as chickens with 4 feet inside and 15 feet outside being the minimum requirements per bird. I house my chickens and ducks together and they free range together but in order to do that you really need to give them lots of space and you have to keep the water outdoors. They get along just fine but the ducks like to splash their drinking water and feed all over making a muddy mess and the chickens don't like to be wet. In keeping a small flock be sure you don't any male ducks, they need several females to keep them "occupied" and having just 1-2 females will cause overmating problems. But a small group of females will be lovely. You are right to worry about bird flu, I have a neighbor that lost her entire flock (chickens and ducks) because her flock and wild ducks were hanging out at a pond together. So that is certainly a concern to think about. Domestic duck breeds can't fly so they won't fly off, but before allowing them to venure to the creek be sure they know where "home". Keep them in their house & run for about a month so they get used to going home at night before letting them free range to the water. Good luck!
Sarah
Sunday 8th of May 2022
Hello! I stumbled upon your blog when researching outdoor bunny habitats. We have a long haired rabbit that is almost a year old. We are having a tough time figuring out grooming. She isn’t a big fan of it…. She has some decent mats that I try to cut the tops and brush out but she runs away. She runs as soon as she sees the brush, really. The prior owner had pulled her fur out grooming. She had a couple of bald spots for awhile. I have never been that successful with her grooming after having accidentally tore her skin trying to release a mat, which I felt so horrible that I am now afraid to brush her too much . I’m wondering if you have dealt with matted bunnies and if you could post any tips or videos on caring for matted fur. I’m mostly afraid of hurting her. I have tried to find a local groomer, but haven’t been able to. I did have the vet help once but they are incredibly expensive and felt like they were punishing me for not being great at keeping her fur well groomed. I just want to keep her healthy and happy.
Liz
Monday 9th of May 2022
It can be hard to condition an adult rabbit to grooming, especially when they have negative experiences with it. Is there a treat she especially loves (apples and strawberries are two of my bunny's favorites)? Start by sitting with her in your lap and giving her the special treat while very gently brushing her. Keep the sessions short at first (5 mins or so a couple times per day). Then start working up to longer sessions. Don't try to touch the mats in the first week of doing this. Once you are ready to tackle mats you might want to do this is short bursts to start off with. Long haired rabbits get mats, it is just part of living with them. You aren't a bad rabbit owner, you are doing your best! Mats that are close to the skin are very tricky. Instead of trying to cut flat against the skin, I like to poke the grooming scissors into the mat perpendicular to the skin. Be sure you are using blunted end grooming scissors so you don't poke her skin. This way you can cut the mat in half, then do it again on each side so you just have four smaller mats. From there you can usually use your fingers or grooming comb to work the mat free. If for some reason you absolutely HAVE to cut flat against the skin, don't pull the fur up (you will just be pulling the skin up, exposing it more). Place the scissors against the mat so they are laying flat on the mat, but before snipping turn the scissors on their side. This way you can't accidently cut their super thin skin. If you are not confident in handling or holding your rabbit still, it might be good to have a helper. You got this! It just takes patience, lots of love, and lots of treats and eventually your rabbit will get used to grooming (and even look forward to it!)
Lori
Friday 11th of March 2022
This thank you is very late in coming.I have been reading(and learning )from your website since I got my first chickens 7 yrs ago.You have been a godsent to me(and my flock)! I am now getting my 3rd batch of chicks next month(serious case of chicken math !!).Your email today is over the top helpful with avian flu info,and I plan on using all of it.I plan to enlarge my pen asap,and practice biosecurity starting today(and no more free ranging).I also live in south eastern Ma.,and feel this is way to close for comfort.Hopefully these measures will be enough to keep our flocks safe!Thanks again!
Liz
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
Awww thank you! I agree, it's getting way too close, I hope everyone's flocks stay safe :)
Staci MARIE Abbott
Sunday 8th of August 2021
CAN YOUR TOMATO SAUCE BE CANNED IN BIGGER MASON JARS?
Liz
Tuesday 10th of August 2021
You certainly could :)
Teresa Michalk
Sunday 31st of January 2021
I'm so glad I was looking for a recipe for chicken poo tea and found your website. I love your story!
Winning the lottery isn't going to happen in this family either but 5 years ago we were able to get a house on the runway at a private airport in Texas with 2.5 acres of land. I knew right away I needed to get some chickens. I've enjoyed them ever since.
One of my neighbors is a potter and taught me what she knows. I now have my own pottery studio in the hanger an have started my own online business.
Now that I'm 50 and about to retire I hope to spend more time making pottery, gardening and sitting with the chickens, my dogs and husband. Definitely a blessed life!!
Liz
Monday 1st of February 2021
Such a blessed life, I love it! Sounds like you have an ideal farm with lots of love, and that is what is important :)