Washington, D.C. – The Vice President and Second Lady Usha Vance welcomed a handcrafted Victorian‑style chicken coop at their Observatory Circle residence this June. Built by Carolina Coops, the structure was donated and installed by master coop builder Matt DuBoise, whose company has previously outfitted celebrities such as Mike Tyson and strong‑man champion Brian Shaw.
Family‑focused backyard farming
Usha Vance told Fox News Digital that the coop has become a beloved part of daily family life. “Our children especially enjoy caring for the chickens as part of their routine,” she said. The Vance children have even painted favorite book titles on bricks surrounding the coop, turning the space into a modest outdoor classroom where they read to the birds.
DuBoise described the project as an “amazing opportunity” that required a tight schedule and work in the rain. The coop’s round hen house presented a design challenge, but his team broke the structure down, stacked it on a trailer, and reassembled it on site. “When JD came out in a T‑shirt about Lake Erie and Usha in overalls, I was starstruck,” DuBoise recalled, noting the Vances’ down‑to‑earth demeanor.
Backyard chickens on the rise
According to the American Pet Products Association, about 11 million U.S. households kept chickens in 2025, nearly double the 5.8 million recorded in 2018. The Vances’ involvement reflects a broader movement toward self‑sufficiency that many families cite as a response to pandemic‑era food‑security concerns.
DuBoise emphasized the health benefits of fresh, home‑grown eggs, calling them “much healthier” than store‑bought alternatives. He also highlighted the educational value: “It’s a great classroom for kids to learn responsibility, teamwork, and where their food comes from.” The coop’s design meets modern standards, allowing owners to travel without abandoning their birds.
Community impact
Carolina Coops recently donated a similar coop to a school in Harlem, extending the educational model to urban students. The Vance family’s public embrace of backyard poultry may encourage other city dwellers to consider small‑scale homesteading, even in limited spaces.
While the coop’s $120,000 price tag underscores the premium nature of custom builds, DuBoise expressed a desire to make coops accessible to a broader audience, stating, “I want everyone to be able to have a chicken coop — and we have a chicken coop for everyone, even people in the city.”
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
