Scio family builds elaborate chicken coop as tribute to craftsmanship

The Citro family has lived in Scio for more than a decade after years of moving around the country for Joe Citro’s construction work. “I built the Canfield Hall of Fame Stadium,” Joe said. “I built International Towers in Youngstown. The SeaWorld stadium, I did that. My wife and I started together in construction.”

Joe Citro bought his first property to repair before graduating high school. He later went into business with a friend and helped build almost every Jiffy Lube in Cleveland. He also spent significant time living and working in Florida before moving his family to Scio.

The Citros have become known locally for their elaborate projects. “Everything my parents do, they do 110%. My dad says if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing it,” said their son Luke.

Last spring, Joe’s wife, Diane, mentioned she wanted to have chickens again. “I told Joe I just wanted something waist high that I could open up for the eggs,” she said. “It just escalated. We started putting the poles up and pouring the cement in April. It’s not just a coop from the hardware store.”

The coop has a solid foundation, stands more than 10 feet tall and features a custom sign reading “Diane’s Hen House.” Fifteen chickens live inside along with a gentle cocker spaniel named Chicken Dog, who watches over them.

At the top of the structure sits a horse weathervane from Joe’s mother’s home. “I always loved it,” Diane Citro said. “When they sold her house, Joe went ahead and kept it for 25 years and surprised me.”

The gingerbread gable trim was another surprise, and its craftsmanship is uncommon even on full-size homes. The coop was a months-long project that began in late spring and is nearing completion at the end of November.

The Citros have four children and nine grandchildren, many of whom live nearby. Their son Daniel lives just over the hill from the family farm in a heavily reinforced home that he jokingly describes as “able to withstand an EF5 tornado.”

“We went through a lot of hurricanes,” Daniel Citro said. “So we think that way.”

The Citros are active in the community and always look for ways to help others. They describe Scio as a wonderful place to raise a family. “Whatever else is going on, you can walk down the street and it doesn’t matter politics, religion — people are nice to you,” Diane Citro said. “You don’t feel unsafe. You feel like you can smile at someone walking by and they’ll smile back.”