This is no yolk. Egg costs continue to soar in Western Washington and across the US due to the spread of avian flu and other supply issues. The price for a dozen eggs in Seattle range from $3.80 to $8 right now — making for some dang expensive omelets.
But what if you cook up your own supply? It’s totally legal to raise chickens in residential backyards here — and coops for egg production can be a sizzlin’ hot commodity (even a fancy apartment amenity ). Here’s what you need to know to get crackin’ — and calculate their worth.
Research pecking orders
Official Seattle ordinances allow for up to “eight domestic fowl” on residential lots — which is kind of a lot — and even more for properties over 10,000 sqft. But the law bans backyard roosters. Those early wake-up calls aren’t cool for your neighbors.
Don’t just wing it
This isn’t like getting a goldfish — raising and caring for poultry requires a lot of work. Be sure to review Washington’s avian health information
, King County’s backyard poultry guidance
(yes, that exists), and basic animal husbandry practices
. If you’re still feeling clucky, you’ll need
:
- Space for a coop and enclosure that can hold a feeder, water container, roosting area, and a nesting box (secure from predators)
- A designated outdoor area or run for your chickens to spread their skinny little legs
- Bags of feed, which you can get at local farm supply stores like Portage Bay Grange , Urban Feed & Garden , and Hayes Feed Store .
- The willingness to clean up poop nonstop 💩
Eggs in one basket
What should you expect when your chickens are expecting? Healthy, well-fed hens can potentially lay up to 320 eggs a year — and they’ll be as fresh as can be. Read up on safety tips before handling, though.
As for your wallet health, expect to shell out ~$650
initially, with regular expenses ~$25-$30 per month
. So, buying eggs at the store is probably more cost effective — just not as much urban farming fun.