Has anyone noticed an increase in backyard chickens lately? Recent walks in View Ridge and Wedgwood have resulted in several sightings, which led the Wedgwood View to investigate the topic.
Sure enough, the practice of raising egg-producing chickens is on the rise. It’s legal to raise three chickens on most standard-sized lots within Seattle city limits. It doesn’t cost much and chickens are known to produce up to 365 eggs a year in their first year of laying eggs.
Of course, you have to be sure to keep them safe from predators such as raccoons. Another common question is whether a rooster is required to produce eggs — the answer is no.
Seattle Tilth has an excellent FAQ on the topic and is offering a class on it this weekend, “City Chickens 101.”
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3 reader comments so far ↓
1 boeingbabe // Apr 8, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Not only are Roosters not necessary – they are prohibited inside the Seattle city limits.
2 Name // Apr 9, 2010 at 3:43 am
I can't find anything about whether roosters are legal in the city limits. The link about says it's OK to have up to 3 fowl. Nothing about roosters. Can anyone point me to the specific code about roosters? Or perhaps there isn't any and they are legal.
3 Name // Apr 9, 2010 at 3:44 am
the link that the word “legal” takes you to … typing too fast, gang.