Feb 20, 2025 - Culture
The rise of the backyard chicken
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
One way to deal with the egg shortage: Hatch your own.
Why it matters: When egg prices skyrocket, more Americans consider getting — and even renting — backyard chickens.
By the numbers: 11 million U.S. households have backyard chickens, making chickens the third most popular pet in the country, according to the latest data from the American Pet Products Association.
- That's way more than had backyard chickens in 2018 (5.8 million), per APPA data.
- Two chickens can yield more than a dozen eggs in a week.
Between the lines: Regulations on backyard chickens vary across Tampa Bay.
- In Tampa, only hens are allowed, and only one chicken per 1,000 square feet of land. They must be in an enclosed area at all times, and a coop must be present on the property.
- In St. Pete, hens and roosters must be securely fenced on the owner's property, with a coop providing at least four square feet per chicken. Coops must be clean and odor-free. No more than 10 chickens are allowed.
- In unincorporated Pinellas County, only hens are allowed, with up to four kept on a single-family property. They must be in a coop or fenced area and cannot be slaughtered on-site.
- In unincorporated Hillsborough County, certain residential zones allow up to five hens. These hens must be kept in a coop, and the sale of eggs or on-site slaughter of chickens is not allowed.
Yes, but: Caring for hens instead of buying eggs at the store isn't really a cost-saving strategy.
- It can cost $500 to get a decent coop.