Video: More city slickers raising chickens

Larger screen

SEATTLE - Raising chickens seems like something you would do on the farm.  But more people in the city are raising them as well. 

Seattle Tilth usually offers three classes a year on how to raise chickens. They say so many people want to learn how to do it, they're now offering one class a month. 

Willi Galloway keeps four chickens in her West Seattle yard. 

"I'll see people walking by, they do a double take," she says. 

Galloway is just one of a growing number of people in the city who are trying to play a bigger role in what they eat. 

KING

More and more people are raising chickens in the city.

"We try to eat a lot of local food and so we thought if we could have our own organic eggs, it would be fun," said Galloway. 

Galloway says she gets about four eggs a day.  She adds having chickens is more fun than she imagined. 

"They love to run out and see us when we come into the yard," said Galloway.  "One of our chickens follows the dog around.  So they're really entertaining." 

It takes work too.  Owners need to provide a chicken coop, food and a little exercise in the yard.  Other than that, the biggest challenge is finding a place for all those eggs. 

"We have tons of eggs, so I'm really interested in any recipe that uses lots of eggs," said Galloway. 

Ordinances vary city by city.  In Seattle, the general rule is you can have three chicken per standard lot, more if your property is larger. 

Seattle Tilth is offering a self-guided coop tour this Saturday. Participants can talk with people who are already raising chickens in the city.