25-02-2025
People are flocking to backyard chickens, and they're allowed in metro Richmond
One way to deal with the ongoing 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 and 8 million U.S. households consider their chickens pets, making chickens one of the most popular pets 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.
Zoom in: Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico all allow backyard chickens, up to six hens apiece in each locality, plus other restrictions.
Or you can even rent the whole setup, chickens and all, through The Chicken Rental Place, a locally-based all-inclusive egg-laying chicken rental service.
They're currently sold-out for 2025, but could have some openings in the spring, per their website.
State of play: 2025, similar to 2020, is already shaping up to be a big year for backyard chickens, according to Jenn Tompkins, co-owner of national backyard chickens company Rent The Chicken.
Yes, but: Caring for chickens instead of buying eggs at the store is still eggspensive.
It can cost $500 to get a decent coop, plus $20 a month for food.
But, two adult hens can yield about a dozen eggs a week.
