JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Why go to the grocery store… when your breakfast is waiting in the backyard?
From scrambled eggs to Sunday roasts, more families are trading fluorescent aisles and rising food costs for fresh, homegrown alternatives—starting with chickens.
Backyard chicken coops are hatching across the country. According to the American Pet Products Association, more than 11 million U.S. households now keep hens—a 28% increase in just one year.
At Wealth Watchers, a Jacksonville nonprofit focused on sustainability and self-sufficiency, that spike is on full display.
“With food, meat, and egg prices rising, a lot of people with even just a small patch of land are looking for ways to grow their own food—or raise their own chickens,” said Will Barker, farm director at Wealth Watchers.
🐔 From coop to kitchen
Convenience still rules for many. But Barker says there’s growing distrust of large-scale food suppliers, fueled by viral videos and concerns about hormones, pesticides, and mass production.
“The more people see online, the more they question what’s actually in their food,” he said. “Raising your own chickens puts control back in your hands.”
For those willing to put in the work, the payoff is more than just peace of mind. A single hen can lay up to 270 eggs per year, meaning even a small backyard flock could cover your household’s breakfast routine.
🥚 First-timer friendly
Not sure where to start? Barker suggests going with layers—chickens raised for eggs, not meat.
“Most first-timers aren’t quite ready to process meat birds,” he laughed. “Layers are low-maintenance, and you can keep them almost like pets.”
And before you start hammering together a coop, make sure you’re following city rules. Jacksonville residents with one acre or less can legally keep up to five hens—with a $25 permit.
The average setup, including coop, feed, and starter chicks, costs around $200. But for many, the benefits go beyond cost.
“We are part of the land just as much as it’s part of us,” said Gabe Vigil, one of the instructors at Wealth Watchers. “The more we understand the world around us, the more we understand ourselves.”
🚜 A new kind of homesteading
Millennials and Gen Z are driving the backyard chicken boom, prioritizing health, sustainability, and self-reliance over convenience.
That’s the goal of Wealth Watchers’ free workshops, where Barker and his team teach locals how to turn their backyards into micro-farms—no experience required.
“It’s important for people to reconnect with their food,” Vigil said. “You don’t need a huge farm to make a difference.”
🐣 Want to learn more?
There’s a free backyard chicken workshop at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Pearce Street in Jacksonville. Click here for registration.
You’ll get hands-on tips, meet other aspiring chicken-keepers, and even hold a chick or two.