The co-op’s consensus was that 50 beakless chickens roaming the field might put visiting children off agriculture for good. Other options deemed impractical were purchasing headgear for each hen to prevent her from seeing hens nearby, and painting each hen’s hind end daily with a sour liquid. Finally, the co-op gave away the five meanest hens.

For the most part, the co-op has run smoothly. Co-op members have faithfully made their shifts, unlatching the coop’s door as the sun rises or watching the chickens go to roost as the sun sets. The hens have steadily laid eggs with latte-colored shells and firm orange yolks.

The next step will be to determine how to make the co-op financially self-sustaining. Since hens lay fewer eggs as they age, the co-op will need to give away some hens and buy or hatch chicks. (At one co-op meeting members briefly discussed getting a noise variance to bring in a gigolo rooster.) The co-op may also start to charge a low monthly fee to its members or offer chicken husbandry classes.

Ultimately, Barber and McGuire would like to see egg cooperatives spread throughout the city. Families could save money and labor by linking backyards and sharing chickens. As McGuire said, “People need to work together. We’re stronger and we get more done collectively.”

[Thanks to a partnership with the local film company Cooking Up A Story, you can watch this story come to life at edibleONLINE.]

Angela Sanders writes about Pacific Northwest history and culture.