NAVIGATION
Raising urban chickens is popular with urban homesteaders because it allows you to collect your own eggs, and it’s a great way to bring some rural charm to the big city.
Contrary to what some believe, you don’t need acres of land and can enjoy the benefits of raising chickens in the city with a relatively small amount of space.
All you need is the right knowledge and setup. Once those are in place, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a steady supply of fresh eggs and the unique charms of our feathered friends.
Sure, there are challenges, but with some creativity, I think you’ll find the rewards are more than worth the effort.
Hi, I’m Ryan
Before moving to my homestead, I pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished in the city and enjoyed the challenge of raising urban chickens. From balcony container gardens to an urban chicken coop, I’ve experienced it firsthand and learned that you don’t need much space to get closer to self-sustainability.
Raising Urban Chickens: What You Need To Know
First off, your location will determine whether or not you can own chickens in the city. Raising urban chickens is allowed in some cities — as long as you have the proper permits — whereas it’s prohibited in others. The good news is that an increasing number of cities are allowing hens as urban farming and sustainability movements grow in popularity.
Before you even start, I recommend you look up your local laws and regulations. Many cities have the information plainly lined out on their official website, but you can also reach out to your city’s planning board, county clerk, or animal control office to find out more. Let’s dive into some details on urban chicken keeping, obstacles you might face, and the best breeds for keeping a city chicken coop.
How Many Chickens Can You Have In City Limits?
How many chickens you can have within city limits is another consideration that will vary by location. Most commonly, it’s limited to 4 or 8 hens. But I know some cities that will allow you to have as many as 12. Keep in mind that this is the case for female chickens specifically.
While many cities allow hens, the regulations regarding male chickens, or roosters, are generally much stricter. Roosters have a reputation for being extremely noisy and aggressive, and their bad rep is why they are often 86ed within city limits.
In addition to being too loud for noise ordinances, roosters pose a potential safety risk to small children, and consequently, most cities ban them altogether. Fortunately, these bans shouldn’t affect you too much. Roosters don’t make very good pets and aren’t necessary for egg production.
When you’re getting started, just make sure that you buy sexed chicks and go for the hens, or you may accidentally end up on the wrong side of the law.
Best Urban Chicken Breeds
While the best breed for you will depend on your goals for raising urban chickens, there are several breeds that are well-suited for city life. I suggest you consider three major factors before deciding on a breed — size, personality, and egg production. Most chicken breeds make good pets and are, therefore, great companions, but to compensate for the lack of space in urban environments, you’ll want to stick with small, docile breeds like the following:
The Most Popular Urban Chicken Breeds
- Dutch Bantams and Seramas: With a maximum weight of just 18 ounces, Dutch Bantams and Seramas are two of the smallest breeds available and perfectly suited to urban chicken coops. Both are incredibly social birds with friendly personalities and stunning plumage. They’re also fairly decent at egg laying, although the eggs are about half the size of regular chicken eggs.
- Silkies: My favorite pet chicken breed, Silkies are just a bit larger than Bantams, with fully grown hens typically weighing in at around three pounds. However, while their fluffy plumage and amiability make them excellent pets, they’re notoriously inconsistent egg layers.
- Easter Eggers, and Australorp Bantams: These breeds are moderately sized, with an average weight of three to five pounds. They’re consistent layers and strike the perfect balance between egg production and companionship. Both breeds are gentle-natured and unlikely to act aggressively.
- Araucana Bantams: Araucana Bantams is an egg-laying breed that is well-known for its stunning, greenish-blue eggs. Fully grown hens are just under 2 pounds, making them quite well-suited to urban environments. They’re also calm, amiable, inquisitive, and exceptionally easy to train.
Setting Up An Urban Chicken Coop In The City
Due to the metropolitan nature of city living, an urban chicken coop design will differ from their rural counterparts. Urban coops require a little more ingenuity due to space constraints, regulations, and your close proximity to neighbors. So, when designing a city chicken coop, you’ll want to maximize the space you have available, prioritize noise reduction, and put a greater emphasis on aesthetics. For these reasons, urban chicken coops are often creatively compact and feature vertical elements, like multilevel platforms.
How Much Space Do You Need For An Urban Chicken Coop?
Small, urban chicken breeds can thrive with as little as 1 to 3 square feet of coop space. But, in addition to the coop, your chickens will also need a run. A run or fenced-in area that’s separate from the coop gives your chicks space to exercise and explore. Ideally, each chicken should have 4 to 6 square feet of run space for the best results and happiest urban chickens. If that’s not an option for you, you might have to get creative or consider having fewer chickens to avoid overcrowding.
Soundproofing Your City Chicken Coop
Another way to make your chicken coop more compatible with city life is to construct it with soundproofing materials. Generally, the more mass a structure has, the more noise it blocks. That means insulating your coop’s walls will dampen noise, keeping you and your neighbors happy. You can use a variety of soundproofing materials, including mass-loaded vinyl barriers, Styrofoam, cellulose insulation, or rock wool.
Regardless of which material you pick, just make sure that the coop remains well-ventilated. To do that, install baffles or use angled air vents to allow for air circulation while retaining the soundproofing effects. Once you’ve finished designing your urban chicken coop, it’s time to figure out where to put it.
If possible, put the coop in a secluded part of your yard, far away from property lines. I get that this might not be an option for urbanites, but there are ways to work with what you have. For example, placing your coop near walls, fences, and other structures can have similar noise-reducing effects.
Creating A Safe And Stylish Chicken Coop
Aesthetics are a priority in urban environments, where outdoor spaces are often shared or visible to others. While you’re free to experiment with different styles, it’s important to make sure your coop has a cohesive, polished design.
Avoid cheap-looking materials whenever possible, and opt for shapes and colors that match your home’s aesthetic. That way, the coop can complement its surroundings and be viewed as a feature rather than a potential source of contention.
In addition to making your coop look good, you’ll also want to make sure that your chickens and eggs are safe from predation. While there’s a wider variety of potential predators in rural environments, cities have their fair share of rats, raccoons, stray cats, and dogs that can be a threat. So, the best practice is to ensure your urban chicken coop is secure, and while you’re at it, it’s not a bad idea to install locks to deter theft and vandalism.
Unique Considerations For Raising Urban Chickens
Even if you have experience with poultry, raising urban chickens differs from raising them in a rural environment, and there are some unique factors to think about before diving in. Cities are densely populated and are generally considered areas where outbreaks and pests can spread quickly. As a result, proper sanitation and maintenance are essential in your city coop.
You’ll also benefit more from training your flock, as greater population density means more people could complain about your urban chicken coop, and being proactive to keep the peace could serve you later. To train your chickens in the city, try rewarding them with table scraps or mealworms when they’re quiet for long stretches of time. To discourage negative behavior, there were times I had to gently spritz them with a water bottle, which worked well to deter bad habits.
It’s also important to keep your chickens happy, as the happier and more content your hens are, the quieter, healthier, and more productive they’ll be. Give them plenty of high-quality feed, mental stimulation, and outdoor time. Sometimes you have to get super creative to achieve the outdoor space aspect in a metropolitan area.
When I lived in the city, I didn’t exactly have a garden for my chickens to roam around in, but luckily, I had a friend living in a nearby suburb who was into urban gardening. I’d gather my hens into a transport cage and drop them off at her fenced-in garden whenever possible. I’d let them wander around and forage for a few hours while I either hung out or caught up on errands. In addition to providing my chickens with invaluable outdoor time, my friend benefitted from the free pest control, soil aeration, fertilization, and weed management. The point is there are options, but it does take a little extra effort if you are living in close quarters.
How To Approach Your Neighbors About Urban Chickens
Raising chickens in the city impacts the people who live around you, so it’s important to let your neighbors know before starting your flock. While they probably won’t be able to stop you, it’s a good idea to give them a heads-up so you can stay on their good side. Start by explaining why you’re interested in keeping city chickens, and reassure them that you plan on staying on top of coop hygiene and noise control. If it seems like they’re still less than thrilled, you can always try offering them free eggs, meat, or compost.
Showing your neighbors that you value their peace and respect them enough to speak with them beforehand will go a long way in building goodwill. They might even offer to help out with the coop, especially if they’re interested in raising urban chickens of their own. Then, simply keep your coop clean and well-managed.
While you may be able to raise chickens in your urban area, you might not be able to slaughter them. Instead, you’ll probably have to bring them to a licensed butcher who can slaughter and process the meat for personal consumption.
Is It Financially Worth It To Raise Chickens In The City?
Raising urban chickens can be a source of extra income, but whether or not it’s financially worthwhile will depend on your priorities and how you manage your resources. For one thing, there’s the initial investment of building a coop, acquiring chickens, and paying for necessary permits. You’ll also have to provide a regular supply of food, water, and bedding.
I’ve found that the financial benefits balance these costs over time. If you’re raising more eggs than your household can consume, you can sell the excess eggs for a profit. You can also sell chicks, or send the mature hens off to a licensed butcher to be processed and sold. There’s even a market for chicken manure, especially if you live near urban gardeners.
I’d also like to note that hens bring more than just monetary value. They’ve given me the kind of hands-on education that goes beyond dollars and cents, and I get a sense of fulfillment from caring for my chicks and watching them grow.
Plus, it’s hard to put a price on the joy I feel collecting fresh eggs each morning. So, while it probably won’t make you rich, keeping chickens in the city can be financially and personally rewarding.
Can You Keep Urban Chickens In An Apartment?
Raising urban chickens in an apartment is not common–or something I recommend — but it is technically possible if your apartment complex allows it. The main concern is that there’s an overall lack of space, and chickens are not suited to the confines of living indoors. For that reason, I’d only suggest raising chickens in an apartment if you have regular access to an outdoor space like a large balcony, terrace, or rooftop garden.
I’d also advise opting for an even smaller fowl, like button quail, to help work with the space constraints. But, if you’re set on chickens, limit your flock to just two or three hens. Otherwise, you’ll risk overcrowding, making your chickens much more susceptible to health and behavioral issues. Fewer chickens will also help prevent the smells, noise, and messes from becoming overwhelming. That said, these steps can only go so far, and I think it’s better to wait until you can offer your chickens a more appropriate environment.
Why Don’t Some Cities Allow Urban Chicken Keeping?
Some places prohibit keeping chickens in the city due to a variety of potential concerns. For one thing, hens can generate a lot of noise and disturb your neighbors. For another, a lot of people find chicken coops unsightly — which can cause property values to drop. Sanitation is another major concern, as improperly maintained coops can lead to bad smells, an increase in rodents and pests, and the spread of harmful pathogens like salmonella, E. coli, and avian flu.
Do City Chicken Coops Attract Rats?
There’s a common misconception out there that city chicken coops will attract rats, but that’s not exactly the case. On their own, chickens don’t attract rats. They may even eat rodents if they’re small enough. Instead, rats are drawn to unsecured food and water. Luckily, you can significantly reduce the chances of attracting rats to your coop by staying on top of the hygiene.
Rats can easily chew through wood and plastic, so store the chicken feed in an air-tight glass or metal container. Only put out as much food as necessary and regularly clean up any spilled or uneaten feed. Another effective strategy is to make the urban chicken coop as inhospitable to rats as possible. Keep it clean and free from unnecessary clutter, and fill any gaps in the walls and flooring with steel wool or hardware cloth.
Living in a city doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams of raising urban chickens. That said, keeping city chickens isn’t for everyone. It’s a unique challenge in which you’ll have to learn how to maximize space as efficiently as possible while creatively getting your flock enough outdoor time. But, with careful planning and heightened maintenance, raising urban chickens can be an incredibly rewarding venture.
Your turn!
- If you raise chickens in a city, how do you manage noise and smell concerns?
- How do you plan on keeping your chickens healthy in an urban environment?
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