Raising Chickens in an Urban Setting: The Small Backyard Flock

Backyard chicken keeping is on the uptrend. With a little planning and care, city residents can enjoy raising hens while enriching their diets with fresh eggs. If you’re ready to embrace a bit of rural charm in the city, consider adding a few feathered friends to your backyard. Here is a guide to get you started!

Check Local Regulations

Before you start looking for chicks and coops, it’s crucial to check your city, county and HOA regulations regarding poultry keeping. Many urban areas have zoning laws or restrictions on the number of chickens you can keep, and some may require permits. Understanding the rules will help you avoid potential conflicts and ensure that your chicken-keeping is legal.

It’s important to note that while keeping chickens indoors might appear to be a convenient and enjoyable solution for those lacking outdoor space, it is not advisable for their health.

Why Keep Chickens in the City?

Fresh Eggs: Enjoy a steady supply of delicious, homegrown eggs with dark vitamin-rich yolks. You can have peace of mind knowing your eggs come from healthy, happy hens. 

Sustainability: Chickens help reduce food waste and provide natural fertilizer for your yard and garden. You can feed your flock many kinds of leftovers!

Education: Learn about animal care and food production with hands-on experience. Kids love learning about chickens and collecting eggs. Keeping hens is a great opportunity to teach the next generation about sustainability.

Planning and Building the Coop

Building a chicken coop varies with each backyard, especially in smaller lots where you may have to get creative. Consider using recycled materials to reduce costs. Your coop should provide shelter from the elements, a secure place for laying eggs and bars for roosting at night. Alongside the coop, a fenced-in run is crucial to prevent chickens from escaping or falling prey to predators. While free-ranging may be tempting, it’s safer to keep chickens within a secure enclosure. Many products on the market such as automatic feeders and Wi-Fi-enabled coop doors, can help simplify chicken-keeping.

For maximum security, opt for hardware cloth over chicken wire, and bury the fencing several inches underground to thwart digging predators. Make sure the doors and windows lock. Regularly inspect the coop for signs of tampering or wear to protect your chickens from threats like raccoons, stray dogs, and hawks.

Choosing the Right Breeds

Selecting the right chicken breed for an urban environment means choosing hens that are adaptable and quiet. Auto-sexing or sex-linked breeds are a plus because of the reduced likelihood of getting an accidental rooster. (These can be sexed at hatch by their coloration.) Standard size breeds like the Golden Buff, Easter Egger, Orpington, and Australorp are ideal for city living. These breeds are also higher production breeds, meaning they will lay eggs for you year-round.

Another option is smaller bantam breeds. These are pint-size hens that are usually quiet, easy to handle, and take up less space. They also lay eggs consistently, but the eggs are smaller than average size chicken eggs.

Special Considerations

Starting a flock of your own can have a notable learning curve. Initially, new chicken keepers must familiarize themselves with feed and brooding requirements from the chick stage to maturity, the basics of coop construction and maintenance, along with proper cleanliness practices to ensure a healthy environment for their flock. As you gain experience you will learn to recognize the signs of stress or illness in your hens. Few veterinarians treat poultry so it is important to have some books and resources on hand before you get started.