Raising Chickens Within City Limits

I gave a 5 star review because she sounds just like me!!
I live in a town where houses are crammed together. Roosters are not allowed in our city but in certain areas they are everywhere!!. We actually aren't supposed to have chickens unless we are so many yards away from our neighbors and I am definitely not that... but we can have a pot belly pig?? My next door neighbor had one for 17 years.
I started with 4 hens in July 2021 and soon I was unindated with eggs. I share with the 3 neighbors behind me that I don't really know and my neighbors in front all know I have them and don't care.
Your article was interesting because since I am really not supposed to have my girls I make extra sure my coops are clean. I scoop multiple times every day. I have sand on the ground in the coop where they lay and roost which is 8 ft x 4 ft. Attached to that is a 9 x 13 ft covered wire enclosure. I use a solar powered door that lets them out in the morning.
I have a garden along my backyard block wall which they can't get to and I had grass all over. They destroyed the grass. So I added a tunnel, (my neighbor calls it a chunnel 😂) to the solar door that goes 3/4 of the way across my yard to another small fence that is covered with bushes and flowers. That's their favorite hangout every day especially when it's hot. Now I have 8 hens, 2 are Anconas and evidently they like to fly so I covered the area they love with a big net. Sun comes through and they can't fly out.
I am also going to expand the roosting coop by taking out an end wall and extend it to the block wall which will add about 10+ feet more for nesting and roosting.
I love our girls. We hand raised all of them in the house so they are all very tame and most love to be held.
I have 4 RIR's, 2 Anconas,a Plymouth barred rock and a Delaware White. I'm getting anywhere from 4 to 6 eggs a day with the Anconas taking the lead laying every day so far and they are not quite 6 mos.
Your cleaning, feeding and caring sounds so much like me... even worrying about whether your neighbors are bothered by your hens noisiness or the smell.
That's why I scoop the entire coop at least daily plus I have 3 dogs so I scoop up after them at the same time.
I've had chickens before about 25 yrs ago but here I am again and I'm loving every minute of it.
Backyard Chicken has been a wonderful resource of information. Good luck!!!
The Coop Crew
The Coop Crew
Wow you’ve put a lot of hard work into their coop/run! They sound like very spoiled girls ❤️ I’m so glad you’re able to keep chickens even though the city says you can’t. Sometimes the ordinances just don’t make any sense.

You clean way more often than I do 😅 I very rarely clean the run but I use horse pellets and stir and scoop every once in awhile and it doesn’t seem to stink luckily! Our coop is currently in the garage because we live in Michigan and it’s winter. I go out at least once a day and let them out to wander.

Thank you for sharing your story with me!
Detailed but concise article. Well done!
Very well written article about keeping chickens with nearby neighbours on a small plot. I live in a town that had no formal limit to the number of chickens. Only roosters are a no go if neighbours complain. Neighbour cats keep away rodents.

Two things I miss:
  • Bantams need less space and make less poop. Therefore they are often a better choice in a small garden.
  • Lots of openings / windows with ventilation keeps down the smell. When the poop dries out quickly it stops smelling. And is better for their health too. I cover/top up the bedding after a week and dry clean every two weeks. I use /re-apply diatomaceous earth as a wall paint.
The Coop Crew
The Coop Crew
Thank you!
I clean the coop about once a week and use poop boards which seems to be helpful!
We may eventually get bantams! We plan to keep our original four hens until they pass on their own ❤️
Hello from another urban small-scale chicken keeper in New Zealand! Our city regs are up to 12 chooks, as long as coop is 2m from boundary fences.

Have raised six heritage chicks from 3 days old (initially w brooder plate inside, then large cage in sheltered veranda, in coop once feathered). Three boys went to friend once started trying to crow, 3 SLW started laying @ 9 months. Follow similar cleaning routine as above. Use untreated pine shavings in coop & DE sprinkled in. Free-range grassy fenced backyard during day. No smell issues and no complaints from neighbour's either side Plan to get 3 more when bigger secure run finished. NB to protect your vege garden!
Great article from a fellow small flock keeper in New Zealand. Our limit here is Six.Had hens for 10 plus years. good addition if you are a gardener.The circle of life plants and chickens!
The Coop Crew
The Coop Crew
Thank you! We’ve had our girls for about 6 months now and haven’t had any complaints! People walking by love seeing them if they’re out and about 😊
Great things to consider before starting a flock in a city!
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These are great tips! Thank you from a new in-town flock-keeper :)
The Coop Crew
The Coop Crew
Thank you for the review! I’m glad it was helpful 😊
This article has good tips for keeping a flock happy in the City!
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Great article about how chickens can be kept in town successfully. Article is well organized.
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I like you emphasized checking local laws before getting chicks. And about coop cleanliness being important.
Informative article of how to manage having a few chickens in city limits.
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