Urban Chickens - Are They For You?

There is definitely a mounting trend in America regarding the little bird scientifically known as Gallus Gallus Domesticus. The Chicken. Or more specifically, the domesticated and now, urbanized chicken. The backyard chicken. The Neighbor's chicken. Maybe even your chicken!

What Are Urban Chickens?

If you are unfamiliar with the term "urban, chickens," the University of Kentucky defines it like this: 

The terms urban poultry and backyard poultry both refer to flocks kept on residential lots. Keeping chickens in urban areas is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. The main reasons for keeping chickens are as pets and for egg production—pets with benefits.  

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ASC/ASC241/ASC241.pdf

Probably the main idea to take note of in here is that these birds are usually pets who live on your residential lot with you. Just like taking on a cat or a dog, the owner is assuming a significant responsibility for feeding, housing, and caring for their chickens, as well as keeping those pets within their property lines, and abiding by any neighborhood, or civic restrictions that might affect how they keep their chickens. While rural chicken owners might also have some of these considerations, the urban chicken owner usually has closer neighbors and more strict rules to follow.

On the plus side, it can also be easier for the urban chicken owner to find someone to look in on their chickens for them if they need to go out of town.

Before You Buy

If you are planning to join the ranks of urban chicken farmers, here are some things you may want to to consider in advance of that first little cheep arriving at your home:

• Check neighborhood, town, city, or county restrictions on backyard chicken raising. You might find out that there are limits not only on the number and gender of chickens you are allowed to have, but minimum/maximum requirements on the size of the coop and run, minimum distance from other homes.
• Review noise ordinances just to be on the safe side. A lot of folks believe that "no roosters" means you will have a quiet hen yard. Nope. Hens singing the "egg song" can be quite noisy.
• Read about a wide variety of breeds before you make your choice of which chickens to raise. This can be pretty intimidating at first, so it can be useful to break things down into categories and read about those first, like chickens who do best in cold climates, or learning about terminology, like learning what "straight run" means.
• Make a realistic price list for the basic accessories you're going to have to buy if you choose to raise chickens - a coop, a covered run, feed, as well as something to put that feed and water in if you don't want to waste it. If you're likely to experience extreme heat or cold situations, also price in appropriate accessories for dealing with those extremes so you aren't blindsided when the extreme weather hits.
• Ask if your local vet will see chickens. Chickens can get sick or be injured - it can be helpful to decide in advance whether or not vet visits for your chickens are even possible in your area. Some folks spend money for vet visits, some don't - you need to think about which option is right for you (or even available) before you are forced to choose.
• Factor in time - whether it's cleaning a coop, gathering eggs, or just checking on the flock, you will need to come to grips with the demands your backyard flock will make on your spare time. Some folks have coffee with their chickens every morning, some just see them at feeding time. You'll figure out which you are eventually but it's still worth thinking about your existing free time and considering how many of them you are ready to devote to poop-scooping! (see the first point about local restrictions - you might be required to clean your coop more often than you plan to.)

But what if you just jumped in with both feet and ordered your chicks because spring chick pre-orders are open NOW and you just couldn't wait another minute to grab those little cuties? 

Don't worry - your chicks can't actually be shipped until its warm enough to do so safely. Even if you only manage to get through half this list before your chicks arrive, part of a plan is better than no plan. Doing a little research ahead of time will help prepare you for the realities of becoming an urban chicken farmer!