How to Raise Pet Chickens in the City

Raising chickens in the city, or urban chickens, has never been easier! With increasing technology, smaller, easy to handle chicken coops and pens are now available, making it possible to raise chickens, even if you do not have a grass yard!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Eglu Chicken Coop
• Chick starter
• Hatchery Catalog
• Patch of grass, pavement, deck, even apartment roof

1. 
    

   Order your chicken coop, and chick starter feed before you order your baby chicks, so that you have time to set it up and get it ready before the chicks arrive.

2. 
    

   Assemble your chicken coop, add the water and food dishes, put the shade on the top, and you are set for your chickens to come.

3. 
    

   Order your chickens from a hatchery that lets you order a small number of chicks. Omlet USA, the main website for the Eglu Chicken Coops, will, for a small amount, include the chicks in your package. Better yet, hook up with the elementary teachers at your school who are hatching eggs, and get your chicks for free!

4. 
    

   There are many other small coop options available to your besides Omlet USA's Eglu, such as the Chick-N-Barn and Chick-N-Yard combo, shown hooked together in this photo. The barn retails for $300 at critter-cages.com . They sell the Chick-N-Yard for $139.

5. 
    

   For those with less to spend, critter-cages also offered a Chick-N-Hutch that holds 2-3 full size chickens, and maybe 4-5 guinea hens for a mere $85.

6. 
    

   There are some larger options for backyard chickens, such as the Eglu Cube, which holds up to 10 full size chickens or a few more guinea hens. It retails on Omlet USA for $995 for a coop with a two meter fox-proof run, or $1250 for a 3 meter fox proof run. This package includes a Eglu Cube, the 3m Foxproof Run, wheels, a feeder and drinker, a summer shade, 10 Egg boxes, and a Chicken Guide, along with a
   30-day money back guarantee.

7. 
    
   Blue Cochins

   You could also buy more than one of the smaller set-ups, such as two Eglus, or two Chick-N-Barns with Chick-N-Yards (pictured in step 4). I like the Eglus because they are plastic and very easy to clean, with a poop tray that slides out from the back of the Eglu.
   The Chick-N-Barns are a bit fancier, and feature little doors that slide up, giving easy access to the eggs. Remember that the nesting boxes are not included with the coop, and need to be purchased separately or could easily be made by your handyman (boyfriend, husband, etc).

Tips & Warnings

• There are some really fancy varieties of chickens, you can even order chickens that lay rainbow colored eggs!
• You could check with local farmers and get chicks
• You don't need a rooster to keep egg laying hens. Your neighbors will like you a whole lot more if you skip the roosters, and get pullets(hens).
• The eglu features fencing around the outside that deters tunneling, which would make it more difficult for a fox or weasel to bother them.
• There are some really great hatcheries, like Murray McMurray, but they have minimum chick orders of 25. This would work if you got together with your friends and were able to split the chicks up amongst yourselves.

Resources

• Omlet Eglu
• Critter Cages
• Murray McMurray Hatchery

[gentletouch]

on 10/9/2009 WHO KNEW. NOT US. 5* BLESSINGS, gentletouch

[jayduve]

on 6/4/2009 Great article! Another great hatchery besides Murray McMurray Hatchery is Ideal Hatchery, which is the largest hatchery in the U.S. for backyard chickens. They're family owned/operated and I've had nothing but the best experiences with their customer service. Healthy chicks, too! I'd also recommend poultryOne.com as a resource, they've got the friendliest chicken message board I have ever joined. Oh, and everyone should try raising Barred Plymouth Rocks. Best chicken breed, hands down!

[soanyway]

on 4/6/2009 I like the one in Step. 6. I have always wanted chickens of my own. I housesit for people that have chickens and a coop like in step 4. It's so cool to collect the eggs every day! I need to check zoning first! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward! :-)

[GreenGardenChic]

on 2/27/2009 Good things to know, I'm thinking about getting a few chickens and i like the expandable option in step 4.

[inkwolf]

on 2/27/2009 Might want to advise people to check zoning...I live in a capitol city, and unfortunately this isn't an option on the main drag. Still, just outside town it is, and I may move there yet! Goods tips and 5*