Measure the space you have available for the chickens, which may be only a small yard or deck since you live in a city. Chickens need 3–4 feet (0. 91–1. 22 m) of space each. If you’re short on space, you should only keep 1 or 2 chickens.

Make sure the fence you put up is free of any cracks or gaps where a chicken could slip through. There are a lot of hazards in the city, such as cars, your chicken needs protection from.

You should avoid pairing hens and roosters together in the city. Due to limited space, you do not want your hens laying fertilized eggs. It’s best only to use eggs for food.

While most table scraps are safe for a chicken, there are certain foods you should not feed your chicken. Do not feed your chicken: raw potatoes, rotting food, peanuts, dried beans, chocolate, junk food (chips, candy, etc. ), eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, avocados, or raw meat. Make sure you remove any leftover scraps before the rot. Rotting food attracts bugs, pests, and bacteria into the coop.

Choose water containers that are easy to remove and disinfect. Living in the city makes the water more likely to be contaminated, so check and clean the containers often.

Prior to eating your eggs, wash them. You can wipe eggs with a dry cloth, but if you notice any manure use a wet cloth to wipe down eggs. Use warm water to wipe down eggs, as cold water can make eggs shrink. You should let eggs air dry before storing them in cartons for use later.

Unfortunately, some cities may not allow you to house livestock at all, so you may not be able to keep chickens in your city.

Say something to your neighbors like, “Just a head’s up, but I’m planning on getting chickens. I just wanted to let you know so you can come to me with any questions or concerns. " Be sure to tell your neighbors you are getting hens, not roosters, which are much noisier.

Do not keep more than 5 chickens in the city at once. More than 5 chickens is likely to generate a lot of noise and smell. Make sure to clean out things like droppings once a day. This will minimize unpleasant odors. You may want to put up a fence around your yard to block some noise from your chickens.

A solid fence outside the coop can also keep your chickens safe from predators.

If any of your chickens are showing signs of disease, consult a livestock vet.