How to Keep a Rooster in the City

Raising roosters and hens for food means you know where your food is coming from -- your backyard. Living in a city shouldn't keep you from raising chickens, as long as your city allows it. All you need is a small amount of outdoor space and some time to spend with your chickens.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken tractor
  • Feed
  • Trash can with metal lid
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep roosters in a chicken tractor, an enclosure that doesn't have a floor, to keep them contained.

    • 2

      Only keep one rooster at a time because multiple roosters can be aggressive and fight with each other. From the time they are chicks, break up any fight you witness immediately.

    • 3

      Assert your dominance over your rooster. If you see your rooster doing something you don't like, scare him or swat at him. This will get him to accept you as the alpha and will keep him from acting aggressively toward the other chickens.

    • 4

      Handle your rooster. Pick him up, clean him and treat him as a pet.

    • 5

      Spend time with your chickens. This will afford you the opportunity to be vigilant about keeping your rooster in line and will remind him who the boss is. A rooster who knows he is not in charge will be a better behaved bird and a more successful city chicken.

    • 6

      Keep the roosters indoors in a metal cage placed in a larger plastic dog crate covered with a blanket at night to keep their noise to a minimum. Keeping your roosters from bothering your neighbors in integral to successfully keeping your roosters in the city.

    • 7

      Clean up after your roosters frequently to control the smell of their manure.

    • 8

      Keep chicken feed outdoors in a metal garbage can with a lid to keep from attracting rats and raccoons.

    • 9

      Add lights to the enclosure in the winter to keep your roosters warm and keep them from getting frostbite.