When we started taking pictures with the baby chicks, my mom had longed for backyard chickens. For years, she and my step-dad talked about building a coop at their home in Pennsylvania. A few years later, we now fluctuate between having 80-120 chickens at a time. We consider them as our family pets—my mom and stepdad love their “ladies.”

The amazing thing is, raising chickens is no longer limited to just farms. Believe it or not, there is a new trend in New York City where people are building rooftop coops. While our chickens live the good life out in Pennsylvania, here in the city, there is a culture of chicken raising that may be next door to your apartment.

While roosters are outlawed in the city (no crowing), chickens are allowed. You won’t see many coops in Manhattan itself, but in Brooklyn and the Bronx, you’ll find that its more common. As more people want to know where their food is coming from and look to sustainability, I won’t be surprised if this trend spreads to each borough.

If you’re curious to learn more, The Kitchn had an excellent article on the topic. You can read more here.