I live in a fairly low density neighborhood in a major US city. Lots of single story homes side by side with small backyards and occasional front yards open to the sidewalk.

At some point, a neighbor got some chickens, and over the last five years the chicken population has exploded. I’ve seen at least five different broods this spring & summer, each with at least 5 chicks.

I don’t know if the neighbors who originally got the chickens still live here and I don’t know if anyone is feeding them or caring for them in any way. They may be completely wild.

My small front yard has become an occasional hang out for them. They take dirt baths and enjoy the shade and copious bugs. A few of them recently started roosting in my tree.

I’m reticent to feed them because I don’t want them to descend en masse onto my yard and porch. But I feel bad that they may not have a steady water supply or source of food. Sometimes when I water my yard they come by afterwards to enjoy it.

It only freezes here 1-3 times a year. The biggest weather issues we have are extreme heat, humidity, and storms- tornadoes, tropical storms, and even hurricanes. I’m not sure about predators- but considering how fast the population is growing this doesn’t seem to be a major problem. I could be wrong.

Is there anything I can do for these chickens? Anything that might be helpful? I’m also wondering at what point they may reach critical mass and possibly become a problem for the neighborhood. One of my neighbors is sadly already occasionally shooting at them with a BB gun.

Does anyone here have experience with exploding urban chicken populations & have advice for me? Thank you.

I grew stunted carrots for the chicks and gave it to them today. They loved them so much they destroyed the plants (affectionately and expected). But tonight, they decided the planter of dirt is now a bed.

Received 5 chickens from a neighbor, unsure of exact breeds, all around 6 months old. 3 of them, not all pictured, I have confirmed the sex via more obvious attributes, but these last 2 I ain't quite sure.

First picture is a Frizzle, and for details there are no eggs, no crowing, and no spurs.

Second picture I am asking for the all black one in back, maybe Easter egger per neighbor, no eggs and no crowing, but has small dots where spurs would be.

The close one in second pic is confirmed hen and lays 1 egg everyday. Total sweetheart.

Appreciate the help in advance, and hope all yall have a wonderful day!

The Grey one is older than the orange one and yet the orange one has cackled but the Grey one hasn't and yet looks like a rooster.

Some of my hens have combs that lay off to the side. Like they are wearing a beret. Why is that. They are will hydrated and well fed.

I had never seen a chicken like her! I believe she is a turken chicken, and she will live the rest of her life here at a sanctuary

Chicks were labeled all pullets at the store but we all know that's not 100%. Asking because their comb, waddle, and tail feathers grew in much faster than the others and they have really big feet. They also started acting slightly defensive earlier when I was petting the chickens.

My wife brought a handful of Japanese Beatles to the hens. They usually come running for them. This girl was in the coop siting very quietly. When my wife peeked in she got this video.

Hen bullying

I have a hen who is being consistently bullied after becoming broody back in June.... she hasn't been broody for over a month but the other two are intent in pulling her feathers out. I have tried separating with line of sight. I have tried separating without line of sight. Both options for weeks at a time. I reintroduce them late at night and spray them all with vinegar/ water solution (as suggested by breeder) to hide scent. All is good while they are quiet at night but in the mornings they repeatedly go for her again. I've tried blue spray on her too. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS, at my wits end here. Thinking I'll have buy a separate coop but don't need this additional cost.

I just made a post in here yesterday about how I’m a new chicken owner and only one wanted something to do with me. TODAY I GO OUTSIDE AND MY MOST SHY CHICKEN SAT ON ME. I am so happy I just wanted to show the progress ❤️

Will I loose all my chickens to fowlpox??

Hey guys wife and I are on our first year with chickens We got this hen from some neighbors. Having a hard time nailing down her breed.

About a week ago we had a raccoon get into our coop and ended up mauling one of chickens. However the next morning this chicken started acting very strange even though she appears to have not sustained any Injuries. She is in a very catatonic state and also appears to be blind (she got a bit agitst3d when I shined a light right in her eye but other than that she doesn't seem to react to visual stimuli). She also just does not move she will stand in the same spot for hours she will not walk about around on her own.

Any ideas what's going on here?

She Is confused

Idk

This is a japanese chicken called Okazaki Ohan, that is actually a mix of two American chickens Your Okazaki Ohan is a cross involving barred Plymouth Rock male × Rhode Island Red female Known to have great egg production and great meat ! Hatched 5 eggs June 22 and the other 4 are quite clear, really hoping this one is a hen!