Backyard chickens in Manhattan, New York

Yes — keeping hens is legal on residential property throughout Manhattan and all five NYC boroughs. Chicken-keeping is governed citywide by the New York City Health Code § 161.19, "Keeping of Livestock, Live Poultry and Rabbits", since NYC does not have a separate Manhattan-specific ordinance.

The Code does not list hens among prohibited birds; instead it specifically bans other fowl: "No person shall keep a live rooster, duck, goose or turkey in the City of New York except (1) in a slaughterhouse authorized by federal or state law...or (2) as authorized by 24 RCNY Health Code § 161.01(a)" (§ 161.19(a)). Because roosters, ducks, geese, and turkeys are the only birds named as off-limits, hens fall outside the prohibition and are legal to keep. According to the NYC Department of Health, hens are permitted, while roosters and other birds and fowl, including geese, ducks, and turkeys, are not permitted.

Owners must otherwise comply with the Code's general nuisance/sanitation clause, § 161.19(b), which requires that premises be kept clean and free of animal nuisances.

Manhattan has a humid continental/temperate climate moderated somewhat by its coastal, urban-heat-island setting. Summers are hot and humid (highs often in the 80s°F), while winters are cold with regular freezes and occasional snow. The dense urban environment keeps temperatures a few degrees warmer than surrounding suburbs, but wind exposure on rooftops and exposed lots can be significant, so coops need solid insulation, draft-proofing, and summer shade/ventilation.

Even in dense Manhattan, backyard and rooftop flocks face real predator pressure from the borough's surprisingly rich urban wildlife. Central Park and other green spaces are home to raccoons, opossums, and other mammals, and red-tailed hawks are common, well-documented year-round residents of Central Park that patrol from tall trees and buildings. Raccoons in particular are known as resourceful, opportunistic urban survivors that will investigate unsecured coops for an easy meal. Hawks pose a daytime threat to free-ranging birds, while raccoons and opossums are more likely to strike at night, making secure, fully-enclosed, predator-proof coops and runs essential even in a highly urbanized borough.