Residents of a pricey New York high rise condominium complex say their building super has been keeping baby chickens in the building's basement.

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John Hyranyaz, 62, admitted to having the mail-order chicks delivered to his home in the 50-story building, but he denied claims that he has been raising the animals there, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

"I'm raising chickens because I plan to retire," Hyranyaz said. "The Post Office sends the chicks here. These are mail-order chicks."

"Everyone sees them, so they think I'm raising them. I keep them in a box overnight, and then I take them to the farm," he said.

However, Hyranyaz later said the chicks sometimes remain in their plywood pens in the building's basement for days before he takes them to the farm, the Post said.

He said Monday the most recent shipment arrived "Thursday or Friday, and I'll be taking them to the farm."

A spokeswoman for the New York City Health Department that while it is illegal to keep roosters in the city, there is no law against keeping chickens.