Want fresh eggs? Rent a chicken. No, really.

[Panich52]

Charleston Gazette

Entrepreneurs hatch chicken-rental idea for fans of fresh eggs

By KATHY MATHESON
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (AP) – The name of Jenn Tompkins’ company sends customers into fits of laughter.

“When I answer the phone and I say, ‘Rent The Chicken, this is Jenn,’ they giggle and say, ‘I would like to rent the chicken.’ And then they giggle some more,” Tompkins said.

But poultry leasing has turned out to be a serious investment as more people want fresh eggs from humanely raised hens, without the responsibilities of ownership. In two years, Pennsylvania-based Rent The Chicken has expanded to three other states, plus Toronto.

The growth is not an aberration. Coop rentals are booming nationwide as residents in cities, suburbs and the countryside flock to the anti-factory, locally sourced food movement. Some families also rent fowl as an educational experience for their children.

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http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150428/GZ05/150429198/1453

[Buzz Clik]

1. I get my eggs from my leased, free range chicken.

[yeoman6987]

2. Is it cheaper?

A dozen eggs cost $1.50 a dozen and last two weeks. Would I save money doing this?

[Buzz Clik]

3. I doubt it. Just like gardening is a lot more expensive than just buying your veggies.

I guess it's the satisfaction of knowing the your very own Miss Chicken squeezed out that egg on your back porch.

[yeoman6987]

5. The experience for sure would be wonderful

So glad you are able to.

[uppityperson]

4. Fresh eggs from own chickens are very different from $1.50/dozen store eggs

Occasionally I've had to buy a dozen store eggs and am amazed by them. They have thin fragile shells. The yolk is pale. The white spreads out so wide. They taste like egg-lite.

Even "free range" or organic eggs do not stand up to your own eggs.

I have no clue what it costs to rent a hen, but our eggs run us about 2.50/dozen, less than store bought good eggs, AND we get a way to recycle food scraps, good stuff for compost, chickens to watch.

2 young hens will get you 10 eggs a week, maybe a dozen during high laying season if they are of a high laying breed. That means it costs about a dollar extra a week compared to factory farmed eggs. With much happier birds, much better eggs.


But no, it won't compete with factory chicken eggs for strictly money.

[yeoman6987]

6. Thanks. I think that is neat

A friend of mine has around five chickens and gets eggs from them. They enjoy them and a wonderful teaching tool for the kids. I just never thought to ask her about costs. It sounds like an overall worthwhile experience even if a modest cost.