Backyard Chickens: A Soaring Trend amongst American Homes
US seeing increased employment of hens due to escalating egg costs
In the heart of Cali’s bustling suburbs, folks like Kim Yong-mi are ditching the prices of overpriced eggs and taking the poultry matters into their own hands. With the rise of renting hens and coops, it's no chicken feed that this trend has taken America by storm.
Kim, a university professor, couldn't help but crave that countryside feel amidst skyrocketing egg prices and store-bought carton rationing. With a grin, she welcomed her feathered farmhands into her LA household.
The thing with renting chickens? Well, it's not just for those ready to fully commit to the farm life. For the folks who aren't keen on running a full-fledged backyard farm, there's always the option to give it a whirl with a rented coop. "I wanted to dip my toes in, see if this farming gig was for me," Ker-smacked Kim told reporters, as she collected her chickens and their essentials for the grand egg-laying extravaganza.
The rent-a-chicken movement kicked off a decade ago in the peaceful grounds of Pennsylvania, thanks to a farming couple who founded Rent The Chicken. Since then, it's nabbed a clucky grip on more than 40 cities across North America, with local farmers setting up their own spinoffs. And it's only gotten cluckier since the pandemic lockdowns, as folks were stuck at home, mulling over the catastrophic egg prices. But now, things have hit the fan.
With egg prices grazing higher than ever, soaring to over US$10 for a dozen in some stores, it's no wonder that the rent-a-chicken trend has rocketed to new heights. Supermarkets have started limiting the number of cartons per shopper, creating an eggcellent appetite for self-sufficient, economical solutions like backyard chickens.
"We've definitely seen a significant jump in interest this year – think three to four times what we were noticing this time last year!" chirped Victoria Lee from her Agua Dulce farm, serving LA.
But before you get all egg-cited, let's lay it on the line – raising chickens at home isn't exactly an egg-onomical solution. As eggs mature under supermarket shelves, their quality dwindles. But with a freshly-hatched flock at home, eggs are as fresh as the hen who laid them!
Rent The Chicken offers various packages to cater to every chicken enthusiast's needs, ranging from about US$500 to over US$1,000 for six months. Packages include the birds, food, waterers, feeders; a bit of chicken candy, and a chicken care guide to keep our feathery friends happy and raring to go.
But what's the thrill without a swanky coop? Picture a mini-manor with a patio, fully furnished with every predator-proof precaution. Oh, and did we mention it has wheels? Simply lift, move, and watch the chickens frolic on their entertainment pasture – best of both worlds!
Kim, who couldn't hide her delight, solidified that the convenience sealed the deal. "Free eggs!" she squacked while unloading the new feathered tenants and grabbing a complimentary dozen eggs, fresh from the barnyard.
For the egg-pert Kim, coveting cluckingly fresh eggs really kick-started her chicken adventure. But the adventure doesn't stop there. Kim's big on educating her children and embracing a sustainable lifestyle. "It's not just about the eggs, boss," she quipped. "I want to teach my kiddos and bask in the farm life, tasting the true essence of farm-fresh eggs, poderñooze!"
In her quest for a sustainable lifestyle, Kim, with a growing appreciation for farm-fresh food, decided to venture into the world of food-and-drink and home-and-garden by renting a coop and chickens for her LA household. As she delved deeper into the lifestyle of raising backyard chickens, Kim discovered the joy of improving both her family's diet and their understanding of the importance of sustainable living, combining food-and-drink and home-and-garden in a unique lifestyle choice.
