Devin Varnado

As the price of eggs continues to rise, some people are exploring the idea of raising their own chickens but are hesitant about the commitment. Rent The Chicken, a subscription-based service, offers a solution by allowing customers to experience the responsibility of chicken-raising without the long-term commitment.
Rent The Chicken provides customers with all the necessary supplies to raise chickens, including a portable coop, food, and egg-laying hens. The company also offers insurance on the chickens during the rental period, ensuring peace of mind for customers.
“It can all be overwhelming and we take the guesswork out of all of the questions by offering a portable coop, the food & supplies, and the egg laying hens,” the company says on their website.
Rentals through Rent The Chicken typically last for five to six months. At the end of the rental period, customers have the option to purchase the chickens and associated supplies. If they decide not to keep the chickens, the company will pick them up at the end of the rental.
“That’s a pretty cool idea,” said Tristan Miller, a University of Southern Mississippi student. “I think it’d be cool to try something like that for a little while just to see if you can do it.”
Farms across the country, including some in Canada, offer chicken rentals. Many of these farms ship chickens to customers without local access and provide "hen sitting" services for those who need help caring for their chickens while they’re away.
“At most, a hen can lay one egg a day – but a hen will not always lay an egg every day,” said Dr. Jacquie Jacob of the University of Kentucky in an article for the United States Cooperative Extension System. “It takes 24 to 26 hours for a hen to produce an egg.”
For those interested in raising chickens on a smaller scale, Rent The Chicken also offers the Hatch The Chicken subscription. This service allows groups such as schools, senior facilities, and families to observe the development of chicks from the egg stage through the first five weeks of life.
For more information on Rent The Chicken's services and options, visit their website at www.rentthechicken.com.