With Egg Costs Rising, a Niche Industry Gains Traction: Chicken Rentals

The cost of eggs has been skyrocketing, as many consumers have likely noticed. 

According to December data from the Consumer Price Index, egg prices have risen nearly 37% year-over-year. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in the same month, the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs reached $4.15. A significant factor behind this increase is the spread of avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu.” While this situation is far from ideal, an unconventional solution has been gaining traction: renting chickens.

For many people, the idea of having their own egg-laying hens is appealing. However, challenges such as limited space, lack of time, and inexperience can make the prospect daunting. That’s where companies like Rent the Chicken come in. Founded in 2013 by Phil and Jenn Tompkins in Freeport, Pennsylvania, Rent the Chicken offers a unique service that provides people with the opportunity to have fresh eggs without the long-term commitment of raising chickens.

“Thought of Raising Backyard Chickens? Every Spring, thousands of chickens are sold at local farm supply stores,” the company’s website explains. “Often, these chickens die before they are ready to start laying eggs (16-30 weeks). Children quickly realize that chicks are not as fun as the Xbox, and parents find out that chickens can not be housebroken. The costs quickly start becoming more and more. Then chickens are ‘sent to the farm.'”

The company highlights that many potential chicken owners struggle with zoning regulations, lack of space, and the complexity of building a proper coop. “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,” Rent the Chicken explains.

According to the Tompkinses, their aim in founding the company was to “help people have just one food source closer to their table.” 

Here’s how it works: Rent the Chicken provides all necessary supplies, including a coop, hens, and feed, and promises that your chickens will start to lay eggs within days of their arrival. All you need to do is pick the rental period. And if you love your chickens by the end of that set period, you can adopt the birds and purchase the supplies. Otherwise, the company said, “We will schedule a date toward the end of your rental to stop by and pick up the rented chickens, coop, and supplies.” 

And if you’re afraid of having to go away for a few days, that’s OK. The company will chicken sit for you while you’re gone for an additional fee. Rent The Chicken also has a surprisingly large reach across the U.S., with multiple locations in 24 states, out-of-area service for others, and even locations in Canada, all via its network of local farmers and homesteaders. 

There are two rental packages available: One with two chickens and all the equipment for a six-month period and another for four chickens for the same timeframe. The rental periods are either April to October or May to November. The Tompkinses note that their set-up is designed “for customers with a yard as small as 10 x 15 feet in size,” making it possible for just about anyone with a bit of space. The cost for the rental varies by location, but in Los Angeles County, it starts at $695 for Zone 1 and $745 for Zone 2 but is just $495 in places like the greater Baltimore area. 

However, with the rise of bird flu, newly minted chicken farmers must also be aware of the risks — and how to protect their mini flock.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers six critical safety tips, including restricting access to your poultry from other people and animals, keeping both their housing and yourself clean by disinfecting your clothes, shoes, equipment, and hands, staying away from other birds and bird owners as much as possible to mitigate the spread of disease, and refraining from borrowing any “lawn and garden equipment, tools, or poultry supplies from other bird owners.” It also recommends you know the warning signs of bird flu, which include “sudden increase in bird deaths, sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, watery or green diarrhea, lack of energy, poor appetite, drop in egg production, swelling around the eyes, neck, and head, and purple discoloration of wattles, combs, and legs),” and to be prepared to report any sick birds to the USDA by calling 1-866-536-7593.

As for how many eggs you can expect from your Rent the Chicken flock, that depends on how many chickens you rent and your location. Each destination we checked said a different number, but all are within the half dozen per hen range, which aligns with what data suggests the average hen can lay. And who knows, maybe if we all got our own coops, we’d have a deeper appreciation for just how hard it really is to get a dozen from farm to plate.