A novel approach to sourcing fresh eggs is gaining traction, allowing people to experience backyard farming without long-term commitments.
Rent the Chicken, accessible through rentthechicken.com, offers short-term chicken and coop rentals with locations throughout North America. This all comes amid an egg shortage due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak.
According to its website, Rent the Chicken offers customers a comprehensive package to start their backyard chicken adventure.
“We provide all of the supplies you need to get started: portable chicken coop, two to four egg laying hens, 100–200 pounds of feed (optional non-GMO or Organic feed available), food & water dishes, a chicken keeping book as well as instructions on how to keep your chickens happy!” the company states.
The rental period typically spans the most productive egg-laying months. Lisa Stevenson, an affiliate partner of Rent the Chicken, told Syracuse.com: “We provide them with a coop, two laying hens, all the supplies, including the food, delivered to their home in the spring and then picked up again in the fall.”
This innovative service addresses common challenges faced by novice chicken keepers. According to their website, many people purchase chicks in the spring only to find that they die before reaching egg-laying age or that children lose interest quickly. The rental model gives first-timers an opportunity to test the waters of chicken keeping.
Steve Stevenson, another affiliate partner, told Syracuse.com: “They get their fresh eggs every day. The two hens will lay roughly a dozen a week.”
He added: “Some people don’t even care about the eggs. They just like the chickens.”
In the same report, Sara Langan, a chicken renter from Fayetteville, New York, shared her family’s experience.
“I’ve fallen in love with them,” she said. “The girls have fallen in love with them. We’re going to hopefully get the same two chickens back in the spring. Their names are Olive and May, they don’t know their names, but they like treats, so they come, they will follow you around the yard with their treats.”
Better, Healthier Eggs
Nutritional advantages are also touted by the company, which states, “these eggs have 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fats, and 2 times more omega 3 fatty acids than store bought eggs.”
The service also offers flexibility for those with summer travel plans. Renters can bring their chickens to a nearby Rent the Chicken location in a carrier or ventilated box, and the service will “chicken sit” for them while they’re away.
The company has also expanded its offerings to include educational programs.
According to their website, they have a Hatch the Chicken program, described as “a five week hatch rental service for families, senior care facilities, and schools to see the progression of egg to chick without the commitment.”
According to the company’s website, it operates in over 30 states, from Arizona to Washington, and in parts of Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.
Egg Shortages
As the popularity of chicken rentals grows, the United States continues to grapple with an unprecedented egg shortage and price surge.
The bird flu’s continuous mutation has resulted in the culling of nearly 163 million birds since 2022, primarily egg-laying chickens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Such has caused significant supply disruptions and price hikes, with the average price per dozen reaching $4.15 in December 2024, more than double the price in summer 2023.
The shortage has even led to egg-related crimes, with Seattle police currently investigating the theft of over 500 eggs from a restaurant, while in Pennsylvania, 100,000 eggs worth approximately $40,000 were stolen from a distribution trailer.
Retailers are responding to the shortage by implementing purchase limits. Trader Joe’s has capped purchases to one carton per customer per day nationwide, while other chains like Kroger and Walmart have implemented regional or product-specific limits.