14 DAY TRIAL // A couple in Indiana have decided to make a business out of helping potential farmers figure out if they are ready to have chickens.
Their service is called “Rent the chicken” and it provides exactly that. For $350 (€265), you get to take home a beginner's chicken farming kit.
It comprises two laying hens, a coop and supplies needed to feed them for the whole renting period. They are rented out from May to November, during which time customers will get to collect their eggs.
“It really is a trial period for someone who wants to have chickens long term. […] A lot of people don’t know where to start,” business owner Phil Thompkins describes.
According to the Indiana Gazette, Phil and his wife, Jenn, have noted a lot of interest in their offer.
“I think it’s something a lot of people are into. [...] We’ve actually had a lot of positive feedback,” Thompkins mentions.
The rental period starts next year, but the couple have closed their first deal in July. The hens they provide will be laying 8 and 14 eggs per week during the rental time.
The Thompkins respond to concerns about noise by explaining that hens are very quiet. In order to prevent an unpleasant smell the coop needs to be moved around within the courtyard.
“So long as you move it every two or three days, they won’t destroy your yard or smell. [...] Our (coop) design helps eliminate that,” Phil Thompkins says.
He says that customers will have the added bonus of producing organic eggs and control what the poultry are eating.
“There’s a great reward to being able to produce your own food, and that reward is something you can share with your family, and know you’re making a healthier lifestyle change,” he adds.