Couple's chicken rental service is catching on

A man and his wife's chicken-rental service is catching on. Phil and Jenn Thompkins of Freeport, Pennsylvania says they are giving people who like the idea of farm-fresh eggs an opportunity to see if they are up to the task keeping hens before taking the plunge.

“It really is a trial period for someone who wants to have chickens long term,” said “Homestead” Phil Thompkins, who runs Rent the Chicken with his wife, Jenn. “A lot of people don’t know where to start.” After watching friends struggle to learn what was involved in raising chickens for the eggs, they saw a need for a sort of starter-kit for other interested families.

They provided their first hen rental in July, and are spreading the word with a soft-opening of their business ahead of their grand opening next spring. “I think it’s something a lot of people are into,” Thompkins said. “We’ve actually had a lot of positive feedback.” Rent the Chicken provides two hens (already laying eggs), a wheeled coop, feed for the entire rental period and a water dish for $350.

They will deliver the hens in May and collect them again in November. During that time period, the hens should lay between 8 and 14 eggs a week. (Hens tend to taper off their laying during the cold winter month.) At the end of the rental period a client may either have the hens and coop picked up to rent again the following spring, or they have the option to buy the hens.