Soaring egg costs trigger hiring of hens in American backyards
In the jittery California climes, soaring egg prices and grocery store rations have left many scrambled. Yong-mi Kim, a Los Angeles area resident, wasn't about to let her family's scrambled egg intake be so affected. Fed up and yearning for a change, she turned to chickens, trading the supermarket aisles for a backyard henhouse.
For those hesitant to dive headfirst into domestic farming, there's an ingenious solution: henhouse rentals, complete with egg-laying birds.
"I was curious to give it a shot and see if it's something I'd enjoy," Kim shared with AFP as she welcomed her new chickeny companions. "Some friends of mine have chickens at home, but it seemed like a lot of work for them–they had to overhaul their entire garden.hence, I thought renting a chicken is a wise start."
The idea of hen rentals began to gain traction in the United States about a decade ago in Pennsylvania when a farming couple kickstarted "Rent The Chicken." Today, this project has exploded into over 40 cities across North America, with local farmers setting up their own affiliate programs.
COVID-19 lockdowns bred an uptick in interest in hen rentals as folks juggling stay-at-home orders sought new ways to pass the time. However, it was the recent bird flu pandemic, leading to massive egg-laying bird culls, that sent the popularity of hen rentals skyrocketing.
"This year, the number of people inquiring about our service has soared at least three to four times more than last year," said Victoria Lee, who oversees the Los Angeles region from her farm in Agua Dulce.
With eggs costing more than $10 a dozen in some stores – triple their usual price – and supermarkets imposing daily limits on how many cartons a customer could buy, the high costs were nothing new in political discussions. U.S. President Donald Trump had, after all, pledged to bring grocery prices down once in the White House. But pricing remained stubbornly high, with March eggs 60% more expensive than the previous year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Lee is quick to acknowledge that raising chickens at home isn't necessarily cheaper than buying eggs in stores. However, she stresses that it's about the quality.
"Typically, eggs by the time they reach stores are around 48-60 days old," she said. "As eggs age, the protein breaks down. In contrast, backyard eggs are as fresh as the day they were laid."
"Rent The Chicken" offers a smorgasbord of packages, ranging from around $500 to over $1,000 for six months, depending on location and number of birds desired. Each package comes with chickens, food, waterers, and feeders, plus additional treats and a chicken care guide. The striking feature is the included coop – a diminutive abode with a quaint patio, completely safeguarded by fences. Its mobility, thanks to wheels on the underside, allows it to be moved daily, ensuring the chickens have access to fresh grass.
For Kim, the convenience of the rental package was too tempting to resist. As a university professor living in La Crescenta, near Los Angeles, she eagerly awaited her new coop's arrival and was overjoyed once it did.
"Free eggs!" Lee announced as she offloaded Kim's new backyard tenants and handed her a complimentary dozen freshly laid eggs from the previous week. With two chickens, Kim could expect up to 14 eggs per week, Lee explained.
While the egg price crisis precipitated Kim's decision to rent chickens, she admitted it went beyond that.
"I wanted something fun for the kids and a learning experience for our family. Plus, I wanted to taste the difference compared to supermarket eggs."
- The pandemic, specifically the recent bird flu, has significantly increased the popularity of hen rentals, as people look for new activities during lockdowns and deal with soaring egg prices.
- Yong-mi Kim, a university professor in the Los Angeles area, turned to hen rentals as a change from grocery stores, seeking a unique and educational experience for her family, beyond simply economical reasons.
- Due to the freshness of the eggs, Kim is willing to pay for the hen rental package, which includes chickens, food, coop, and care guide, despite its cost being comparable to store-bought eggs in some cases.
- As an added bonus, Kim received a dozen freshly laid eggs from the previous week upon receiving her new backyard chickens, teasing the freshness of eggs produced at home.
- In addition to the economic aspect and the educational value for her children, Kim was eager to experience the difference in taste between backyard eggs and store-bought ones.
- The ability to offer fresh eggs, combined with the educational and recreational aspects, make hen rentals appealing to those looking for a change in their food-and-drink and home-and-garden lifestyle during these uncertain times.
