Renting Chickens: The Surprisingly Fun Solution to the Egg Shortage

• Chicken rentals have become a fun, practical alternative to soaring egg prices. Thus, they provide an avenue for fresh eggs in a home environment without any long-term commitment.
• While not necessarily a cheaper option, it does provide an opportunity for families to become self-sufficient, learn, and have fun despite the egg shortage.

The price of eggs has reached a ridiculous high in some supermarkets; in some cases, they would be completely sold out. Some people have taken to trying out egg substitutes; in some rather unusual ways, others have taken to renting chickens! Yes, renting chickens! Renting chickens is indeed one quirky and somewhat practical way for people to obtain fresh eggs. But is it worth it? Let’s dissect this.

Why Are People Renting Chickens?

Cooking has turned out to be more luxurious than it ever was because of the soaring index of egg prices, making them seem hardly affordable kitchen staples. In the last month, a dozen eggs cost almost $5 on average, with a jump of 53% compared to last year. And with the current USDA estimates, prices could hike even further by as much as 41%. Indeed, statistics of such kind make it no wonder much effort is made in searching for alternative egg sources.

It might probably be very exciting for morning omelette or fresh-baking lovers to consider renting rather than owning their chickens. Rent the Chicken and similar companies will make a backyard chicken-keeping experience easy and possible in people’s lives, minus the long-term commitment. Instead of going to the store and trying to find eggs, renters will now have fresh eggs every day from their beautiful garden.

How Does Renting Hens Operate?

Renting chickens is quite easy. Most rental services are in collaboration with the local farmers and provide flexible packages that run for five to six months. A standard rental includes the following items:

• A portable chicken coop (so you don’t have to build one)
• Two to four egg-laying hens (ready to start laying)
• All necessary supplies (feed, water dishes, and more)

Once your chickens arrive, within two days they will already begin laying. Depending on your package, that can be around two dozen eggs a week—enough for a fry-up in the morning or for the weekend’s baking.

And if you are ever so charmed by them, many of the services will even let you adopt them outright once your rental period is over.

Will Renting Chickens Save You Money?

It sounds all very well, and backyard chickens, however, will it have all the magic benefits for an empty wallet? Yes and No.

Renting two chickens for half a year costs about $495; four at that will put you out $959. Quite the difference from supermarket prices; such a hefty amount is blood and soil.

Not that this is all tough amelioration of scratch; it is freshness and fun as well as some self-sufficiency. Having chickens at home means:

• Fresh eggs every day, more thinking of empty shelves.
• No strange additives or farming practices
• Fun and an educational experience for the entire family

Most of the time, though, the collecting of eggs and freedom-loving roaming around in the garden by chickens is worth that investment.

What Caused the Egg Shortage in the First Place?

The egg shortage is not only about high prices but rather about a combination of grave issues affecting supply.

Avian flu outbreaks have killed millions of egg-laying hens. In the year 2024 alone, close to 33 million chickens fell ill and died due to the disease. In October, yet another distressing outbreak affected 2.8 million birds culled across the states of Utah, Washington, and Oregon.

Due to the above pricing system of the supermarkets, the cost of eggs has shot up. A 2023 report stated that supermarket chains, Kroger included, had raised prices of staple items such as milk and eggs far more than inflation could justify.

Production has dwindled; chickens are dying, and retailers are taking advantage of this. With production losses and egg prices up, it should not be surprising to see these prices skyrocketing.

Are Hens for Rent the Future of Egg Supply?

So, is it worth renting chickens? Probably not. If you are looking for a cheap fix, that isn’t it. But if you are interested in having fresh eggs, learning something new, and more self-sufficiency in your diet, then it just might be the answer.

Will renting hens become a way of life on a larger scale? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain by now: people get very creative in adapting to egg shortages. And who knows? Perhaps the next great trend in homesteading will be the sound of clucking coming from your very own backyard.