Kathrine Frich
This is not a new idea
The United States is grappling with a severe egg shortage, intensified by a widespread outbreak of avian flu.
The resulting supply crisis has led to a dramatic surge in egg prices and forced grocery stores to implement strict rationing policies.
Rent The Chicken
In California, for instance, a dozen eggs sold for around $10 on February 14, triple the typical cost.
Amid this crisis, some Americans have turned to unconventional solutions. One of the most surprising is “Rent The Chicken,” a growing business that allows people to temporarily rent hens to secure their own fresh egg supply.
The service, which now operates in over 40 U.S. states, has seen a sharp uptick in demand in recent months, according to a report from ABC News.
An easy way to start
Yong-mi Kim, a university professor from La Crescenta near Los Angeles, is among those who opted to rent chickens rather than endure inflated egg prices.
“I’m not ready to be a full-time chicken owner,” Kim admitted, “but I want to try it out and see if I like it.”
After receiving two hens and all the necessary equipment, she felt renting was a manageable first step.
“Some of my friends keep chickens, but it required a lot of work, redesigning their gardens and such. Renting seemed like a better way to start.”
Not a new idea
The idea of chicken rentals started roughly a decade ago in Pennsylvania, where a couple of farmers launched “Rent The Chicken.”
The concept has since spread across North America, bolstered by partnerships with local farms.
The recent bird flu epidemic, which has resulted in the culling of thousands of poultry and a 60% year-over-year spike in egg prices as of March 2025, has only accelerated the trend.
Three timers higher demand
Victoria Lee, who manages chicken rentals in the Los Angeles region from her farm in Agua Dulce, notes that demand this year is three to four times higher than in the same period last year.
“People are really desperate for fresh, affordable eggs,” she said.
Even though renting hens isn’t necessarily cheaper than buying eggs from a store, it offers other benefits.
According to Kim, “Eggs on supermarket shelves are usually 48 to 60 days old. No matter the original quality, the protein begins to degrade over time.” I
n contrast, freshly laid eggs from backyard hens can offer superior taste and nutritional value.
A modern solution for a modern problem
“Rent The Chicken” offers several rental packages, ranging from $500 to $1,000 per month, depending on location and the number of hens.
These packages include not just the hens, but also feed, feeders, waterers, a coop with wheels for easy mobility, and a care guide.
Lee highlights a key feature: “Every day, renters can move the coop so the hens get access to fresh grass.”
A typical rental with two hens can yield up to 14 eggs per week, offering families a personal and immediate solution to the ongoing egg crisis.
While not a universal fix, renting chickens has become a surprisingly popular response to a very modern problem.