Clucking Good Deal: Why Americans Are Renting Chickens to Beat Joe Biden’s Egg Price Inflation

In recent years, a curious trend has emerged across the United States: Americans are increasingly turning to renting chickens as a creative solution to combat soaring egg prices.

With inflation driving up the cost of groceries, eggs have become an unexpectedly expensive staple, leaving many households searching for affordable alternatives. Enter the backyard chicken rental services, which provide families with hens, coops, feed, and basic care instructions for a monthly fee. Not kidding.

This is non joke. Companies like Rent The Chicken and Rent-A-Coop have popped up in states from Pennsylvania to Texas, offering a practical way for people to enjoy fresh eggs without the long-term commitment or upfront costs of traditional poultry ownership.

The appeal of renting chickens goes beyond just economics—it’s also about convenience and sustainability. For a typical rental fee of $200 to $400 for a season, customers receive two to four hens capable of laying up to two dozen eggs per week, often offsetting the cost of buying eggs at the store, where prices have occasionally spiked to over $5 a dozen.

The rental packages usually include delivery, setup, and even pickup at the end of the term, making it an accessible option for urban and suburban dwellers who lack the space or know-how to manage livestock permanently. Plus, the farm-fresh eggs come with the added bonus of knowing exactly where your food is coming from, appealing to those interested in local, eco-friendly living.

This phenomenon isn’t without its quirks and challenges, though. Renting chickens requires some basic upkeep—feeding, watering, and cleaning the coop—which can be a learning curve for first-timers. Local zoning laws and homeowners’ association rules also pose hurdles, as not every neighborhood permits poultry, even temporarily. Still, the trend has gained traction, with rental companies reporting increased demand as egg prices fluctuate. Some families even find themselves attached to their feathered guests, turning a practical decision into a backyard adventure complete with pet-like bonding and the occasional rooster surprise (hens can sometimes turn out to be misidentified males).

Looking ahead, the rise of chicken rentals reflects broader shifts in how Americans are adapting to economic pressures and rethinking food production. It’s a small but telling example of resilience—part practicality, part nostalgia for simpler times—wrapped in a quirky, cluck-filled package. As egg prices remain volatile, this trend could grow, potentially inspiring more DIY food solutions or even influencing agricultural policies. For now, though, it’s a feathery footnote in the story of how people are navigating the modern economy, one egg at a time.