FAQ

Watch the video and learn about some of the chicken myths!

Many questions are answered below.  If you do not find your answer here please call us or send us an email using our online form.

Are farm fresh eggs healthier than standard store eggs? Jennifer Trainer Thompson, author of "The Fresh Egg Cookbook: From Chicken to Kitchen, Recipes for Using Eggs from Farmers' Markets, Local Farms, and Your Own Backyard", published by Storey Publishing, says that an egg's nutrition contains protein second to a mother's milk.  Your backyard chicken eggs also contain 9 essential amino acids and 13 essential vitamins!  Each eggs has a low fat content of only 5 grams plus an egg is one of the few foods that contain natural Vitamin D! Natural Vitamin D, according to wikipedia, is claimed to have benefits including promotion of good bone health, anti-cancer properties, and more! A Mother Earth News study posted results from farm fresh eggs being more healthy than confined factory farms hens to include: 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, 2/3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, 7 times more bata carotene.

Is the Chicken Feed provided organic and non-GMO?  We have organic or non-GMO feed available upon request.  Because the cost for the premium food is higher, there is a an up-charge if the organic or non-GMO feed is your preference. A few of our locations only offer non-GMO or organic included with their rentals.

Do I need to have a rooster in order for my chicken to lay eggs?  No.  A rooster is only required if you want fertilized eggs which become chicks.

Do hens make much noise? No. Your hens will make some noise but will not crow like roosters. Roosters will crow all day long and are available upon special request.

What if my Rent The Chicken dies?  We understand that animals sometimes get ill or predators find crafty ways to have chicken for lunch.  We will replace chickens free of charge within our Free Delivery areas as long as the death of the Rent The Chicken was not due to neglect.  Chickens have been known to live for longer than 10 years.

What happens if a chicken gets sick? We provide full support to you for your birds during the rental period. Should a chicken become sick while in your care simply give us a call.

How many years does a Rent The Chickens lay eggs for?  Chickens have their highest egg production during the first three years of their life.  After that the number of eggs laid per week will decrease. Some chickens have been known to still lay 1 egg per week at the age of seven.

How old are the Rent The Chickens?  The hens that we bring to your home are normally between six months and two years old.

How many eggs per week will the Rent The Chickens lay?  You can expect a total of 8-14 or 16-28 eggs per week from your of Rent The Chickens depending on your Rental Package.

Do you use any growth hormones?  Never!

Do you really give me enough feed for the entire rental period?  Yes!  We supply the feed, food dish, and water dish.  You just need to make sure they have food and water available! 

I'm going out of town for three days, will my Rent The Chickens and eggs be ok?  Absolutely!  Just make sure their food and water is full when you leave. You can gather the eggs when you return.  If you plan on being gone for longer than three days, please ask a friend or neighbor to check on their food and water while you are out of town.  Don't forget to have them pull the eggs for you! If your friend or neighbor is unable to check in on the chickens, bring the hens to us in a carrier or ventilated box, and we'll chicken sit for you while you are away! For Standard Rental Packages and "Chicken Only" Rental Packages, the fee is $25 per week. For Standard Upgrade, Deluxe, and Eglu Rental Packages, the first week is included with your rental. Each additional week is $25 per week.

How long is the rental period?  Rentals are for 5-6 months depending on your region. In warmer climates, rentals are available to start any time; however, in cooler climates, rentals are delivered in April or May. We do sell out often so be sure to place your deposit sooner than later!

Should I wash the eggs?  Eggs should only be washed just before cooking.  The hens leave a natural protective coating on the eggs to keep them fresh.  Eggs can last for days without refrigeration as long as you don't wash them.  We always recommend the water test to tell if your eggs are good or bad.

How can I check to see if the eggs are good before I crack them open?  All you need to do is a water test.  Fill a container with water and place the egg in it.  If the egg sinks it's a good egg.  If it floats all the way to the top it's probably a spoiled egg so please discard.

Will dogs or cats hurt my chickens? We have never had a chicken hurt from a stray alley cat. It is highly unlikely that a cat will hurt a chicken. Usually the cats are more scared of the chickens. We have a system for introducing your family dog to your new chickens. Our system has worked so well that sometimes when we come back to pick up your hens at the end of the rental season, if you chicken out, the dogs are unhappy with us taking the coop away!

What about raccoons, coyotes, hawks, owls, or other predators? We know that your hens are part of your family. We also know that some people do not want to keep chickens after the rental period so we want a system in place for those birds to safely come back to our farm. Because of these two factors we do the very best to provide the safest coop possible for the birds. We like to say our coops are predator resistant and not predator proof. If a predator is determined they maybe able to get into the coop. This is very rare and if this happens we will replace the lost birds and take a look at the coop for any design changes that may need to happen.

Can I free range my Rent The Chicken chickens? We recommend supervised free range time so that you deter predators. In addition the coop has an attached run which allows the hens to have the feeling of free ranging as you move the coop through your yard, but with the protection of the attached run.

Can I adopt my hens if I fall in love with them? You bet! Click here for more information!

I have chickens. Can I offer Rent The Chicken from my farm / homestead? Yes! Please click here for more information!

Can a Rent The Chicken rental be delivered to a school? Yes! Click here to read about our School Partnerships and how we cater to a school's calendar year.

How do I find out more about the Homesteader bringing our chickens? We have an entire link dedicated to the families who provide Rent The Chicken as an extension of their farm or homestead. We have an About Us page dedicated entirely to the families who provide Rent The Chicken and Hatch The Chicken. Also, Homestead Jenn, co-founder of Rent The Chicken has a blog - Rent The Chicken's Homestead Jenn: Family. Food. Fun!.