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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is the Agriculture Report. |
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More and more Americans are showing an interest |
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in organic and locally-produced food, |
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as the interest increases, |
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raising chickens has been gaining popularity |
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in some American cities. |
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Poultry farming may not be right for everyone, |
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but the business seems to have a bright future. |
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"Look, we get three eggs this time." |
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Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family. |
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Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens |
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in back of their home in Maryland a month ago. |
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"We have been wanting to try having backyard chickens |
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for a couple of years now. |
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And really just didn't have the time to build my own coop |
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and look out where to buy chickens. |
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And then we stumbled upon Rent a Coop," said Naomi Hurst. |
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Rent a Coop is a chicken rental business. |
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Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner 18 months ago . |
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"It comes with a mobile coop on wheels, two egg laying hens, |
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feed, bedding, water bowl, feeding bowl, |
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and our 24-hour chicken hotline. |
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You can call with any questions. |
| [01:16.980]The price is 185 [dollars] |
for four weeks," said Phillips. |
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After the four weeks are passed, |
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individual can extend the rental agreement, |
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return everything, or purchase the animals and supplies. |
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"We average about 12 to 15 chicken coop rentals per month. |
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And since last year we've sold about 75 chicken coops with hens, |
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so we've sold about 200 hens," said Phillips. |
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Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops |
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- buildings with birds are kept. |
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He says he wants to do as little damage |
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as possible to the environment. |
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"We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible. |
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And I want the coops to be safe for kids, number one. |
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I want the chickens to be comfortable |
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and they have access to the grass while being inside the coop. |
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I want it to be easily movable, light weight," he said. |
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Mr Phillips says the chicken coop rental business |
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came from his love of animals. |
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He grew up on his parents' farm near Washington D.C. |
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The Hursts hope their farm teaches their daughter |
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to be caring and responsible. |
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"I don't think we've ever thanked where food comes from. |
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But whenever we pick up the eggs we always say, |
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'thank you, ladies.' |
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That's really something that it is hard to teach |
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other than having an animal in your backyard that delivers food to you. |
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So it's been a great learning opportunity |
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for my daughter too," said Naomi Hurst. |
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Some Cities require people have large pieces of land, |
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if they want to raise farm animals. |
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Others require an agreement with neighbors, |
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limit the number of chickens, or, even ban the birds. |
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Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest |
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in small poultry coops grows. |
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"I see cities around the D.C. area changing laws almost monthly |
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and different cities will change the law to being pro-chicken. |
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That is happening all around the United States," he said. |
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He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses |
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in most American cities within five years. |
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And that's the Agriculture Report from VOA Learning English. |
