[00:00.100]From VOA Learning English,
[00:03.030]this is the Agriculture Report.
[00:05.760]More and more Americans are showing an interest
[00:10.270]in organic and locally-produced food,
[00:13.860]as the interest increases,
[00:16.370]raising chickens has been gaining popularity
[00:19.710]in some American cities.
[00:22.470]Poultry farming may not be right for everyone,
[00:26.270]but the business seems to have a bright future.
[00:30.070]"Look, we get three eggs this time."
[00:32.780]Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family.
[00:37.380]Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens
[00:42.280]in back of their home in Maryland a month ago.
[00:45.530]"We have been wanting to try having backyard chickens
[00:48.280]for a couple of years now.
[00:49.540]And really just didn't have the time to build my own coop
[00:53.390]and look out where to buy chickens.
[00:55.300]And then we stumbled upon Rent a Coop," said Naomi Hurst.
[00:57.040]Rent a Coop is a chicken rental business.
[00:59.990]Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner 18 months ago .
[01:05.690]"It comes with a mobile coop on wheels, two egg laying hens,
[01:09.400]feed, bedding, water bowl, feeding bowl,
[01:13.120]and our 24-hour chicken hotline.
[01:15.320]You can call with any questions.
[01:16.980]The price is 185 [dollars] for four weeks," said Phillips.
[01:19.880]After the four weeks are passed,
[01:21.830]individual can extend the rental agreement,
[01:25.280]return everything, or purchase the animals and supplies.
[01:29.940]"We average about 12 to 15 chicken coop rentals per month.
[01:34.390]And since last year we've sold about 75 chicken coops with hens,
[01:41.940]so we've sold about 200 hens," said Phillips.
[01:43.550]Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops
[01:49.160]- buildings with birds are kept.
[01:51.760]He says he wants to do as little damage
[01:55.810]as possible to the environment.
[01:58.000]"We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible.
[02:02.460]And I want the coops to be safe for kids, number one.
[02:05.650]I want the chickens to be comfortable
[02:08.410]and they have access to the grass while being inside the coop.
[02:12.410]I want it to be easily movable, light weight," he said.
[02:15.420]Mr Phillips says the chicken coop rental business
[02:18.610]came from his love of animals.
[02:20.710]He grew up on his parents' farm near Washington D.C.
[02:25.010]The Hursts hope their farm teaches their daughter
[02:29.280]to be caring and responsible.
[02:31.330]"I don't think we've ever thanked where food comes from.
[02:37.070]But whenever we pick up the eggs we always say,
[02:40.660]'thank you, ladies.'
[02:41.470]That's really something that it is hard to teach
[02:43.960]other than having an animal in your backyard that delivers food to you.
[02:45.720]So it's been a great learning opportunity
[02:47.770]for my daughter too," said Naomi Hurst.
[02:49.220]Some Cities require people have large pieces of land,
[02:53.370]if they want to raise farm animals.
[02:56.120]Others require an agreement with neighbors,
[02:59.660]limit the number of chickens, or, even ban the birds.
[03:04.070]Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest
[03:07.170]in small poultry coops grows.
[03:10.080]"I see cities around the D.C. area changing laws almost monthly
[03:15.530]and different cities will change the law to being pro-chicken.
[03:18.330]That is happening all around the United States," he said.
[03:21.230]He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses
[03:24.990]in most American cities within five years.
[03:28.550]And that's the Agriculture Report from VOA Learning English.