Farmer Brings 'Rent The Chicken' Program To Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Long Valley is demonstrating an unconventional way for residents to save money on groceries by allowing them to rent an animal that has recently become a hot commodity: the chicken.

Pip Farms, a local farm that features organic quail and chicken eggs, along with organic whole chickens and whole turkeys, has partnered up with the company "Rent The Chicken" to bring chicken rentals to Northern New Jersey.

Owners Phil and Jenn Tompkins of the Pennsylvania-based business "Rent The Chicken" claim that their services are accessible to would-be chicken owners across the majority of the United States.

The company was started in 2013 as a side hustle for the Tompkins family to supplement their income. Since then, with the help of partnerships with farmers and homesteaders, the company has grown all across the United States and Canada.

Homesteader Marlena Schilke of the Pip Farm has been serving Long Valley and all of Northern New Jersey since 2020 with both the "Rent The Chicken" and "Hatch The Chicken" programs.

"We like to promote it as being fresh eggs in your backyard without the commitment," Schilke said.

Pip Farms specializes in heritage chickens, quail, turkeys, and guinea pigs. All birds are raised using organic, sustainable practices, with open-air coops for fresh air and sunlight. The size of chickens ranges from tiny Silkies and Old English Game bantams to stately Jersey Giants and Light Brahmas.

Customers can rent a portable chicken coop with two to four egg-laying hens for five to six months through the rental service.

The rental includes assured assistance from both the Tompkins and Schilke, and in the event of an untimely death, the Tompkins will replace chickens free of charge within their free delivery areas as long as the death was not the result of neglect.

This is not something to cause too much concern, as chickens have been known to live for longer than 10 years, the Tompkins said.

In the event of a runaway bird, or destroyed bags of food, Schilke said she is more likely to take the lead and step in to help. "I do the local kinds of things. They need more feed, or for me to bring more birds, and I do the deliveries," Schilke told Patch.

The company will also provide chicken feed, food dishes, and water dishes, so each family will only need to ensure that the chickens have food and water.

"It's a portable coop, and we provide the feed, the oyster shelf, the little bug snacks and we have a little reusable egg collecting basket. I provide all that at the beginning of the season along with the already laying hens," Schilke said.

Each week, the hens can lay up to two dozen eggs, meaning customers can expect a total of 8-14 or 16–28 eggs per week from the chickens depending on the selected rental package.

Schilke stated that depending on the renter's location, they will provide a more sturdy bear-proof coop or a lighter one that is good protection against smaller creatures such as foxes and raccoons.

The chicken-rental business model has been getting more and more attractive as the price of eggs continues to rise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average price of eggs in some parts of the country has more than doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices have risen to an average of $4.25 per dozen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has pointed to a record outbreak of avian flu as a reason for the high prices.

To learn more about how to rent your own chicken, click here.