Company rents out chickens for farm fresh eggs in the city

The farm-to-table concept has taken off in popularity in recent years. Now, Pittsburghers can have the convenience of fresh chicken eggs without leaving the city.VIDEO: Watch Michelle Wright's reportA Pittsburgh company, run by “Homestead” Jenn Tompkins delivers chickens, a coop, feed and a waterer.“I'm just so overwhelmed with joy,” Tompkins said. “It's so exciting that we get to help so many people have one single food source closer to their table than what they had previously.”Tompkins guides each renter through the entire process, and for six months, you get two chickens for $250. That equals about a dozen eggs a week. For $550, you can have four hens, which will yield about two dozen eggs a week.Leslie Thyberg signed up for the service, because she always wanted fresh eggs, but her husband wasn’t sure about the commitment.“I like coming out in the morning and getting my egg from the nesting box and it’s still warm,” Thyberg said.Caring for chickens isn’t too difficult, according to Tompkins. Every couple of weeks, you have to clean out the coop and just make sure the chickens have plenty of food and water. Also, don’t forget to pull the eggs.If it doesn’t work out, Tompkins will come pick up the chickens, no problem.For Thyberg, having the chickens has been more like having pets with individual personalities.“I knew when I was getting them that I really wanted them,” Thyberg said. "I went through rent a chick to win my husband over.”The chickens are even named after famous authors Agatha Christie and Flannery O’Connor, so her husband must be on board now.“Hook, line and sinker,” Thyberg said.Rent the Chicken is catching on quickly. It’s already expanded to New Jersey, Arizona, and has just announced it’s opening a location in Toronto, Canada.

The farm-to-table concept has taken off in popularity in recent years. Now, Pittsburghers can have the convenience of fresh chicken eggs without leaving the city.

VIDEO: Watch Michelle Wright's report

Advertisement Related Content Code changes allow more chickens for Pittsburgh homeowners

A Pittsburgh company, run by “Homestead” Jenn Tompkins delivers chickens, a coop, feed and a waterer.

“I'm just so overwhelmed with joy,” Tompkins said. “It's so exciting that we get to help so many people have one single food source closer to their table than what they had previously.”

Tompkins guides each renter through the entire process, and for six months, you get two chickens for $250. That equals about a dozen eggs a week. For $550, you can have four hens, which will yield about two dozen eggs a week.

Leslie Thyberg signed up for the service, because she always wanted fresh eggs, but her husband wasn’t sure about the commitment.

“I like coming out in the morning and getting my egg from the nesting box and it’s still warm,” Thyberg said.

Caring for chickens isn’t too difficult, according to Tompkins. Every couple of weeks, you have to clean out the coop and just make sure the chickens have plenty of food and water. Also, don’t forget to pull the eggs.

If it doesn’t work out, Tompkins will come pick up the chickens, no problem.

For Thyberg, having the chickens has been more like having pets with individual personalities.

“I knew when I was getting them that I really wanted them,” Thyberg said. "I went through rent a chick to win my husband over.”

The chickens are even named after famous authors Agatha Christie and Flannery O’Connor, so her husband must be on board now.

“Hook, line and sinker,” Thyberg said.

Rent the Chicken is catching on quickly. It’s already expanded to New Jersey, Arizona, and has just announced it’s opening a location in Toronto, Canada.