Katy man brings 'Rent the Chicken' concept to Houston

HOUSTON – A Katy man is hoping to make some extra cash by renting out his chickens to people in the Houston area.

Ed Roberson grew up around chickens. “My grandfather raised chickens, he had three chicken houses,” Roberson said.

For the past several years, he and his wife Diane have raised chickens at their Katy home. They now have more than 200, including baby chicks just days old.

Recently Roberson heard about a national concept called “Rent The Chicken.” It started in Pennsylvania back in 2013, and there are now families across the country that are affiliates. Roberson is the first Houston area “Rent The Chicken” affiliate. “I think this is the ultimate farm-to-table experience,” Roberson said.

For $400 you can rent two of his chickens, a coop and food to feed the animals for six months. For $600 you get four chickens. Two chickens will lay about a dozen eggs per week. “I mean, where else can you go, get up, pour a cup of coffee, go out and pick up your breakfast and come back in the house and it’s there?” Roberson said.

After the six-month rental period, you can decide to keep the chickens or return them to their owners. There is free delivery within 50 miles of Roberson’s home in the outskirts of Katy.

While it is more expensive than just buying your eggs at the store, Roberson said it’s all about the experience. “It teaches kids responsibility because if they're out there gathering the eggs and feeding the chickens, it gives them something to do and there’s also something now and then called cleaning the coop,” Roberson joked.

To learn more about “Rent the Chicken,” head to -  www.rentthechicken.com or call 724-305-0782.