Seven-year-old Lucy explained what happened as she was holding one of the many chickens on her family’s farm, Barnyard Organics in Freetown.
Lucy said she loves living on a farm and being around chickens.
With her mother being the first P.E.I. affiliate of Rent the Chicken, now anyone on the Island can experience a taste of farm life.
From June until October, Sally Bernard will be renting hens from the farm to anyone who is interested in keeping them in their yard for fresh, organic eggs.
Bernard plans to have five to 10 two-chicken coops, and one deluxe four-chicken coop built for rent.
The process is already underway, and the cost for the smaller coop is $275, and $450 for the larger. Included in the Rent the Chicken package is rent from June until October, two organic brown hens, which will collectively lay about one dozen eggs per week, all the supplies needed such as the chicken coop, feed and watering dishes, 50 kilograms of organic feed, the book Fresh Eggs Daily, and a starter guide for raising hens.
The Rent the Chicken company started two years ago in Pennsylvania. Since then, it has branched out to 15 states, Ontario, and, most recently, Prince Edward Island.
Bernard said not only are the chickens entertaining, they provide eggs, which is a bonus.
“It’s a great way to be close to your food. It’s always sort of been my dream for everyone to have a chicken.”
She has low expectations to start, but they’re receiving a lot of positive feedback on the Barnyard Organics Facebook page.
“Even people just cheering me on is a great thing. It’s fun, and always nice to be an innovator.”
People will be most surprised by how entertaining the chickens are and the quality of the eggs, she said.
“They really are amazing to watch. I think people will really notice a difference of the flavour compared to what they get at a grocery store.”
Bernard grew up on a farm in New Brunswick, and she and her husband have lived on his family-owned farm since 2006.
“I couldn’t imagine not doing it, and having the kids on the farm all the time. This lifestyle is pretty much the only way I could imagine living life.”
She thinks Rent the Chicken would benefit anyone and everyone.
“They’re like most other pets, but even better because you get eggs.”
