How to rent chickens in Denver to combat egg prices and shortages

• A company called Rent The Chicken offers delivery and setup of a coop on wheels, two or four young egg-laying hens, chicken feed, and food dishes for a five- to six-month rental period across the nation, including in Denver.
• The standard rental package locally runs $545.

Zoom in: Denver residents can legally keep up to eight chickens in their backyards with a food-producing animal permit, which costs $25 and lasts a lifetime at the registered address.

Threat level: The continued spread of avian flu among wild birds, domestic flocks and even humans who work with poultry makes this a risky move right now.

The big picture: The hen habit is hatching nationwide.

• According to the latest data from the American Pet Products Association, backyard chicken keepers in the U.S. have nearly doubled in recent years, from 5.8 million in 2018 to 11 million.