VOA慢速英语:Raising Chickens Gains Popularity in Some American Cities

More and more Americans are showing an interest in organic and locally-produced food, as the interest increases, raising chickens has been gaining popularity in some American cities. Poultry farming may not be right for everyone, but the business seems to have a bright future.
越来越多的美国人对本地生产的有机食品表现出兴趣。随着兴趣的增加，养鸡在美国一些城市日益普及。家禽饲养未必适合每一个人，但这一行似乎有着光明的未来。

"Look, we get three eggs this time."
“你看，这次我们得到三个鸡蛋。”

Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family. Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens in back of their home in Maryland a month ago.
捡鸡蛋是Hurst一家每天的乐趣所在。Naomi Hurst说，她家从一个月前开始在位于马里兰州的家里的后院养鸡。

"We have been wanting to try having backyard chickens for a couple of years now. And really just didn't have the time to build my own coop and look out where to buy chickens. And then we stumbled upon Rent a Coop," said Naomi Hurst.
Naomi Hurst称，“我们多年来一直想尝试在后院养鸡，但是没有足够的时间建造鸡舍以及寻找买鸡的地方。随后我们偶然发现了Rent a Coop。”

Rent a Coop is a chicken rental business. Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner 18 months ago.
Rent a Coop是一家租鸡的公司。18个月前， Tyler Phillips与人合伙创建了这家公司。

"It comes with a mobile coop on wheels, two egg laying hens, feed, bedding, water bowl, feeding bowl, and our 24-hour chicken hotline. You can call with any questions. The price is 185 [dollars] for four weeks," said Phillips.
Phillips说，“它包括一个带轮子的移动鸡笼，两只产蛋的母鸡，饲料，被褥，水盆，鸡食盆，以及我们24小时答疑的养鸡热线。有任何疑问都可以拨打热线。租四个星期的价格是185美元。”

After the four weeks are passed, individual can extend the rental agreement, return everything, or purchase the animals and supplies.
四个星期之后，你可以延长租用协议，或退回一切，或者买下这些鸡和养鸡的日常用品。

"We average about 12 to 15 chicken coop rentals per month. And since last year we've sold about 75 chicken coops with hens, so we've sold about 200 hens," said Phillips.
Phillips说，“我们平均每月租出去12到15个鸡舍。自去年以来，我们已经卖出了大约75个带母鸡的鸡舍。所以我们已经卖出了约200只母鸡。”

Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops, buildings with birds are kept. He says he wants to do as little damage as possible to the environment.
Tyler Phillips亲自设计制作了这些养鸡的鸡笼。他说，他想尽可能少的损害环境。

"We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible. And I want the coops to be safe for kids, number one. I want the chickens to be comfortable and they have access to the grass while being inside the coop. I want it to be easily movable, light weight," he said.
他说，“我们总是试图尽可能多的使用回收材料。而首先我希望鸡笼对孩子来说是安全的。我希望这些鸡们住得舒服，当它们在鸡笼里时可以吃到草。我也希望它重量轻，方便移动。”

Mr Phillips says the chicken coop rental business came from his love of animals. He grew up on his parents' farm near Washington D.C.
Phillips先生称，鸡笼租赁业务来自他对动物的热爱。他在父母位于华盛顿郊区的农场中长大。

The Hursts hope their farm teaches their daughter to be caring and responsible.
Hursts一家希望他们的农场教会女儿有爱心和负责任。

"I don't think we've ever thanked where food comes from. But whenever we pick up the eggs we always say, 'thank you, ladies.' That's really something that it is hard to teach other than having an animal in your backyard that delivers food to you. So it's been a great learning opportunity for my daughter too," said Naomi Hurst.
Naomi Hurst说，“我们从未感恩过食物的来源。但每当我们捡起鸡蛋时我们总是说，‘谢谢你，母鸡们。’这点很难教，除非你家后院饲养着给你提供食物的动物。所以对我女儿来说这是一个很好的学习机会。”

Some Cities require people have large pieces of land, if they want to raise farm animals. Others require an agreement with neighbors, limit the number of chickens, or, even ban the birds.
如果人们想要饲养家禽，有些城市要求人们有一块较大的土地，还有些城市要求和邻居达成协议，或者限制鸡的数量，甚至禁止养鸡。

Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest in small poultry coops grows.
Tyler Phillips希望随着人们对小鸡舍的兴趣会增加，这一切能有所改变。

"I see cities around the D.C. area changing laws almost monthly and different cities will change the law to being pro-chicken. That is happening all around the United States," he said.
他说，“我看到华盛顿附近的城市每月都在修改法律，各城市都会修改法律支持养鸡。这是美国各地正在发生的事情。”

He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses in most American cities within five years.
他认为在五年之内美国大多数城市都会有租鸡业务。