Their Rental Cabins Come With Chickens

Their Rental Cabins Come With Chickens FARM HOME Miscellaneous Jason and Lucie Amundsen operate a pick-your-own honeyberry farm and a free-range egg production business But their most interesting venture is AirB-n-Bawk two tiny rental houses on their farm that come complete with a flock of chickens “My wife read about people going to a B&B above a bookstore and thought people might like to stay at a chicken farm ” recalls Jason Amundsen “Many parents and grandparents bring kids to have the experience of being on a farm ” The two tiny houses are the Perch and the Nest The Perch is a 12 by 20-ft structure 6 ft off the ground It has room for four guests with two beds one in a loft a half bath and a kitchenette It rents for $157 per night The Nest is even smaller just 8 by 12-ft one-third of which is reserved for chickens It sleeps three people and 20 to 25 hens It rents for $46 per night “Perch guests look out over the pasture but Nest guests are sleeping with the birds separated only by a glass wall ” says Amundsen “It’s like a chicken aquarium ” Other amenities include an outhouse a solar shower firepits and a $6 day pass to a nearby wellness and fitness center The farm is also close to several state parks and a state bike trail A high point for many guests is helping with farm chores The “Choose Your Own Adventure” stay can include feeding and watering the pasture-raised poultry freeing the chickens from roosts and shelters at daybreak moving fences putting the chickens in at night working the farm stand and more Guests can also gather wash and pack eggs While the idea of getting paying guests to do your work for you might be attractive it has its downside “In theory it’s free labor ” says Amundsen “In reality it involves a lot of hand-holding and teaching However that’s what people are paying for ” Amundsen notes that Nest guests tend to want the experiences although Perch guests have the same opportunity The Nest has proven to be the most popular with an 85 to 90 percent occupancy rate while the Perch is around 60 percent Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Locally Laid Egg Company P O Box 208 Wrenshall Minn 55797 ph 612-245-0450; jason@locallylaid com; lucie@locallylaid com; www locallylaid com

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