A Texas startup has come on the scene to leverage the growing number of individuals maintaining household chicken coops.
Headquartered in the Austin suburb of Volente, the aptly named Coop was launched by Jordan Barnes and AJ Forsythe to integrate small egg-laying operations with technology, Dallas Innovates reported. However, the company is also offering more traditional hands-on services.
In addition to its patented smart coops — which feature 24/7 surveillance cameras, security systems, lockable nesting boxes, a smartphone app, and automatic doors — the company offers “Chicken Tenders” to check in on customers’ flocks and give their coops thorough cleanings.
There has been a growing demand for such services because of a surge in urban chicken keeping in major Texas cities like Dallas and Fort Worth.
As The Dallas Express reported, the price of eggs reached historic highs in 2023, leaving many consumers hungry for alternatives — including opting to raise their own hens. The recent trend of backyard chicken farming, which emerged at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was buoyed by such high prices at the grocery store.
The nation’s largest seller of live poultry, Tractor Supply, consequently posted record figures in foot traffic and profit during this period and now has an estimated annual revenue stream of over $14 billion.
As Barnes and Forsythe explained, local authorities have also encouraged backyard chicken farming by passing ordinances for “a more homesteading-friendly environment in Texas,” according to Dallas Innovates.
Now Coop aims to expand its operation to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, San Antonio, and Houston.
“We’re thrilled to enable the Tenders to provide a diverse range of services that cater to the distinct requirements of backyard chicken owners,” said Paul Iliya, who is working on the company’s online marketplace, per a company news release.
“The Tenders are chicken nuts just like us and possess vast hands-on expertise that more than guarantees superior coop and flock care. Recognizing the profound love and connection customers hold for their chickens, our Tender’s aim is to offer them absolute assurance whenever they need it,” Iliya added.
