VOA慢速英語(yǔ):Raising Chickens Gains Popularity in Some American Cities

From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.

這里是美國(guó)之音慢速英語(yǔ)農(nóng)業(yè)報(bào)道。

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.

越來(lái)越多美國(guó)人對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)厣a(chǎn)的有機(jī)食物表現(xiàn)出興趣。隨著興趣的增加，養(yǎng)雞在美國(guó)一些城市越來(lái)越受歡迎。家禽飼養(yǎng)未必適合每個(gè)人，但這一行似乎前途無(wú)限。

"Look, we get three eggs this time."

“看，這次我們得到三個(gè)雞蛋。”

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.

撿雞蛋是赫斯特一家每天的樂(lè)趣所在。納奧米·赫斯特(Naomi Hurst)說(shuō)，她家從1個(gè)月前，開(kāi)始在位于馬里蘭州的家里的后院養(yǎng)雞。

"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.

赫斯特表示，“我們多年來(lái)一直想嘗試在后院養(yǎng)雞，只是沒(méi)時(shí)間做雞籠以及尋找買(mǎi)雞的地方。隨后我們偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)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是一家租雞的公司。18個(gè)月前，泰勒·菲利普斯(Tyler Phillips)與人合伙開(kāi)辦了這家公司。

"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.

菲利普斯說(shuō)，“它包括一個(gè)帶輪子的移動(dòng)雞籠，兩只產(chǎn)蛋的母雞，飼料，墊草，水盆，雞食盆，以及我們24小時(shí)服務(wù)的養(yǎng)雞熱線。有任何疑問(wèn)都可以撥打熱線。租四周的價(jià)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.

四周過(guò)后，你可以延長(zhǎng)租用協(xié)議，或退回所有東西，或者買(mǎi)下這些雞和養(yǎng)雞的日常用品。

"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.

菲利普斯說(shuō)，“我們平均每月租出去12到15個(gè)雞籠。自去年以來(lái)，我們已經(jīng)賣(mài)出了大約75個(gè)帶母雞的雞籠。所以我們已經(jīng)賣(mài)出了大約200只母雞。”

Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops, buildings with birds are kept. He says he wants to do with as little damage as possible to the environment.

菲利普斯親自設(shè)計(jì)制作了這些養(yǎng)雞的雞籠。他說(shuō)，他希望在做雞籠時(shí)盡可能少的破壞環(huán)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.

他說(shuō)，“我們一直試圖盡可能使用回收材料。首先我希望雞籠對(duì)孩子來(lái)說(shuō)是安全的。我希望這些雞們住得舒服，當(dāng)它們?cè)陔u籠里時(shí)可以吃到草。我也希望它重量輕巧便于移動(dòng)。”

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.

菲利普斯表示，雞籠租賃業(yè)務(wù)來(lái)自他對(duì)動(dòng)物的熱鬧。他在父母位于華盛頓附近的農(nóng)場(chǎng)中長(zhǎng)大。

The Hursts hope their farm teaches their daughter to be caring and responsible.

赫斯特一家希望他們的農(nóng)場(chǎng)教會(huì)女兒有愛(ài)心和負(fù)責(zé)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.

赫斯特說(shuō)，“我們從未感恩過(guò)食物的來(lái)源。但每當(dāng)我們撿起雞蛋時(shí)我們總是說(shuō)，‘謝謝你，母雞們。’這點(diǎn)很難教，除非你家后院飼養(yǎng)著給你提供食物的動(dòng)物。所以對(duì)我女兒來(lái)說(shuō)這是一個(gè)很好的學(xué)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì)。”

Some Cities require people have larger 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.

如果人們想要飼養(yǎng)家禽，有些城市要求人們有一大塊地，還有些城市要求和鄰居達(dá)成協(xié)議，或者限制養(yǎng)雞數(shù)量，甚至禁止養(yǎng)雞。

Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest in small poultry coops grows.

菲利普斯希望隨著人們對(duì)小雞籠興趣的增加，這一切能有所改變。

"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.

他說(shuō)，“我發(fā)現(xiàn)華盛頓附近的城市每月都在修改法律，各城市都會(huì)修改法律支持養(yǎng)雞。這是美國(guó)各地正在發(fā)生的事情。”

He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses in most U.S. cities within five years.

他相信在五年之內(nèi)，多數(shù)美國(guó)城市都會(huì)有租雞業(yè)務(wù)。