VOA慢速英语2014 城市居民尝试养鸡

 

AS IT IS 2014-06-14 City Dwellers¹ Try Raising Chickens 城市居民尝试养鸡

More and more Americans are showing an interest in organic and locally-produced food. As the interest increases, raising chickens has been gaining popularity² in some American cities. Poultry³ farming may not be right for everyone. But the business seems to have a bright future.

“Look, we got three eggs this time.”

Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family. Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens in the back of their home in Maryland last October.

“I have been wanting to try having backyard chickens for a couple years now. And really just didn’t have the time to build my own coop and then look out where to buy chickens. And then we stumbled⁴ upon Rent a Coop.”

Rent a Coop is a chicken rental⁵ business. Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner in May of 2012.

“It comes with the mobile coop on wheels, two egg-laying hens, feed, bedding, water fowl⁶, feed bowl, and our 24-hour chicken hotline. You can call with any questions.  ”

After the four weeks have passed, individuals can extend the rental agreement, return everything or purchase the animals and supplies.

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

“We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible. And I want the coops to be safe for kids, number one. And I want the chickens to be comfortable. I want them to have access to the grass while being inside the coop. And I want it to be easily movable, light weight.”

Mr. Phillips says the chicken coop rental business came from his love of animals. He grew up on his parents’ farm, near Washington, DC.

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

“The eggs are yummy.”

“I don’t think we’ve ever thanks where food comes from. But whenever we pick up the eggs we always say, ‘thank you, ladies.’ That’s really something that 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.”

Some cities require people have to 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. Tyler Phillips expects that will change as interest in small poultry coops grows.

“I see cities around the DC area changing laws almost monthly and a different city will change the law to being pro-chicken. That is happening all around the United States.”

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

1 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

3 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

4 stumbled   

v.（不顺畅地）说( stumble的过去式和过去分词 )；跌跌撞撞地走；绊脚；（说话、演奏等）出错

参考例句：

• I stumbled and sprained my ankle. 我摔了一跤，把脚脖子扭了。
• The child stumbled and fell. 孩子绊了一下，摔倒了。

5 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

6 fowl   

n.家禽，鸡，禽肉

参考例句：

• Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
• Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。