Rent your Animals

With Easter coming up, I came across a article about a farm in Michigan that is renting out chicks for the holiday.  For a payment of 50.00, you can get a pair of chicks to take home for 14 days, along with a pen, bedding and two weeks' worth of feed. When the chicks are returned at the end of the rental period, renters get a dozen eggs. I suppose there is some sort of agreement if the chicks die.

This sounds like a great idea,  Parents,who are considering a pet rabbit, or chick can get a rental for the kids. After 2 weeks, the newness will have worn off, and you can return the animals. Parents will like the less stress, and commitment-free arrangement.  While the article didn't say, I sure if you desired, the farm would sell the pets to you. 

Along this same line, many ranches will rent you a horse for a day. Allowing you to go horseback riding for a afternoon.  You can also receive horse riding lessons. I have horses, and have considered this.  I've also considered renting out my stalls. Many people have horses, but don't live on a farm. You can get a minimum of $100.00 per stall.  Not a great money maker, but something that will help offset your costs.

I work with a guy who rents a bull to breed his cows. I asked him about buying the bull, and he replied that its a lot cheaper to rent one.  He keeps the bull on his property, and pays rent year round.

Do you have equipment, or a animal you could lease for a day or two? or board animals?

SCAMMED ON CRAIGSLIST.... well almost.

My wife is looking for a piano.  Free or next to free.  She checks on craigslist pretty regular looking for deals. 
The other day, she came across a baby grand piano for free at fort wayne craigslist. She couldn't contain herself.  The gentleman emailed her that he was moving to kentucky, and couldn't take the piano with him.  My wife would have to pay to have the piano shipped to her by professional movers. Was she interested? of course!
The next day another email stated that the movers had (by mistake) taken the piano to kentucky with his other furnature, and if she was still interested the shipping cost would be $400.00. 
Get a baby grand, approximately 6 years old for four hundred dollars. Still a deal. She emailed him back saying YES! she wants the piano. They would require the payment up front before shipping.
No problem, I answered, email me the company name, contact number, and method of payment, and I would send the money. 
I got the email with a company name out of mason michigan, and a contact name and phone.   I googled the company.  Yes, there was a company in mason michigan.  However google listed the company as dealing with shipping wholesale groceries.  Hmmm...

I tried the phone number listed on google.  disconected. I googled the deliveryman's phone number, and the area code was for california. Another red flag.  However my wife reminded me that they were shippers, and traveled all over the country.

Then the mover called us.  The phone had a lot of static and he talked with a thick far-east accent. He wanted a wal-mart money gram for payment. I asked if he would take C.O. D.  We had the cash.  No, he said he wanted payment up front. I refused.  The next day he called back, and asked for half payment.  The piano was in montana. Montana?!!  No I said, cash on delivery.  I refused to send cash to someone out of state without proof.  Besides, what kind of company doesn't have a office phone number? Why couldn't I call a secretary, and give her a credit card? Bottom line.....

My wife is holding the money, she still thinks its possibe a moving company may show up at our door with a baby grand piano. They might drop it off as they pass through the area......

Imagine..... a moving company with a piano tucked in the back corner of a truck hauling it around, forever unable to get rid of it.      Hey, its already been to kentucky and montana!

Always remember, buyer beware.  check up on your seller.  you might save yourself from losing some cash.

If the deal is to good to be true, it probably is......