The executives find that tending chickens in their spare time is relaxing.

Alison Peltz, who runs three theatre companies, said watching the chickens range around the back yard was -"instantly calming", adding: "We call it chicken TV, you feel like you have -nature in your life."

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She added that her husband Danny, a banking executive, finds it a great way to switch off. "When he's not working crazy hours he goes out and collects the eggs, it's kind of a ritual."

According to Ms Citroen, environmental concerns play a big role in the new trend.

"I do think that people here [in the San Francisco Bay area] are more sophisticated about our food chain and climate change," she said.

Other Silicon Valley residents have purchased beehives and dug water wells.

"Really wealthy people in Silicon Valley have drilled their own wells so they're able to landscape and irrigate their properties with their well water.

"It's kind of obligatory now, they'll have their barbecue fire pits, swimming pools, chickens and a lot of them have beehives too."

Telegraph, London