CULT: Beetles and Hens

Lorraine, speaking of vile beetles that attacked her roses and irises, said:  

<< In our quest to control them organically (the only way to use  chemicals is
to hold there moths open and pour it in) or to hand pick and  squash!! we
decided to get small banty hens, their job for the past two  years has been to
scratch and eat the grub that winters over in bark or  lawn.  It worked!! Last
year we noticed a slight reduction in beetle  numbers, this year it is
definitely way down in the bark area of yard.  The  lawn area still has
beetles. The other benefit is the eggs, plus just
 watching them is a stress reliever. >>

Oh, hens! Too cool! I love it! We have both Japanese beetles and rose chafers
here too, but I just get Hall to go out and pick them at night and drop them
into soapy water. Small garden, small solutions. I do think hens are a really
wonderful idea for anyone who has the room--and zoning-- for them. One of my
favorite cutting edge nurseries has a collection of fancy hens that cakewalk
around the place sometimes, although most of the time they are in their
elaborate coop. Very picturesque, indeed. And less anyone think this is just
romantic twaddle and I don't know from hens let me say quickly that I still
have my great aunt Blanche's old egg basket. She tought me a good deal about
chickens whenI was a child, which is about all she knew, frankly. Nobody took
Aunt Blanche very seriously until she died and left the country church down
the road eighty-six thousand dollars out of her egg money. That is a true
story.

Anner Whitehead, Richmond, Va
Henry Hall Henryanner@aol.com
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