This year, I bought five young hens to add to my older flock. Eggs were scarce, and since I pretend to be a chicken farmer, I knew the time had come.
“Those two are roosters.”
My husband, who is NOT a chicken farmer clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Doesn’t he realize I asked for all hens? Besides, I bought them at six weeks….easier to sex that way. I don’t play around.
Meanwhile, the entire Texas Hill Country has been inundated with grasshoppers. The gardens at the Agape Haus are flourishing because of the free-ranging chickens. Chickens eat their weight in bugs every day. They are serious grasshopper killing machines!
The other day, I went to the studio to open the chickens up and heard a Rooster crow. Actually….I heard TWO roosters crowing.
Dang. My husband was right.
As I was lamenting over what to do with the roosters, I realized I had the perfect solution. Set the roosters loose up at our house and let the roosters eliminate the grasshoppers. Ofcourse, my husband would have to agree. He hates chickens. My son and I proceeded to load up the two fluffy roosters into our dog kennel and let them spend the night at their new home. The next day, it was ON. The amount of grasshoppers being eaten was unbelievable. We sat out on the back porch, drinking coffee and Earl Grey tea, and watched the boys eat. My husband just laughed and said “Best idea EVER!!.”
The two roosters ate until they were stuffed and needed a morning nap. It is evening now, and the boys are back at it. The grasshoppers don’t stand a chance. It seems very fitting that I am inside, in my nice big, comfy chair listening to the Choral Movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. It seems the roosters have spread their good will, and my husband is pleased. Maybe now, my Zinnias will actual bloom.
Happy Gardening, my friends. Hard times call for hard efforts. As Organic Gardeners, it is important for us to think way outside the box. Keeping the earth smiling, one small garden at a time.