Chickens as bug control for your yard or garden tend to work very well if you’re targeting certain plant pests. Generally speaking, if it crawls, flies or walks, then it’s fair game to these naturally curious and ravenous birds. There are many bugs that chickens eat.
Not only will you have fewer pests, greener lawns, and healthier plants, but you’ll also save time and money having to buy pesticides and apply them. Plus, it’s 100% organic and natural, and you won’t leave chemicals in the soil.
Here are 9 of the most common bugs that chickens eat.
Bugs that Chickens Eat
Aphids
Aphids are common garden pests that affect a wide range of plants. They’re relatively small and can usually be found sucking the sap from leaves. Aphids tend to form clusters underneath foliage where they won’t be easily seen. Left unchecked, aphids will weaken plants over time and possibly kill them.
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers can be a pest in grass lawns and vegetable gardens. These bugs can chew through large amounts of leaves and edible plant matter quickly, so it’s best to get rid of them as soon as you spot them. Grasshoppers sport a characteristic gait and long back legs that propel them over great distances.
Earwigs
A nocturnal insect species, earwigs love to feast on annual flowers and seedlings whenever they can. It’s worth noting that earwigs are a natural predator of aphids, and both are tasty treats to chickens. You can spot an earwig easily as it has a somewhat dark-colored body that stands out in green foliage.
Blackfly
Blackfly is a destructive bug when introduced to vegetable gardens and plants. They appear to be similar to house flies or bees and attack during daytime.
A bad infestation is an ugly sight and will certainly cause a plant’s death when left alone. Blackflies in particular like to eat broad beans and flowers of poppies, nasturtiums, and dahlias, among others.
Caterpillars
Easily identified by their segmented and soft body, caterpillars are bugs that love to hang around plants, bushes, and trees. Although there are dozens of different caterpillar species, most of them are not good to have around a garden.
Potato Beetles
These bugs pose a serious concern for gardeners who grow potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. It’s easy to spot a potato beetle, as they have a wide yellow body that has black stripes running down the middle.
Larvae
The term ‘larvae’ encompasses a wide variety of garden bugs, such as the ones from beetles, termites, moths, and ants. Chickens often scratch at a soil surface to try and find these treats and devour them in record numbers. Devoured larvae won’t be a future concern if you intend to plant cabbage, broccoli, and other vegetables.
Centipedes
Centipedes are considered beneficial insects because they devour silverfish, crickets, moths, cockroaches, and spiders.
However, keeping them around your yard or garden can mean there’s a chance you can get bitten as you dig around or plant seedlings, for example. Plus, they might go through your carrots, cucumbers, and tomato fruits.
Termites
Another destructive bug that presents not just problems for your plants but also for your home, termites can quickly multiply and establish themselves in wooden structures.
Termites are usually found a few inches in wood, walls, and floorboards, but chickens can quickly draw them out by scratching or pecking at the holes they make.
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