A BUNCH of grasshoppers

[Silkiehen]

How many chickens do you recommend for about 10 grasshoppers every time you take one step? I'm going to start out with six chicks is that enough? We have 36 acres but I assume the chickens will stay close to the house eating the grasshoppers that eat our flowers. There is plenty grasshoppers until winter comes. There is soo many that they(grasshoppers) also stay on the house.

 

[sepaditty1]

Oh, my! What a horrible problem to have! That sounds like a natural disaster movie & horror movie rolled into one. I would buy a hundred chickens if that's what it would take!

Oh, sorry. Just realized I didn't answer your question. I have no idea. Let's hope someone else replies.

 

[ClaireAjideh]

i would say a lot more than 6, especially if you mean chicks and not full grown hens

 

[Silkiehen]

i would say a lot more than 6, especially if you mean chicks and not full grown hens

Will 12 do? I will be getting some in March.

 

[Klutch]

You have 36 acres. I would a least 100 chicks to finished product, that's a lot of protein. I would love that problem.

 

[bobbi-j]

Unfortunately, chickens need variety in their diet. Not only will they eat the grasshoppers on the flowers, they will also eat your flowers and other plants if you have a garden. I don't think you can get enough chickens to completely control your grasshopper invasion. My chickens free range, and while they will eat some grasshoppers, they are more interested in the grass and other vegetation around their area. (My chickens are not near my house so my flowers and veggie garden are safe.) My chickens eat spilled grain, dig up whatever they can under the apple trees and whatever they find while out scouting in our grove. Your chickens also will not be too likely to wander over your 36 acres. Where our chickens free range is surrounded by our fields. They don't go too far from the coop. You could maybe get them to cover that much ground by using a tractor or portable pen set-up, but by the time you got to the last acre, the grasshoppers would have taken back the first ones.

 

[Klutch]

Unfortunately, chickens need variety in their diet. Not only will they eat the grasshoppers on the flowers, they will also eat your flowers and other plants if you have a garden. I don't think you can get enough chickens to completely control your grasshopper invasion. My chickens free range, and while they will eat some grasshoppers, they are more interested in the grass and other vegetation around their area. (My chickens are not near my house so my flowers and veggie garden are safe.) My chickens eat spilled grain, dig up whatever they can under the apple trees and whatever they find while out scouting in our grove. Your chickens also will not be too likely to wander over your 36 acres. Where our chickens free range is surrounded by our fields. They don't go too far from the coop. You could maybe get them to cover that much ground by using a tractor or portable pen set-up, but by the time you got to the last acre, the grasshoppers would have taken back the first ones.

Your chicken would be defensive perimeter against the plague of grasshoppers. The way those grasshoppers move toward a new food supply, your birds will also. I sure with all that land there are more than grasshoppers on it. A chicken buffet table.

 

[Silkiehen]

Unfortunately, chickens need variety in their diet. Not only will they eat the grasshoppers on the flowers, they will also eat your flowers and other plants if you have a garden. I don't think you can get enough chickens to completely control your grasshopper invasion. My chickens free range, and while they will eat some grasshoppers, they are more interested in the grass and other vegetation around their area. (My chickens are not near my house so my flowers and veggie garden are safe.) My chickens eat spilled grain, dig up whatever they can under the apple trees and whatever they find while out scouting in our grove. Your chickens also will not be too likely to wander over your 36 acres. Where our chickens free range is surrounded by our fields. They don't go too far from the coop. You could maybe get them to cover that much ground by using a tractor or portable pen set-up, but by the time you got to the last acre, the grasshoppers would have taken back the first ones.

We have a lot more than grasshoppers. We have all types of bugs such as spiders, little beetle things, butterflies, ants, and much anything you can think of. They will never run out and will have a ton of stuff to choose from. I'm just worried about the grasshoppers and bugs around the house. The coop isn't far from the house, so they will be super happy and I am almost 100% sure they wont run out of bugs. I will also be giving the scratch.

 

[bobbi-j]

Sounds like they'll be well fed!

 

[jtn42248]

Sounds like you may be better of with a dozen Guineas or 3 or 4 Geese. They would really deal with your grasshopper problem, especially the Guineas. Just do your research first because they are both "wild" and will range far and wide and fly away if given the chance. Also, keep in mind that they make great watch "dogs" and will defend their territory. Some Geese can be very aggressive.