Chickens in a pumpkin patch?

[Timmo]

Where I live squash bugs are extremly prolific. So much so that I don't really know anyone who'll even have a zuchinni plant in their garden anymore. If a person had a big pumpkin patch, and didn't want to use chemical pesticides, could chickens be used to control the bugs? Or would they just peck holes in the pumpkins and be worse than the bugs themselves?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Oakland_Ranchero]

I'm not too sure about the chickens and controlling the bugs.

But I do know that planting radishes and nasturtiums around your curcubits helps prevent squash bugs.

This is a great topic and others like it are found on the BYC's sister site The Easy Garden

 

[RoostersCrow]

10:4 on radishes with the pumpkins. Lettheradihes get big and go to seed!

 

[flakey chick]

If you can stand the poop, you might try ducks. If you can stand the racket, you might try gineas.

 

[ginasmarans]

I've heard that guineas won't eat your plants,but will eat the grass and bugs. I know my chickens would eat the bugs,but they'd also eat the tomatoes and dust bathewherever. The garden is off limits to them! I didn't know that about radishes. I may plant some just for fun,even though it is probably too warm for them now.

 

[Timmo]

Radishes, nasturdiums, ducks, and guineas.... Check.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think I've heard of using guineas before, but that they have a mind of their own and it's hard to keep them where you want them. I'll have to go read more about them, ducks too. But chickens are out I guess. Too destructive.

Thanks again!