North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lisa Almarode <lisaalmarode@yahoo.com>]

I had ducks in my very young orchard, they were hard
on the trees; they'd dig (with their bills) in the 
mulch and dirt at the base of the trunks. I had to 
fence the trees, then we got rid of the ducks, 
smelly things :-) 
Chickens can be worse as they scratch; they dug a 
hole at the base of a plum tree as a dust bath.  
I haven't raised any turkeys yet, so I can't comment,
but I'd be careful and watch/fence the bases of the 
trees.  
When my trees grow up I'd like to run chickens in 
there; they are supposed to be great at pest eating; 
I saw a study once, hmm, on chestnut trees, that 
pest damage was reduced significantly when chickens 
were run under the trees.  

I've heard that chickens will eat mice (if provided
one by, say, a cat), why don't turkeys?

Lisa in Ashland Oregon
Zone 7  1800'


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