Evil has arrived on the farm

Today the Japanese beetles showed up. This year we are slightly more ready than last year, and we actually hired 4 farm employees that will be here in a little over a week.

We planted "trap crops" to attract the beetles away from the crops we want to protect...amaranth and lots of zinnias. Problem - trap crops are not in full bloom yet, so not trapping anything.

I caught a bunch to try to feed them to our chickens. The chicks were interested, but the beetles' crunchy texture was a bit much for our young flock and I watched the bugs fly away.

My hope, the trauma the bugs experienced of being knocked into a bucket of water and then being picked at by chickens...only to barely escape...will be legend and they will tell their friends to stay away.

However, we have a band of 4 Muscovy ducks coming to work as our garden patrol. They are known for their quiet and cleaner characteristics, and they are fierce bug hunters. Japanese beetles, be warned, you will be hunted soon!