It can be difficult to manage insect pests and weeds in an orchard, where tilling is not an option. Could scratching, foraging chickens be part of the solution? In this study, researchers deployed two types of hens against insect larvae and weeds in an apple orchard. The chickens were housed in a "chicken tractor" that could be moved around the rows of trees. Results show that chickens can be a useful tool in some settings.
