What to do with carpenter ants?

A week or two ago my adventurous husband cut down the dying soft maple tree. It kept dropping small limbs on our driveway (where we park the cars). It also easily broke and had numerous danglers. The tree was a beautiful shade tree and every year the helicopters would go flying from it. But there were also signs that all was not well. There was a large crotch area where rain would enter into the tree. After almost every rain there were saw dust-like substances coming out of holes. Probably not good. So, my wise husband, the JD tractor, and I, all had a hand in bringing the ole tree down.

It came down with a crash and a big thud. Big black ants crawled everywhere. They were going this way and that way. Some carrying little larvae, others just running for their lives. But with a quick little call to our chicken friends..."here, chick, chick, chick, chickens!" the question of what to do with all those ants was answered.


Red, our only Rhode Island Red chicken (who believes she is top on the pecking order) found something a little more substantial in the tree debris. Some great big wiggly larvae. Could it be a cicada bug? I don't know. I remember that we found a lot of them last year in a dying hackberry tree. The chickens liked them too. Anyway, Red grabbed this wormy guy and ran with it. It took her several "bites" to down the whole thing. Pretty efficient way of getting rid of bugs.

Today's Journey Joy: Watching chickens enjoy a good meal