11-24-2010, 08:40 AM
When our trees were smaller (and one night of beetle chewing could be a disaster) we had lots of mulch under the trees. Citrus, as well as a hau tree, seemed to be especially vulnerable.
Chickens started scratching in this mulch.
I put some brush on the mulch to keep the chickens from scratching.
The beetle damage got worse.
I took away the sticks, the scratching resumed and the beetle damaged receded.
So, I then took the sticks off of a few trees showing worse beetle damage for a few days then piled the mulch up again and took the sticks off a few more trees, etc.
In general, with the trees bigger and some chickens still roaming, beetle damage is no longer a major problem.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Chickens started scratching in this mulch.
I put some brush on the mulch to keep the chickens from scratching.
The beetle damage got worse.
I took away the sticks, the scratching resumed and the beetle damaged receded.
So, I then took the sticks off of a few trees showing worse beetle damage for a few days then piled the mulch up again and took the sticks off a few more trees, etc.
In general, with the trees bigger and some chickens still roaming, beetle damage is no longer a major problem.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park