She also discussed food safety.
Domestic livestock in produce systems created real concerns.
Birds could not simply wander beneath fruit right up to harvest while everyone pretended manure disappeared because it was natural.
The Mercers would need a conservative exclusion period before harvest, careful attention to orchard-floor conditions, and compliance with applicable produce-safety practices for their operation.
Emily said:
“Your birds are not a magic input.”
“Treat manure like manure.”
“Treat produce like food.”
Toby wrote that down.
She smiled.
“Did you just quote me?”
“Yes.”
“Wonderful.”
The trial began April 11.
That was the morning Harland laughed beside his truck.
The hens entered through portable fencing Toby had built from scavenged material.
He did not have money for sophisticated mobile poultry structures.
He had old wire rolls.
Fence posts.
Salvaged lumber.
Two wheeled frames.
A pair of crude shelters roofed with leftover metal.
Plastic water tanks mounted on a wagon.
The entire system looked temporary because it was.
Harland called it:
“A county fair exhibit after a tornado.”
Toby ignored him.
The first morning, he watched what the birds uncovered.
Not only what they ate.
That distinction became central.
The hens did consume insects.
But their scratching also moved leaves.
Exposed soil.
Broke apart decomposing fruit.
Disturbed hiding places.
Changed what Toby could see.
The orchard floor stopped being a sealed layer of debris and became something active.
He recorded.
Date.
Block.
200 birds.
Weather 38°F morning, 51°F afternoon.
Ground slightly damp.
Initial litter depth.
Feed offered.
Water consumed.
Observed scratching intensity.
Visible insect activity.
Egg count.
He also recorded a control section.
No birds.
Same weather.
Same orchard.
Three days later, he repeated.
A week later.
Again.
The first encouraging sign came quickly.
Certain accessible larvae and beetles became less common in heavily worked litter.
Not gone.
Lower.
Toby refused to call that success.
He had only a handful of observations.
He wrote:
Possible reduction.
Need repeat counts.
Harland returned the following week.
“Still have chickens?”
“Most.”
“Most?”
Toby looked away.
That was the first failure.
A predator entered during the night.
They never saw it.
Probably raccoon or fox at first.
Then tracks suggested coyote activity near one edge.
Five birds missing.
Two injured.
Toby found feathers near the fence.
He stood there longer than Daniel expected.
“You okay?”
“They were my responsibility.”
“Yes.”
“I should’ve reinforced that corner.”
“Probably.”
Toby looked at him.
Daniel continued:
“Feeling bad is not a repair.”
“What changes?”
They improved perimeter fencing.
Added electric poultry netting in vulnerable sections.
Changed where shelters sat.
Closed gaps before dusk.
Losses slowed.
Then rain arrived.
Three days.
Cold.
Heavy enough that wheel ruts filled.
The mobile panels that Toby had designed to move easily became anchors.
He tried dragging one.
It sank.
Daniel watched from the tractor.
“You want help?”
“I've got it.”
“You clearly do not.”
Eventually they used the utility tractor.
More labor.
More fuel.