It's not part of the farm-to-table movement, that's for sure. Turns out there are people who keep chickens now as part of their pest control strategy. The eggs these chickens lay are only a side benefit, we're told; this group of chicken owners lets their birds run loose across their yards and fields because chickens love to dine on ticks. Where deer, rodents, and rabbits are plentiful, Lyme ticks are also plentiful since these animals are known carriers. We'll ask our regular contributor, Dr. Todd Friedland of Windham, Conn., whether the chicken eggs are safe for humans when the birds have been ingesting high quantities of Lyme ticks.
Other topics:
- Driver distraction is a serious cause of accidents—now those who allow their dogs to sit in their laps while they drive could be in danger of being fined.
- If humans are sometimes allergic to cats and dogs, are cats and dogs sometimes allergic to humans? Do animals known to carry Lyme ticks on their coats ever get Lyme disease?
- What happened at the Elvis Dog Contest?
- Dogs know that smile on your face.
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GUESTS:
- Todd Friedland – retired chief of staff at North Windham Animal Hospital
MUSIC:
- “Gne Gne,” Montefiori Cocktail
- “Where It’s At,” Beck
- “Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley
- “Telephone and Rubber Band,” Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Lori Mack and Jonathan McNicol contributed to this show, which originally aired February 26, 2014.