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Radio Scripts

Radio Scripts

Package 51, Script 7
February 1999

Chickens Eat Ticks on Cattle

Characters
Bessy, a dairy cow
Lulu, a chicken
Narrator

Narrator: It's a pleasant morning in Cowtown. The sun is shining and the grass is sweet. But Bessy the cow is not happy. Let's listen as she complains to her friend Lulu the chicken.

SOUND EFFECTS: CHICKEN AND COW NOISES

Bessy :  It's always the same, Lulu, night after night. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I get no satisfaction in anything I do.

Lulu :  Why? What's bothering you, my dear?

Bessy :  It's these ticks. They're driving me crazy. I can swat some of them away with my tail. But they get in my ears, and I can't reach them. They suck my blood and make me feel sick. I'm too young to die.

Lulu :  Ticks, did you say? You mean those tiny brown bugs? The ones that crawl under your hair and all over your skin?

Bessy :  Yes, those are the ones. The farmer has sprayed me and dipped me, but they keep coming back. And all that spraying and dipping gives me a headache. Not to mention that the farmer can't afford it.

Lulu :  Well, why didn't you tell me before, old  friend? I like ticks.

Bessy :  What do you mean you like them? Do you enjoy pain that much?

Lulu :  No, I enjoy eating ticks. All chickens eat ticks. They are absolutely delicious.

Bessy :  You have got to be kidding.

Lulu :  No, I'm not kidding, my dear. In fact, I have an idea. Why don't I move in right next to you? Then, every morning I can snatch those delicious little creatures right off your hide. I can probably eat 200, maybe 300 of them every hour.

Bessy :  You care about me that much?

Lulu :  No, Bessy, I'm not doing this for you _ it's for my own pleasure. I'll eat all the ticks you can give me. But I have one request.

Bessy :  What's that, Lulu?

Lulu :  Tell the farmer to stop dipping you with chemicals. Otherwise I'll be poisoned. I could die!

Bessy :  Okay, no chemicals. But wait a minute. Are you saying you want to live inside my pen?

Lulu :  No, I'll have my nest box in a little walkway with some other chickens, just next to you. The farmer can make a little gate to let us in for a couple of hours every morning. And a couple of hours in the afternoon.

Bessy :  I think you're crazy. But if it works for you, it solves my problem too. You eat all the ticks and I won't have any more problems.

Lulu :  Sorry, Bessy, I can't promise to catch all of them. It's a good idea for the farmer to hand-pick the ticks, too.

Bessy :  Are there any other things the farmer should do?

Lulu :  Cows get a lot of ticks from grazing in infested pastures. You'll probably have less ticks if you stay in one place, and the farmer brings your food to you.

Bessy :  That sounds like good advice. By the way, Lulu, can you help me with another problem?

Lulu :  What's that, Bessy?

Bessy :  Flies. They drive me crazy too.

Lulu :  Well, I have a few cousins who are ducks. Did you know that ducks like eating flies? Maybe my cousins would like to move in too.

Bessy :  I'll be surrounded by birds! But if you can get rid of the ticks and the flies, I'll be happy.  Now if we can just convince the farmer. If the farmer is smart, he will see that this is the perfect solution!

Narrator : As Lulu says, chickens do like to eat ticks. And ducks like to eat flies. So, if you have a problem with ticks or flies, chickens and ducks can help you out. Chickens can eat 200 ticks per hour. This can save you the money you spend on pesticide dips. So, take a tip from Lulu and Bessy - cows, chickens and ducks can be good friends.

Acknowledgements

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