Watch: Boerne ISD solves cricket crisis with 4 hungry chickens

The Boerne Independent School District enlisted the help of chickens to deal with the so-called cricket crisis of South and Central Texas.

Boerne ISD Communications Director Jocelyn Durand said Van Raub Elementary Principal Jamie Robinson released four of the school's seven hens on campus Tuesday and allowed them to feast on the hundreds of crickets stationed on the school's facade and front entry.

"It didn't take them long," Robinson said.

The hens, who are named Henny, Penny, Denice, and Angel, gorged themselves on the crickets and played a large part in clearing the front of the school of crickets in just a matter of minutes.

"They could have had the whole thing cleaned off in about 15 or 20 minutes if they didn't get too full," he said. "They can eat quite a bit."

RELATED: This may be why San Antonio was 'attacked' by crickets Tuesday morning

Henny, Penny, Denice, and Angel gorge themselves on a feast of crickets at Van Raub Elementary School in Boerne on Tuesday. Henny, Penny, Denice, and Angel gorge themselves on a feast of crickets at Van Raub Elementary School in Boerne on Tuesday. Photo: Boerne ISD Photo: Boerne ISD Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Watch: Boerne ISD solves cricket crisis with 4 hungry chickens 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

The hens, which came to the school as a result of a grant from the Wildlife Education Committee awarded by the City of Fair Oaks, were hatched by kindergarten students last year and live in a coop on the Van Raub campus.

The four hens along with Midnight, Roadrunner, and Mango are tended to by students referred to as "chicken tenders" by school administrators.

"It sounds cheesy, but it just kind of stuck," Robinson said.

The so-called cricket invasion of South and Central Texas caused a stir on social media this week when thousands of crickets overtook the outside of buildings in some south Texas communities.

The manifestation of thousands of crickets isn't apocalyptic, but a seasonal event that occurs when conditions are particularly dry like they've been this summer.

If you don't have chickens, there are a number of products you can find here to help rid your home or yard of the symphonic pests.

bryan.kirk@express-news.net