I don't think your too far from me and I have the same problem with those dam crickets! My wife and I kill about 5 to 10 a day in the house, don't know how the bastards are getting in....
My son lets his chicken out everyday. His garden is fenced in so they would go around the edge of it eating whatever they found tempting. Never never complain once about bugs except for a few of those big green tomato worms. I would love to have some chickens again, but my wife is opposed.