Buck-moth-caterpillars - can they hurt chickens?

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Joesplace

Joesplace

Hatching
Apr 2, 2015
8
1
9
Louisiana
Currently here in Louisiana we have a bad infestation of buck-moth-caterpillars. These caterpillars are dangerous because their hollow spines can break off into people’s skin and even dead caterpillars still sting, The venom proteins in the hollow spines can last for a while even after the caterpillar dies.

Since I'm new to chickens, the question is can they hurt our chickens when they try to eat them? They're everywhere in the yard!

Thanks . . .
 
Last edited:
Wow - thanks for the assurance. Was concerned those venom spines might hurt my chicks! When the caterpillars sting a human, you have to use duct tape to pull the spines from your skin otherwise they becomes infected.

Thanks again for the reply . . .
 
They will learn quickly not to mess with the caterpillar or learn how to remove the spines. A chick / hen finding an unpleasant item can indicate it is unpleasant to others by behavior. I can present a series of tasty insects to a hen with a chicks that are promptly consumed, then provide a foul / toxic insect that will cause hen to make a strange sound causing everyone to walk away or at least ignore the insect.
 

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