Are these roaches in my coop? What do I do?

[TMarie]

Are these roaches? And if so- are they the kind that infest your house? I've never had roaches and I'm terrified they're going to travel to our house.

We live in the woods in Tennessee so I'm praying they're just some kind of roaches that likes the woods and not my house or not roaches at all preferably!

What do I do?

 

[Rostabunny]

Yes, those are roaches. I do not know the species\variety, but regardless, you can use Diatomaceous earth, which is fine for the chickens. My chickens love to take dust baths in it, and it also gets rid of any bugs on them. if there is too much though, it can dry out their feet, so just watch them.

 

[SourRoses]

Just be glad you don't have palmetto bugs there


A barrier of insecticide around the entire perimeter of your home, reapplied every few months, can help keep them from getting in.

 

[Rostabunny]

Just be careful with insecticide around the chickens.

 

[SourRoses]

Yes, those are roaches. I do not know the species\variety, but regardless, you can use Diatomaceous earth, which is fine for the chickens. My chickens love to take dust baths in it, and it also gets rid of any bugs on them. if there is too much though, it can dry out their feet, so just watch them.

That's actually really bad for their lungs as DE is too fine for breathing.
Once moistened (like from rain) it becomes useless against bugs.

 

[Red Horse]

I found a BIG one in my run the other day and managed to smoosh it! Roaches don't just live in nasty houses, they are found all over the place in nature. It's when we let our houses get gross that they start to move inside. I live in a rural area and come across them outside from time to time and I was really surprised at first. I did a little googling and it looks like as long as you clean the coop regularly and keep things dry there shouldn't be an issue. They are very attracted to wet environments where food is also close. The one I found came after we had a massive amount of rain and was hiding under a wet brick that my feeder sits on.

 

[LizGio]

I'm not sure how harmful they really are or if chickens might find them tasty. They are scavenger bugs that clean up waste....

 

[LizGio]

Did a quick search: Do Chickens Eat Cockroaches? Chickens love to eat cockroaches. They are a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and chickens will get very excited when they see one

 

[TMarie]

Thank you guys so much! I just raked out the entire coop and only saw 3. And my chickens ate each of them thank God I will be sure to keep the coop clean and dry. And i might break down and spray the exterior of our house. I hate poisons. I really appreciate all the advice.

 

[LizGio]

Regular maintenance works just fine if you only found three outdoors. It's safer than spray especially if they aren't in your house.