Are wisowbspiders dangerous around ducks ...or just a snack?

[Neffy]

I found one.... and I’m worried my duckling might find another and try to eat it or get bitten. Does anyone actually know for sure about this?!
(Please only respond if you 100% know about this and please don’t just respond with your assumption or guess because I could do that easily myself— I want to know the facts about this because I’m worried about my duck thank you In advance)

 

[CluckerFamily]

What kind of spider?

 

[Weeg]

@azygous will have additional information for you, she has had experience with poisonous critters, and bites. I don't recommend leaving them in the pen, I don't have expert advice, or exepraince, so I am really just offering my opinion. If they try to eat the spider, and get bitten, it could kill them. I would get the spider out of there.

 

[azygous]

Please don't try to learn a lesson the hard way by having a duck mess with a dangerous spider you know is there. You'll feel awfully bad if the duck is bitten and the venom causes swelling and the duck suffers and dies. Or you end up with a huge vet bill trying to save the duck.

Two of my six-week old pullets last summer tangled with a poisonous caterpillar and they suffered tremendously. I couldn't save them and they didn't even eat the thing, just pecked at it.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Please don't try to learn a lesson the hard way by having a duck mess with a dangerous spider you know is there. You'll feel awfully bad if the duck is bitten and the venom causes swelling and the duck suffers and dies. Or you end up with a huge vet bill trying to save the duck.

Two of my six-week old pullets last summer tangled with a poisonous caterpillar and they suffered tremendously. I couldn't save them and they didn't even eat the thing, just pecked at it.

Yikes! This is making me nervous, we found a funnel web in our house the other night so the idea that my chickens may eat a funnel web makes me nervous

 

[azygous]

Yikes! This is making me nervous, we found a funnel web in our house the other night so the idea that my chickens may eat a funnel web makes me nervous

Most spiders are harmless. The poisonous ones, black widow and brown recluse are easily identified and usually don't live out in the open in your house. Spiders are friendly and even entertaining. I have a huge cat face spider living in my bathroom that I feed meal worms. Her web commands about two square feet of space and she poops on my sink counter, but she gets to live there safely. In summer, she catches all my annoying bugs that fly in through the window screen.

 

[Painted Calls]

What is your location, Neffy? Unless you're in Australia, "Funnel-web" spiders are harmless.

I'm assuming you mean "Black Widow" in your OP? I personally wouldn't want my critters munching on one. I doubt anything would happen, but there is that crazy chance that it could get a fang in somewhere.

If you are in North America, we have False Widows as well. Those are harmless.

The only spiders in North America that pose any sort of threat to us are Widows (Brown/Black) and Brown Recluse. Neither of these spiders are out to get you. In fact, Widows are webbers and prefer dark quiet areas. They do not leave their web.

A Recluse is named "Recluse" for a reason. They are reclusive. You will see a Widow by searching for one before you'll see a Recluse.

Many diagnosed "spider bites" are actually various staph infections. Spiders don't just bite for funsies. They bite to subdue prey and to defend themselves. Unless you're the size of prey, or trap one to your skin, they're not going to bite.

 

[cmom]

Not knowing where you live I'm assuming you mean a Black Widow spider. We have them here but they have never been an issue. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Most spiders are harmless. The poisonous ones, black widow and brown recluse are easily identified and usually don't live out in the open in your house. Spiders are friendly and even entertaining. I have a huge cat face spider living in my bathroom that I feed meal worms. Her web commands about two square feet of space and she poops on my sink counter, but she gets to live there safely. In summer, she catches all my annoying bugs that fly in through the window screen.

No. Friggin. Way.

 

[azygous]

Yes. Friggin. Way! I have friends who are also very fond of their cat face spiders. I've had mine since last summer when I discovered her living in my reading light shade by my bed. She was just a tiny baby. Her first orb web was only about six inches in diameter. She grew too big for the lamp shade and moved into the bathroom. We had a struggle at first because she built her web across the doorway and I kept getting caught in it. She figured that one out and moved to her present location which suits us both.