Black widows in the coop. Bit me.

[Woods-Witch]

Hi everyone.

Today has been a terrible chicken day for me. This afternoon, my weak, sickly runt Delaware chick died in her sleep

This is the second night that my two pullets have spent outside. I'm so worried that something will somehow get them that I only got three hours sleep last night. I went out to check on them before bed and I found a black widow near the nesting box and a second one near the light switch

The coop is adjacent to the shed which has exploded in a black widow population. This is my first Summer at my current address so I'm just discovering this. Not sure if I was bit in the shed or the coop but I was bit. It's my third time in a year. I'm worried for my two little pullets. I'm too scared to remove the spiders right now in the dark because I'm not feeling too hot at the moment due to the bite and don't want a second one.

How do I get rid of these hateful spiders during the day? I know I can't spray poison. Is there any way to use DE to get them out of my coop? If I spray poison in the shed will it be too risky being right next to the coop? I live in the hills of Central California so I know that there will be lots of black widows in my future but I'm worried about my chickens and my family. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks BYC.

-Woods-Witch

 

[Stiggy]

depends on the type of poison you use. I doubt de will do much good on the spiders. if you can move them inside or away until this is fixed

 

[MontgomeryTX]

Spiders have exoskeletons so the DE should work.

 

[GuineaFowling]

If you live in the country or if your city permits it, I would suggest adding a guinea fowl to your flock. I have guineas and my black widow populations are nearly extinct. The guineas love them and eat them up. I remember when my guineas were keets, a giant wolf spider ran at them and they ripped it in half and ate it. They were only 4 day old babies.
At first I was afraid that eating them would harm the guineas but nothing happened and my guineas are turning seven. If you plan on getting a guinea I would suggest getting them as keets. This way they are tame when they are adults and they wont fly off. Also it will get them used to the chicks. Or you could keep your chicks in the house or a small kennel if you fear the spiders will harm them. Wait till your chicks grow up and they will probably eat them though mine dont.

 

[Stiggy]

the de has never worked for our spiders here, they seem to always be in an abundance, but some ripcord and diesel and some other stuff that I cant remember the name of kills them almost on contact, only it stinks like hell

 

[NEChickenNoob]

If you got bit by a no joke Black Widow, I would definitely see a doctor. They are extremely toxic and can cause serious health problems. I was bit as a 12 yr old and know the true pain of a BW. The venom is extremely hard on your hard and can cause heart attacks, strokes and severely weakens your immune system. I had a Great Grandfather die of pneumonia that was a preclusion to a BW bite. He was in his 40's. Take them serious as they CAN kill you even if only indirectly.

 

[Mehjr10]

Buy some Permethrin10 concentrate and spray the coop.. Let it dry the birds will be ok with it..

 

[scoutmaster323]

I used 5cc of permethrin in a gallon of water and sprayed around the outside of the brooder, not directly on the birds yesterday morning and the 2 of the 3 - 4 week old guinee keets had expired this morning. Are you sure it is safe to use around keets. They have been doing so well.

 

[torilovessmiles]

I had some dairy-cattle safe fly spray I used on my horse and goats before, with some crazy knockdown power. I sprayed a mosquito and it was instantly on the ground! It says it's safe to use around chickens. It's really high in pyrethrins, but it's an aerosol so I believe it would be fine if you let it air out and removed the dead spiders before letting your girls back in. Just spray the spiders and any egg sacks directly with it, it doesn't take much. I can't remember what it's called, unfortunately, but I got it at TSC. DE won't work because of the exoskeleton and the size of the spiders.
Any other spiders, I'd say let them live, they kill bugs. But Black Widows gotta go!

 

[kristaschics15]

I almost lost a toe to a black widow bite. Take good care of that! Read your pesticide labels and it should lead you in the right direction and if you have to move your birds for a day or two it will be ok! Most of them are ok to spray with them in there.