Black Widows in the Coop

[CardinalSlug]

Need some advise. I've lost 4 chickens in 6 weeks to seemingly unknown causes EXCEPT that I've noticed a number of black widow spiders around lately. The oldest ones are only 4 years old and the coop is nearly predator proof. No evidence of illness or injury, which leaves me to conclude it must be the black widows.

Has anyone else had issues with black widows in their coops and how did you resolve the issue? I'm working on moving them to a temporary coop while I do a thorough cleaning (coinciding with renovating the run area), but want to make sure I approach the issue such that I work smarter and not just harder.

 

[jbj25]

But, since that is probably not an option, you could try misting your coop with white vinegar. You can dilute with distilled water if you want.
I don't know that if the black widows are killing your chickens or not, but it isn't good to have them around either way. White vinegar is a good spider repellant that I use to ward off black widows in different areas since they are a big problem in these parts.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

noticed a number of black widow spiders around lately

Around meaning specifically in your coop? If a spider were killing your chickens I would expect two things: symptoms of paralysis or swelling prior to death and for the spiders to be somewhere that the chickens are accidentally stepping on them. The spider is very unlikely to be hunting the chickens (more likely the other way around). One chicken being killed by a spider I could believe but four seems high. When you say your coop is “nearly” predator proof what does that mean? How are you finding the dead chickens (under the roost in the morning? Dead in the run? Etc).

 

[CardinalSlug]

View attachment 4176398

But, since that is probably not an option, you could try misting your coop with white vinegar. You can dilute with distilled water if you want.
I don't know that if the black widows are killing your chickens or not, but it isn't good to have them around either way. White vinegar is a good spider repellant that I use to ward off black widows in different areas since they are a big problem in these parts.

Haha, yeah, living in California not far from the 2020 CZU fire, a flame thrower treatment would definitely be frowned upon.

Thank you for the vinegar idea though. I will definitely give that a try.

 

[CardinalSlug]

Around meaning specifically in your coop? If a spider were killing your chickens I would expect two things: symptoms of paralysis or swelling prior to death and for the spiders to be somewhere that the chickens are accidentally stepping on them. The spider is very unlikely to be hunting the chickens (more likely the other way around). One chicken being killed by a spider I could believe but four seems high. When you say your coop is “nearly” predator proof what does that mean? How are you finding the dead chickens (under the roost in the morning? Dead in the run? Etc).

Around meaning in the coop as well as the run (and elsewhere around our property -we had our house treated a couple of months ago).

Regarding symptoms, I can't if there was paralysis/swelling or not as I simply do not monitor them closely enough to have noticed.

Of the four, the circumstances of two of them are what lead me to think it is the black widows.
1) I found one of them at night in the poop pile beneath the perch in the corner of the coop (where I found a number of black widows -and big ones too). They don't usually go into the bedding area except after I clean it, so it seems she died and fell.
2) I found one in the nesting box in the corner of the coop, where she seemed to have just keeled over. That's another area I have seen (and at various points, cleaned out) black widows.

The run is predator proof in that it is entirely enclosed (side, top, and partially buried so can't dig under) of with thick wire fencing in which the gaps between wires are less than 2"x4". Also, nothing seen on the cameras entering the run or coop. So the only predator in our area that can get into the run (but not the coop) is a small skunk, but our girls are too big for them now.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I wonder if they are eating them and if that can be toxic. I have never seen one in my coop but we have plenty. Once you get the coop cleaned out if you lose another chicken definitely take some photos to post here. You might also consider sending one for necropsy to verify.

 

[Appalachickens]

Any chance something (other than spiders) is getting in through the 2x4" openings?

 

[CardinalSlug]

Any chance something (other than spiders) is getting in through the 2x4" openings?

Only small skunks -I've seen them on the camera, but the hens are much too big for them to mess with. I suppose snakes, but haven't seen any of them around the property.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I find black widows in my coop often and have never had an issue with my chicken's health in that sense. I dont think they are aggressive spiders, more if you grab them.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I wonder if they are eating them and if that can be toxic. I have never seen one in my coop but we have plenty. Once you get the coop cleaned out if you lose another chicken definitely take some photos to post here. You might also consider sending one for necropsy to verify.

I think they can eat them but mine refuse. I once killed one and it fell to the floor. They all inspected but turned away.