caterpillars

[lazy gardener]

Have you given your girls caterpillars? My peony is covered with webs and fuzzy caterpillars... kind of like tent caterpillars. I'd like to cut the webs out and throw them into the run. Not sure if Peony or a glut of those caterpillars would be toxic. Hope to hear from you all today, so I can take action on those nasty bugs before night fall!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My chickens will NOT eat caterpillars. They watch them go by and don't even lurch forward towards them.

 

[lazy gardener]

thankyou. I've also received the same advice from folks on the Maine thread. I'll torch those webs!

 

[centrarchid]

Some caterpillars are tasty, some not. Generally brown and green without fuzz are tasty. Fuzzies may or may not. Those with bright colors or spines taste crappy or are toxic, sometimes even poisonous. The birds will figure it out very quickly. Mine generally don't like fuzzy ones unless they have been wetted first.