chickens and black widows??

[katydidit]

Its starting to get to that time of year around here- and even though we have a pest control company come spray every 2 months, I swear my backyard is being overrun with spiders- garden spiders (those nasty black fuzzy spiders with white spots that jump) wolf spiders, andddd black widows (I've killed 2 in the last week...)

That being said, our girls are almost 3 weeks old, and with the weather being in the 70s-80s already, we plan on moving them in a couple of weeks...

I've read that chickens will eat spiders with no hesitation, but will they be affected if there is a widow in their coop and they try to eat it?? Anyone with experience here would be great to chime in! Thanks guys

 

[Little_Rooster66]

Good Question... Watching.

 

[panner123]

Once the chicks get about 12 weeks old, yu won't have a spider problem. Send the pest control company down the road. The chemicals will do your chickens more harm than good. Let the chickens control the bugs. If it moves and doesn't eat the chicken, the chicken will eat it.

 

[katydidit]

even a venomous spider?

Anyone ever have a problem with them? I'm assuming if they can cause serious harm/death to a human, they would be able to do the same to a chicken?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

All spiders are venomous. I used to have black widows in my backyard, but the chickens have eaten them all.

 

[CluckyJay]

I'm pretty sure its safe for them to ingest the venom. Like snake venom being ingested. http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/venanimals/ven_spiders.html Don't think mine have ever died from it.

 

[katydidit]

I realize all chickens are to a certain definition venomous...

Just wondering if their fangs were able to penetrate a chickens epidermis (too much feather fluff for them to get through?) I'll take the responses as a good sign... The girls have already helped with pest control in the yard (HUGE snail population here too, lol) I'm just going to tell myself that they will eagerly take care of the spider problem as well

 

[Thegrayeyedgirl]

Quote:

 

[harvster]

Black widows have very short fangs and, although maybe not impossible, it is highly unlikely a chicken could get bitten.

 

[edgroger]

Quote:
wait.. what about tadpoles

hmm....regarding the spiders venom, can someone give a detailed explanation as to why the venom doesn't affect the chicken?