Chickens Eating Black Widow Spiders

[hollyertley]

Oh absolutely. It is more common than you think. It is more commonly a stomach ulcer. The body has way of fighting it but any mass amount of stomach acid spilled into the body is immediately deadly. That's why having acid reflux go untreated is so dangerous. My uncle had to have part of his esophagus cut out from acid reflux just a few years ago. It can quickly cause cancer. And stomach acid also can become problematic for those who purge themselves often. Mucous membranes can only produce so much neutralizing mucus so fast before the acid starts cause problems. If you ever have any questions about human or animal bodies feel free to ask. I have been having DTs since I stopped teaching science.

 

[roadrunner0]

Certain things do carry diseases that can harm the flock.. Snails, flies and worms for instance can transfer diseases from wild bird dung to a chicken as they feed on it.. We give a course of antibiotics for 3 days in spring and fall during migration time.. Our flock efficiently clears the property of any bug they find including tree ants.. Last fall when I was cleaning out the garden a large tree spider ran out from under a pile of rakings when I moved it.. Our yard guarding rooster Chuckie spied that thing from 20 feet away and pounced on it.. We could not stop laughing when we saw him running around like his tail was on fire with that things legs wiggling in his beak.. Another time the cat had caught a mole and was parading it back to the porch to exchange for cat treats when Harriet our #1 hen spied this.. She chased that cat all over the yard until she was able to steal that mole from the cat.. They have not been on good terms since and the cat goes out of her way to avoid the chickens now.. The cat used to sleep on the wood pile or back porch but now prefers the roof..

 

[hollyertley]

hahahahahaha

That cat had better be glad it wasn't a Guinea. The roof wouldn't even be safe. My grandma's Guineas loved to hang out on the roof. There are always disease carrying critters to worry about but as far as ingesting venomous critters the chickens would be fine. I can't wait until mine get to play in the yard. I have bugs galore out here in the boondocks where we live.

 

[roadrunner0]

Mother nature and evolution have achieved many safeguards for things like this.. Chickens seem to have a cast iron stomach as they eat rocks and dirt and have a sixth sense when it comes to what is good to eat.. Once I get all my vegetable seed sprouted in the greenhouse for the garden I think I might use the germination heat pad to make a home brew incubator.. The 70 degree day must have stimulated them because the girls layed 20 large eggs today.. Have heard people say that they loose some hatchlings because they can't break out of the shell.. Think when I an going to collect some for this purpose I will go light on calcium the week before to make the shells a bit thinner.. My wife will think I flipped my lid as I already have 100 other irons in the fire.. Been using fireplace ashes in a 5 gallon pan so they have a dust bath.. It is a lot cheaper than the diametreous earth sprinkled on them in the winter.. OOPS I am rambling don't want to hijack the thread..

 

[TheCat30]

I just lost 2 a little while ago to a black widow spider. I had no idea nothing was wrong with them. This morning they seemed fine and it was a little cool so they were all puffed up and laying on the ground (all 6 of them). I walked by there coop this evening just before the sun was setting and saw 2 of them looking motionless and laying funny on the ground. I went to open the side door to the coop and there was a huge black widow spider that had a web attached to the back side of the door and one of the roosts. I might have another one that got bit later than the first 2, but can't find a bite on her through all her feathers. They were only 2 months old. Trying to find out what to do to help here since all the vet offices are closed to call and get her in there for help.

 

[fruitflocktail]

My chicken just ate a big black widow and seems to be just fine with it. I know they also eat scorpions so I don't see why it would be a big deal.. Now if she were to eat a rattlesnake... As I live in the Mohave that would be scary... Not sure if the venom is similar in reaction.

 

[BubbaLikesIt]

I asked the question about Black Widows and my chickens eating them and got no response. Does it hurt them? I would say no. I have seen my chickens eat a multitude of Black Widow spiders and it doesn't seem to hurt them in the least. Just the other day I watched a BSL gobble down 2 big black widows out of the firewood pile and one of them was huge. Jemima was happy as a clam after eating them with no ill results. I guess chickens can eat poisonous spiders at will. Go figure.

 

[chicky1016]

My 17 weeker welsummer pullet just ate a black widow and I immediately went to Google. Good to know she'll be fine! (This is the same one who eats frogs daily too!)

 

[lazy gardener]

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. In this case, there was an old chicken who swallowed a.... It wiggled and giggled and jiggled inside 'er.

 

[thrivalist]

Please try introducing praying mantis and even wasps instead of Raid. Please. Also perhaps food grade diatomaceous earth (though that too kills beneficial insects but less so or boric acid: both are more local and physical than biochemical such as Raid).