Cockroaches getting in my chicken feeder at night.

[chuckzoo]

I have cockroaches getting into my girls feeder at night and there are dropping in the feed. I am afraid they will get sick. How can I prevent this?

 

[pips&peeps]

Buy a brand new metal garbage can and keep the lid on it at all times.

 

[2boxers]

I think my chickens would love the supplemental protein, and I think they would get lots of exercise from chasing them around.

I would get very grossed out from sticking my hand in to get feed and getting a handful of bugs.

 

[Sissy]

Put about 5-6 bay leaves and you wont be bothered.
for a 50 lb.sack
also keep the lid on. I use this method for all our
human dry food stuff thats stored in my pantry.
No flour bugs or anythiing..and borax all around the house
keeps it all in check.

 

[chuckzoo]

I have the chicken food in the house with no cockroaches. The problem is they are getting into the feeder that I have hanging in the run (under their coop) at night when the chickens are asleep upstairs in the coop.

I don't want to take the feeder away at night because they get up at day break (before me) and start eating.

 

[Tweeza]

I'm having the same problem in the rabbit barn.

 

[purpletree23]

I would buy a lot of cockroach traps. I can't think of anything else that would work without harming the chickens. Is the coop pretty air tight? You could relocate the chickens for a few days and take out the food and water and bedding and use one or 2 of those insect foggers. Then air it out for a day and put in new bedding and move waterer and feeder back inside. I don't think there would be too much residue. If you were concerned with the residue you could cover those things with news paper.

I'm sure others will have more suggestions. Good luck.

 

[2boxers]

Will the roaches harm the chickens?

 

[purpletree23]

Roaches carry a lot of horrible diseases that affect other animals and people. Best to get rid of them.

 

[Sillystunt]

my chickens eat the large american ones(palmetto bugs)they love them,good protien and are still alive~