Cockroaches getting in my chicken feeder at night.

[2boxers]

Mine eat them, too.

 

[LesGan]

When I need an insecticide around my chix I use Orange Guard which was recommended as being organic and safe around children and animals. The active ingredient is oil of orange and it appears to be effective when I have had to use it. I ordered it though the internet. Leslie

 

[Lucycollie]

Quote:
I'm curious - what diseases? I know that that they can foul food and some people are allergic/can have asthma attacks if exposed to their leavings & shed skins but that's about it. Don't get me wrong - I hate cockroaches with a passion but I'm a stickler for facts.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
Thanks! I found a local source for Orange Guard. I sue Bengal in the house but didn't want to use it near my chickens.

 

[purpletree23]

Cockroaches can carry staph, strep, dysentery ( diarrhea) e. choli, typhoid and gastroenteritis (swelling of the digestive system).

If their feces are mixed with dust, gets airborne and it gets into a persons/chickens lungs that can also make a person very ill.

 

[edb]

Back to my exterminator days.The pathogens named (staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, "typhoid" {Salmonella typhi}) are actually extremely rare in "dry" animal feed, they all quickly die when exposed to direct sun light. By far the best and safest way to kill roaches is to sprinkle "BORIC ACID" where the roaches walk. Boric Acid is very safe to use around animals.

 

[chuckzoo]

Thanks for the tip on the Boric Acid.

I found this website;

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/boricacid.htm

 

[Danceswithchicks]

Keep the lid on and keep a light on in the coop at night. The chickens will get used to it and roaches hate light.

 

[willt]

I support the boric acid approach. I also use catnip. There's a chemical in it that roaches hate. If you still have a problem after trying these tricks, you may want to call a pest control technician. They'll know what to do.