Hermit Crabs- Mean mothers... maybe someone has some ideas?

[CabritaChicks]

This may seem nuts, but....

I have a main coop with its attached run (in the 'my coop' link below my username), and then there’s the larger free-range enclosure (roughly 50x40 feet+). Inside that bigger space is a smaller (prefab), separate coop/run that I use for the youngest birds — the “chicklets,” or microchicks — positioned close to the main coop so everyone can see and hear each other safely. The newest group of six is now about six weeks old, but they’re still far too small to be integrated with the older flock.

My unexpected challenge right now isn’t the chickens — it’s the hermit crabs. The ground around/in the coop is absolutely crawling with them (they live underground- not even hadrware cloth keeps them out), all very much alive and on the move.

We end up relocating around 300 hermit crabs a day just to keep the space manageable. I’m trying to find a balance, because I don’t want to use anything that could harm the chickens or the tortoises (rescues), but the sheer volume of crabs turning the coop area into their personal buffet is becoming a daily logistical adventure.

I have been scouring the internet- but all I seem to find is 'how to spoil your hermit crabs'.... not 'how to make the bloody things away'.

If anyone has any ideas? please let me know!

... I need these little chicklets to hang on for a bit longer (few more weeks) before full integration. So for now, this is a real- reality; now that the igunans left them alone.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Sounds like free protein for your flock unless they are protected by law.

 

[MROO]

Can you raise the crate above ground and put a smooth barrier around the lower edge, like plastic or something else the little buggers can't climb up?

 

[CabritaChicks]

Can you raise the crate above ground and put a smooth barrier around the lower edge, like plastic or something else the little buggers can't climb up?

We tried that- we also put hardware cloth 6 inches deep (cant go further as we only have victory bedrock.

The live underground- and somehow they just brorrow under and come up... I dont understand because a pick-axe cant get through the ground- but these find a way.

Sounds like free protein for your flock unless they are protected by law.

At this point- no one would know- cant get near enough- not sure if they are- they do make soil. But they pinch super hard, and eat the chicken feed before the chickens get to it. Im troubleshoting- but maybe im missing something....

Legally I cant pour a concrete slab (that they could see from our bay in boats). but that would stop them from climbing under/through.

 

[MROO]

We tried that- we also put hardware cloth 6 inches deep (cant go further as we only have victory bedrock.

The live underground- and somehow they just brorrow under and come up... I dont understand because a pick-axe cant get through the ground- but these find a way.


At this point- no one would know- cant get near enough- not sure if they are- they do make soil. But they pinch super hard, and eat the chicken feed before the chickens get to it. Im troubleshoting- but maybe im missing something....

Legally I cant pour a concrete slab (that they could see from our bay in boats). but that would stop them from climbing under/through.

If concrete stops them, how about laying bricks or cinder blocks under the crate? No mortar, just end-to-end bricks. That would still let water and waste move through, but should stop the crabs from coming up from under.
You could also try a hanging feeder. Your chicks look tall enough to reach what a hermit crab couldn't.

 

[MROO]

Maybe it's time to research "Hermit Crab Recipes" ... either for you or your chickens!

 

[FunClucks]

Since they're digging under, might try putting hardware cloth over the entire floor of your run, and securing it well to the bottom of the smaller area cage. Then put 6" or more of mulch, etc over top for your chickens to walk on. You can put down welded wire first and secure hardware cloth to that if they are eating through the hardware cloth. Then put at least 12" of flat slippery surface around the outside of the caged area so the crabs can't climb up and get inside of it through the bars if they're coming from outside. Old galvanized steel flat roof panels will work. If you are trying to go deep enough with hardware cloth (vertical buried apron) to keep them from burrowing, you'll need to go at least a foot and a half down, possibly 2 ft or more (I know you can't dig, just saying from the crab perspective).

There's a product called Dig Defense that they sell at hardware stores in the united states and maybe on amazon that you might consider - Offset it by half an inch, and use two per area covered to make the area between posts 1/2" or smaller. You hammer it in - it's like a strip of connected sturdy stakes. It will stay in place better than hardware cloth, or consider landscape spikes/stakes like used to secure landscape cloth - you'd have to put these 1/2" apart - the dig defence will work better if you can get it.

Also, use metal zip ties to secure the hardware cloth to the metal cage you have.

Since they're so attracted to the chicken feed, you might consider baiting them elsewhere in addition to hardware cloth over the entire bottom of the run. You can use almost anything to bait them - chicken feed, raw meat, etc. You may wish to change it up until you find what works best. You'll need to clean out your trap often, but at least they'd be after your chickens less. They're probably smelling both the feed and the poop. Anything you can do to reduce the quantities and therefore smell of those should help. Removing feed at night, making sure there are no spills, using hanging feeders. Picking up poop religiously. Make sure posts holding bird perches up are plastic and slippery and extend at least a foot off the ground.

I had multiple hermit crabs as pets for years, I know they can take chick legs and feet off, and they burrow really well. For the size of crabs you have there, half inch hardware cloth should be good. The smaller crabs won't be able to take off chick feet. You have some large ones.