Just found cockroaches the size of hamsters in my coop. HELLLPPP!!!!!

[Barrdwing]

Quote:
Yup, as a matter of fact, I did!

Did you hear about the oopsy that the Chem building had back in the early '90s? They accidentally let some chemicals get down into the sewer system one morning, and next thing people knew, big roaches were boiling up out of the manhole outside of Shields Library! (I think it was the one in the bike circle.) Anyway, they called out the campus fire department and a hazmat team; I can just imagine those poor guys staring down at the buggy hysteria and thinking, "They do NOT pay us enough for this!"

Oh, you had them in your shower?! That's awful! I don't blame you a bit for being very, very upset about that--I think it would be enough to give me a complex about bathing!

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
No hram, just having fun. You would not believe how many people still think we live in igloos and drive dog sleds to work. Last time I built a ice cave was and emergency with a broke down sled in a storm in the mountains and all it really was, was a big hole licked in the snow with a sleeping bag in it. Not fun but I survived
It is funny how backward some folks are about Alaska, I've even been ask if we speak english here! Don't care what you think of Palin but she was really opened some eyes to how beautiful and deadly this place can be. If you want to see the ice hotel, look up Chena Hot Springs Resort and you should have some interesting pictures

 

[Ogress]

Quote:
Yup, as a matter of fact, I did!

Did you hear about the oopsy that the Chem building had back in the early '90s? They accidentally let some chemicals get down into the sewer system one morning, and next thing people knew, big roaches were boiling up out of the manhole outside of Shields Library! (I think it was the one in the bike circle.) Anyway, they called out the campus fire department and a hazmat team; I can just imagine those poor guys staring down at the buggy hysteria and thinking, "They do NOT pay us enough for this!"

Oh, you had them in your shower?! That's awful! I don't blame you a bit for being very, very upset about that--I think it would be enough to give me a complex about bathing!

I graduated in '90, so I'm glad I missed that! I went to work at Sandoz Agro where they kept colonies of cockroaches and other disgusting bugs. We were having trouble with the phone lines so someone from Bell came out and cut an access hole into the wall of one of the laboratories and all these cockroaches came spilling out! He went screaming out of the building like his pants were on fire! Didn't even come back in to retrieve his toolbox! We were told the roaches had to be under control before they come back. Extra funny because the sculpture on the lawn was the chemical structure for the active ingredient in cockroach birth control!

I had a creepy job there too - dissecting the pineal gland out of giant moths, I first had to go into the insect room and catch them. This was the same time that "Silence of the Lambs" was out, and they used the same ones in the film, manduca sexta though they called it something else in the movie.

 

[TulsaFeathers]

This thread has entertained my family for quite a while now. They're watching TV but I'll start laughing and everyone in the room wants to know why I'm laughing. I think I've read this entire thread out loud.

We've got camel crickets in Oklahoma that look like aliens. They absolutely creep me out, and they pop when you step on them. Gross! I'm new to raising chickens so I'm hoping that the chickens will be the predators to anihilate these awful critters.

 

[mommas_got_peeps]

OMW this was hilarious and as a Florida Transplant up to Ohio I have unfond memories of Palmetto buts the size of small ponies that we used to saddle up and ride around the everglades LOL... I hate those bugs.. shuddering as I write. blech.

Hope you get rid of your infestation.. Just saw a whole show on an apartment building infested with them and to what great lengths they had to go to try and rid themselves of them. The roaches won and the family moved out.

Good luck

 

[Barrdwing]

Quote:

Oh, I just love biologist humor! That's absolutely classic!

 

[laughingdog]

@bryan, an ex and her family were from alaska, so heard alot about the facts and fiction. funny and sad how gullible most are.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Quote:
Good luck with that!!!! My chickens do not get near those things and I absolutely detest those camel crickets more than any other bug...cept roaches! They move TOWARD you when you go to shoo them or step on them..No thanks!!!!!!!!
The ones here get huge too and they love crawl spaces!
If you can get your chickens to eat them, I'll be the first in line to congratulate you!

Mine look at me like "YOU eat them!!" whenever I see them around and try to get them to catch them!!!

 

[bywaterdog]

Palmetto bugs? no, here in New Orleans we call them "Creole Butterflies" it just sounds nicer (tourist town you know= no bad roach talk.)

My family has been here in town from the 1720's and we do know a lot about these creatures. A great non-chemical way to get the population down ( ya ain't never gonna get rid of them) is to make "roach traps" and place them outdoors near your coop.

Items needed:

A large can, or gallon glass jar.

Shorting ( solid or spray type)

Sweet soda- any flavor

Spray or wipe the inside of your can or jar with the shorting then pour a inch or two of soda in the bottom. The "Creole Butterflies/Palmetto Bugs" will crawl in and drown
when they can't climb out.

Now for the icky part- don't empty the trap, the smell of the roaches will attract more and more to their deaths.

If it rains cover the trap, you will need to clean it out every week 1/2 or so, as you will have dozens and dozens of dead ones by then.
The traps will over time lower your yard infestations.

Good Luck

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
and provide food for the chickens.