Strange caterpillar may have nearly killed two of my chicks

[Clarence62]

That’s so sad. You worked so hard to help her and figure out what happened. I learned a lot from reading this. So sorry.

 

[azygous]

Thanks to everyone who expressed condolences. It sure does help to have such support from people who understand the emotional loss some of us chicken keepers experience when we lose chickens we have come to cherish.

In going on eight decades of life, I still am tempted to get complacent in my knowledge and experience. In my own flock, I've encountered a variety of infections, an avian virus, numerous serious injuries, egg binding, exposure to toxic substances, wildlife attacks, and some mystery ailments. But never have I encountered something of this nature where a bug gets dropped out of the sky at the feet of baby chicks and it turns out to be deadlier than anything I've dealt with previously.

It's a lot like a meteor falling on the run. How does one prepare and take preventative measures for such things?

Special thanks to @coach723 for steering me toward identifying the monster caterpillar behind this tragedy. That was truly a game changer.

 

[Folly's place]

Thanks to @coach723 from me too!
Mary

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Sorry for your losses!

 

[azygous]

I found another one of these deadly caterpillars. It was in an egg bucket hanging on the outside of the coop nest box doors, and it appeared to be dead. It seems to have fallen in there from the pine tree just a few feet away, the same tree under which I discovered the other one.

I'm now going to feel safe in assuming these caterpillars are in the pine tree, and I'm keeping my chickens in for the time being to avoid a repeat of the earlier tragedy.

Next week I will call my university extension office and get their take on this. I may run over there and show them the caterpillar which is in my freezer.

It's a bit upsetting to think more of these deadly critters may be lurking in the branches overhead. The chickens may need to give up free ranging until the first freeze.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Let us know what the university says. That's scary stuff! Just goes to show that there are more dangers out there than just those with talons, claws, and fangs!

 

[azygous]

Meanwhile, I did a search on this caterpillar and found that the Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillar does indeed inhabit the ponderosa pines in Colorado. That was something I wanted the university extension guys to verify.

Then I found a very useful site https://www.nola.com/entertainment_...cle_ba924b11-64d4-5970-bb46-8d76ee77e620.html that gives the rest of the info I need.

It seems I already have on hand the recommended insecticide to spray the pines in the vicinity of the coop and run - good old Elector PSP. I also have on hand a handy tree sprayer that attaches to a garden hose. I'm in business! Tomorrow I spray!

 

[Folly's place]

Then you get to pick up all those dead critters, yum!
Do they come in large numbers, or just a few at a time?
Mary

 

[azygous]

The article I linked to says they will clump in large numbers on the tips of tree branches. They are migrating down the trees to the ground at this time of the summer and last until December. So much for my hope of the first frost killing them.

Elector goes a long way. I will climb up onto the roof of the coop and run tomorrow and spray the living daylights out of all the surrounding pines. Yeah, I hope to see it raining caterpillars. I have a shop vac that will take care of that phase of the operation. I will post anything entertaining and interesting that comes of this.

 

[azygous]

I sprayed, three teaspoons of Elector spinosad made two and a half gallons, enough to spray five trees. I've been checking all day and the ground is not littered with dead caterpillars. Maybe two was all there were. I would be pleased if this were so.