Toxic millipedes here :(

[Wyorp Rock]

LOL Now come on oldhen, I'm sure you have creepy crawlies in Wisconsin

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

LOL Now come on oldhen, I'm sure you have creepy crawlies in Wisconsin

But they don't get so big that they freak me out here. There are advantages to -40 below.

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

Dang I think I've seen a couple of those. If I turn over a rock or log you usually see millipedes and/or centipedes. I really don't know the difference.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Dang I think I've seen a couple of those. If I turn over a rock or log you usually see millipedes and/or centipedes. I really don't know the difference.

I don't know the difference either, I just know those red ones my dog wants to kill them, but they make him slobber and foam like no tomorrow, so those are a no-no.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't know the difference either, I just know those red ones my dog wants to kill them, but they make him slobber and foam like no tomorrow, so those are a no-no.

Centipedes are usually a yellow brown with longer jointed legs that come off their sides, and they are quick. Millipedes generally are dark brown or black, or red, and the legs are generally underneath them, and they are a bit slower. I was going to post a picture of a centipede but I just couldn't. I'm not a bug aficionado.

 

[CannedMonster]

I’m sorry you lost your girl!

This may help with ID:

I always remember that the millipede has way more legs and is kind of round like a long pill bug.

We have very small centipedes (about an inch long & red/orange colored) on our property and my chickens love to eat them. Haven’t had any problems.

 

[April’s Zoo]

Millipedes have “a million” (not really ) tiny legs legs and resemble a pillbug/ rolly-polly bug that is just reeeeaalllly long. And they roll up just like a pillbug too.
Centipedes have a lot less legs, are flatter and wider, and the legs stick out to the side. They also have pincers at their tail end, but millipedes do not. They look positively prehistoric.

Centipedes are venomous— although their venom won’t kill a human unless you are allergic. But being bitten by one will hurt like hell for several days and frequently ends up with a wound infection.

I always thought of centipedes as being a desert denizen, but last summer, I found one in my garden in Washington. It was about 75% smaller than any I’ve ever seen in AZ, but it was unmistakable what it was.

 

[April’s Zoo]

@ChooksNQuilts — I guess you posted while I was writing mine.
Great images you included! I was too lazy to look for pictures.

 

[CannedMonster]

@ChooksNQuilts — I guess you posted while I was writing mine.
Great images you included! I was too lazy to look for pictures.

No worries!
Google is my friend lol.
I live in SW Idaho and didn’t realize we had them here until we bought our property in August last year.
Was the one you found very small and a red/orange color?

 

[April’s Zoo]

http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=117&pid=1&gid=002846

I had to look up “toxic millipede” because I’ve never heard of such a thing.... I had 4 boys, and they actually played with them when they were little.....

Given the chemicals that the link above says the secrete from their bodies, I wouldn’t let any animal eat them.... I’m that I let my kids touch them!

Apparently the chemicals they give off are “to protect them from predators”.... I guess that’s because the predator is dead and can’t eat more of them?

Unfortunately, your chicken was the “predator” in this case....

I’m sorry for your loss, Granny.... but thank you for educating the rest of us.