Using grub killer around my chickens

[kroels]

Hi everyone! We just got our chicks last summer, so this is going to be the first summer they are roaming free on our 3 acre lot! But we have a huge grub/mole problem. Last summer we put down grub killer and traps for the moles, but I'm not sure if we should do either of those around our chickens! We only have 4 girls, so there's way too many grubs for them to eat on their own! Is it possible for me to put down the grub killer and keep the girls in their run for a week or so? Or what else can I do to get rid of grubs and keep my chickens safe!?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

We have lots of moles and just tolerate the mole hills.

It is difficult to put anything poisonous down with chickens around.

 

[BrooklynBirds]

You might be surprised how many grubs they can eat. I would recommend letting them have at 'em before you decide that applying toxic substances to your land is necessary. Also, have you considered ducks? They are also voracious bug-eaters. IMO, harnessing natural systems is vastly preferable to an "industrial" solution. Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not consider using insecticide on any land that my chickens would be on. There are some bacterial grub killers that would be safe, and there's a nematode which can be used on certain grubs. If you live in the right climate, the nematodes can be applied once, and will then persist in the soil for more than one season.

 

[mermaids]

Grub killer... aren't chickens already grub killers? That's one reason I wanted them, bug patrol. I would try letting them do their job first. By the way, does anyone know how old chicks should be before you allow them to eat bugs?

As for the moles, they are so hard to get rid of, drives me nuts. If you kill them or trap them, another mole just moves into the hole. I know someone who was able to get rid of his by digging them out and rotating crops on them for about 3 years. But I was thinking, does it work if you fill the holes with gravel?

 

[enola]

What were you planning to use to kill the grubs?

The moles will disappear when the grubs are erradicated.

 

[BrooklynBirds]

Grub killer... aren't chickens already grub killers? That's one reason I wanted them, bug patrol. I would try letting them do their job first. By the way, does anyone know how old chicks should be before you allow them to eat bugs?

As for the moles, they are so hard to get rid of, drives me nuts. If you kill them or trap them, another mole just moves into the hole. I know someone who was able to get rid of his by digging them out and rotating crops on them for about 3 years. But I was thinking, does it work if you fill the holes with gravel?

As for age of chicks before they can eat bugs, I would hazard a guess to say from day 1 on out. What would a chick eat if it were with its momma hen out on pasture? We shouldn't be afraid to trust natural instinct; chickens have evolved for millions of years before industrially-formulated feed came along. See, e.g., Harvey Ussery, The Small Scale Poultry Flock. I would even be willing to bet that the sooner you introduce a wild diet to your chicks, the fewer digestive problems they will have. In the book cited, Ussery states that he never had a problem with pasting up with chicks out on pasture with their broody.

Regarding the moles, you could consider purchasing and training a terrier. They make excellent vermint hunters. See, e.g.: http://modernfarmer.com/2014/06/rat-terriers-rodents-pests-killing-terriermen/

Really, almost anything can be accomplished on a homestead/farm/backyard using natural systems and symbioses. Don't believe the ad-man!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

As for age of chicks before they can eat bugs, I would hazard a guess to say from day 1 on out. What would a chick eat if it were with its momma hen out on pasture? We shouldn't be afraid to trust natural instinct; chickens have evolved for millions of years before industrially-formulated feed came along. See, e.g., Harvey Ussery, The Small Scale Poultry Flock. I would even be willing to bet that the sooner you introduce a wild diet to your chicks, the fewer digestive problems they will have. In the book cited, Ussery states that he never had a problem with pasting up with chicks out on pasture with their broody.

Regarding the moles, you could consider purchasing and training a terrier. They make excellent vermint hunters. See, e.g.: http://modernfarmer.com/2014/06/rat-terriers-rodents-pests-killing-terriermen/

Really, almost anything can be accomplished on a homestead/farm/backyard using natural systems and symbioses. Don't believe the ad-man!

I don't disagree at all as I am of the same mindset regarding replication of the "natural" diet they would be consuming if raised with a broody outdoors - however, I do think it is important to make mention that if following this approach you must be sure to provide ALL of what would be available to the chicks outdoors, meaning a source of digestive grit. Given that many of the BYCers are first time chicken raisers not everyone would understand that providing grit is something one needs to do when feeding a diet that is not solely water-soluble commercial feed product (ie starter) and it is also not something readily available for the chicks to pick up in most brooder setups being used by those same folks.

 

[BrooklynBirds]

I don't disagree at all as I am of the same mindset regarding replication of the "natural" diet they would be consuming if raised with a broody outdoors - however, I do think it is important to make mention that if following this approach you must be sure to provide ALL of what would be available to the chicks outdoors, meaning a source of digestive grit. Given that many of the BYCers are first time chicken raisers not everyone would understand that providing grit is something one needs to do when feeding a diet that is not solely water-soluble commercial feed product (ie starter) and it is also not something readily available for the chicks to pick up in most brooder setups being used by those same folks.

Excellent point -- thank you for adding that to the discussion! Yes, chick-sized grit is absolutely necessary if feeding anything other than starter crumbles/pellets. I have been using starter mash (finely cracked seeds and grains) from Scratch & Peck, and have been providing the same company's chick-sized granite grit free choice and sprinkled over the feed once a day. Chicks are thriving at 1 week old with nary a pasty-butt (save for one who had an issue for the first two days).

I would add in addition that the chicks seem to have an over-active attraction to the grit; so I think it is important to moderate the amount you give or they could over-indulge (though I stand to be corrected if any one can say from experience that chicks in a brooder will self-regulate on the consumption of free choice grit). That is the other thing to keep in mind when raising chicks as they would be under a momma hen, but without the momma hen -- you lose the training and correction that the momma would provide. We as the caretakers need to fill that gap.

 

[kroels]

Well we decided to return the grub killer and just see how many grubs the girls can eat! We are also considering getting a couple of ducks! Thank you for your help!