Chickens Died After Eating Wolf Spiders without Killing First

[smilinggoat]

We unfortunately have had two cases in which our chickens have been witnessed by my husband as having glumped down wolf spiders without pecking and killing them first. Both of these died of the same symptoms within 24 hours. They became discoordinated, started vomiting, had breathing difficulties and died very quickly. We don't know if these little bastards bit them on the way down internally or what, but it is too much of a coincidence to not be related. Both of these are basement pet chickens and we don't usually like pesticides but have had it and are moving them out of the area temporarily and spraying the living daylights out of the area. Nothing will be left alive. We aren't losing another of our pets to this. It has always happened when their cage has been opened for scooping (done 3 times a day here) and they hop out and grab one of those buggers before Mark can stop them. So sad. We just lost Harriett the other day to this and poor Henrietta her cage-mate is in mourning and keeps looking for her. There are a ton of them down there and last night Mark starting killing them and one was not splattered too much for ID-ing and that is what it is. That combined with very greedy chickens spelled disaster so be careful if you see them.

 

[thebanthams]

strange , I dont know how they will die from it !. Since you dont like to spray for them you will have to keep looking and kill those spiders with shovels. They maybe a all natural spider spray, but you will have to look up on line. sorry for your loss.

 

[smilinggoat]

Thank you so much. I was thinking a similar thing after I wrote this that maybe there is something natural that would kill them. Mark said that he killed a bunch last night. Scary thought.

 

[dainerra]

I doubt it was the spiders. Mine eat wolf spiders all the time, one gulp and the smaller ones are gone. And now that we are in AR, they occasionally take a peck at the tarantulas. But I've never had a bird die from it.

 

[theoldchick]

Can you show us a picture of the spiders?

 

[Gomes Bantams]

Yes, that would be most helpful. I have had my hens eat Wolf and Black Widow spiders, and non have died from it. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Do you use DE in your coop? Mixing it in with all bedding and sprinkling it around will kill all kinds of bugs and it is non toxic.

 

[smilinggoat]

We have had others eat these giving them a quick killing peck, but I just refuse to believe it is a coincidence that both of the chickens ate them without killing first and each time it was witnessed and they both died of the same symptoms within 24 hours.

 

[smilinggoat]

No, haven't used this, but might be something to look into. These guys have both done this in the basement when they have been out of the cage but it certainly wouldn't hurt to keep anything from being in there considering.

 

[smilinggoat]

Even so, the cage she was in, just in case, is being completely disinfected before anyone is allowed back in it. It does get disinfected on a regular basis anyway, we use pine bedding which is picked using a cat litter type scoop three times a day. Their place is about the cleanest spot around and they go out in a penned area in nice weather. Better to cover all bases when these are our beloved pets as they are. Especially considering that her cage mate is the baby (Henrietta - shown as the avatar on out profile in my husband's arms)

Speaking of this chicken - We have been fighting bumble foot for ages now. It is almost like a warty plug in the bottom of her foot that when pulled out leaves a hole. We have even had to used styptic powder to get the bleeding to stop at times when treating. She couldn't walk on it until I would pull it out, pack it with antibiotics and wrap with gauze covering the ointment and hole and purple vet wrap around her foot. Then she would walk like there wasn't a thing wrong. We finally got it to heal from the inside out and there was just a normal foot there for the weeks and now all of a sudden it is back again. Any suggestions?