pest control
Alektorophobia keeps pest control in one place: 6 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Sand, specks, or sinister eggs: help this clucker crack the case”, “Mites are having a full-on fowl party in my coop and I'm not invited”, and “Saddle-sized rats raiding your run? I feel your fowl pain”. Oh, a sandy, sinister egg cluster? Well, you've got yourself a full-on fowl party in the coop, and you're definitely not on the guest list. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every pest control story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Sand, specks, or sinister eggs: help this clucker crack the case
Oh, a sandy, sinister egg cluster? That's enough to make anyone chicken out. I feel for you, finding something that looks like it belongs in a horror movie, nestled near a sand pit, is deeply unsettling. Your gut says "egg cluster," but your brain is screaming "what in the fowl play is this?" It's a classic clucker mystery. While I can't say for certain what you've got there (I'm no formal expert, just a fellow enthusiast with a healthy dose of fear), the texture and location are definitely odd. It's not every day your feathered friends leave behind a science experiment.
Mites are having a full-on fowl party in my coop and I'm not invited
Well, you've got yourself a full-on fowl party in the coop, and you're definitely not on the guest list. Mites have moved in, and they're treating you like an all-you-can-eat buffet every time you step inside. You've dusted, deep cleaned, and locked the birds out while sprinkling permethrin and DE, but those little freeloaders still crawl on you like you're the main attraction. Your birds are itchy and one refuses to roost, so something's clearly off. Since you can't spray Poultry Protector in freezing temps, try adding a pinch of food-grade DE directly to their dust bath and check the roost bars at night with a flashlight, mites love to hide there.
Saddle-sized rats raiding your run? I feel your fowl pain
Oh, I feel this in my very soul. There's nothing quite like the sinking dread of spotting a rat so plump you could slap a saddle on it and ride it into battle. You're out here trying to be a chicken whisperer, but the real battle is against these chupacabra-sized feed thieves. It's a cluck-tastic nightmare, honestly. The irony isn't lost on me, I can hatch an egg with my eyes closed, but keeping the feed secure? Apparently, that's where my expertise flies the coop. Maybe check the hardware cloth gaps? Or embrace the madness and name the biggest one. Speaking of unexpected arrivals, our story about the "One-Eyed Stranger Shows Up on a Porch" proves chickens find us when we least expect it.
Mites Got Your Chickens Down? Let's Talk Poultry Spray Routines
There's something deeply humbling about chasing down a dust bath with a spray bottle, isn't there? When mites move in, your feathered friends start looking more like grumpy little dinosaurs, and suddenly you're the pest control they never asked for. This poultry spray routine from OldLaw6606 gets right to the heart of that struggle, and honestly, it's a cluck-tastic relief to see someone tackle it with both humor and practical know-how. We've covered our share of feathery chaos before, like that backyard adventure where the chickens clearly won the day. But this one feels different, more about the steady, everyday battle. So grab your gloves and your sense of humor, because keeping those pests away is half the fun, even when it ruffles your feathers.
Cluck-tastic treehouse upgrade: predator-proof, chicken-approved, kid-abandoned.
Three months. That's how long it's been since the kids abandoned their treehouse to the elements, and honestly? Best decision we never saw coming. Instead of letting it rot, someone got clever and gave that old wooden fortress a serious glow-up. The goal? Make it so predator-proof that even the craftiest raccoon would just throw up its little paws and walk away. It took extra long, sure, but good things come to those who wait (and measure twice, probably). And the payoff? The chickens are still safe. All of them. No fowl play detected. It's the kind of patient, slightly obsessive energy that reminds me of that other post about the fluffy Marans Froment chicks napping in a towel.
Cluck off, feathered fiends: saving our fake plants from fowl play
Well, isn't this the classic chicken conundrum? Those fake planter boxes seemed like a clever idea, but your feathered friends have turned them into their personal digging playground. I get it, dirt everywhere is enough to make anyone cluck in frustration. The trick is to make the space unappealing without sacrificing your deck's vibe. Try laying down some heavy-duty wire mesh or chicken wire just beneath the dirt's surface. Chickens hate unstable footing, so they'll quickly lose interest. You could also top the soil with smooth river rocks or large pine cones, which are uncomfortable for their feet but still look natural. It's a simple fix that keeps things tidy and, honestly, it's a lot less stressful than a game of fowl hide-and-seek every morning.