fruit pits... and a few more questions

[JusticeFamilyFarm]

I gave my goats a branch from my plum tree yesterday, and I'm pretty sure it didn't have any fruit on it (I would have picked it if it did!), but I didn't think to check it before I gave it to them and later I panicked thinking they could choke on a pit! Is that something they would do? I wasn't sure if they would stay away from it, spit it out, or try to swallow it and end up with a problem.

Also- totally off subject for where I'm posting this- but figured I'd ask anyway. Do spider bites affect goats much? I'm sure there has to be spiders EVERYWHERE, but I've seen a few really big ones (one black widow and some I don't know what they are) and I was worried about the goats. My husband thinks I'm crazy. I'm used to it. I was also worried about my chickens- so if you know about the chickens with spiders- feel free to chime in on that as well.
What can I use for bugs, spiders, mosquitos, etc around the animals? We use spray around the house that says "safe after dry" and don't let the kids or dog out until it's been good and dry for a while- but with the goats and chickens eating the plants/dirt/you name it, I didn't want to spray anything where they are.

Thanks so much!

 

[Goatherd]

I don't' have a lot of experience, but I can tell you that my goats wouldn't even entertain the thought of eating something as hard as a fruit pit. Anything that hard is offensive to my goat's mouths. Possibly a very hungry goat might consider it, but I'm not 100% certain. I think most would agree that goats are a lot more fussy about what they eat than what you've heard. Even if they did, the toxicity in a single fruit pit wouldn't have enough punch to cause them any serious harm other than possibly a stomach upset. It would take quite a few pits to pack a punch potent enough to harm any animal.

As far as spiders and chickens, which I have also, I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as the spiders causing them harm. Most chickens are wise enough to know the "good from the bad" when it comes to eating insects. I have spiders in my barn, chicken coop and have never experienced a problem with them. Actually, spiders are a sign that the building is "healthy" as spiders do not live in environments that are toxic.

If you feel the need to use something to control the insect problem you describe, you might consider a product that is primarily pyrethrin based. Pyrethrin is a natural, organic ingredient derived from chrysanthemums. It is used in several products for those that prefer a more natural approach to bug control.

I have no experience with black widow spiders as they are not native to my part of the country.

Good luck.

 

[helmstead]

We have an overabundance of black widows and brown recluse and brown widow spiders. And I mean they're EVERYWHERE out there...even had a brown recluse climb out the tube of the 'barn TP' last summer and surprise the dickens out of me.

So far we've had one buck get one BR bite, on his back. Left a small scar, was a nasty wound to treat. But with all these bugs and all these goats - 1 bite isn't too bad. If the BWs bite them...I can't tell.

I do use a barn spray every so often, and broom down webs a couple times a year...but real 'pest control' would be darn near impossible.