Oh Yuck, Beetles and Bugs in the Barns!

Beetles and bugs in the barns are not just yucky. They cause sanitary concerns, as well as affect the health of our birds.

• The Darkling Beetle, is a vector for salmonella, e-coli, Newcastle disease and other diseases and viruses.
• Flies are a big pain and are controlled with permethrin spray and traps.

Beatles and bugs can also do serious damage to buildings and equipment!

• They can destroy insulation.
• They can bore into wooden structures.
• They can destroy vapor barriers,
• They can create voids between the ground and the concrete.

The best tactic for monitoring beetles/bugs is to be observant. We have made this statement about most situations on the farm, repeatedly. Nothing is more important on a wild bird farm, than being observant!

There are some products available for monitoring and controlling Darkling Beetles. One of them is Capt 7 Beetle Traps. It is a very green approach and doesn’t use any chemicals. It looks like a giant egg with holes in it. A yeast mixture is placed inside, which attracts beetles and traps them.

The next step we might take is to dust or spray the floor with diatomaceous earth.

When we notice a problem, we have to step up the control. We use a product called Tempo that can be purchased in either a dust form or a solution form. Either work well when we use it on the floor and bedding where we observe a problem.

In a large infestation of beetles, we may need to check with an exterminator for advice. It is critical that we stop a problem in its tracks, because beetles can transmit anything they are carrying to the whole farm, in a short amount of time.

In conclusion, the key is to be diligent about any pests that can cause harm to our flocks. It is up to us to see the issue, diagnose the problem, and fix it as fast as we can without causing harm to our birds.

Please contact b.davis@pheasant.com if you would like more information about controlling beetles and bugs in your wild bird barns.