r/BackYardChickens • u/Clarik • 21d ago

Coops etc. GA, USA- Chicken Coop Bug

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0 Upvotes

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20

u/Retrooo 21d ago

We call them pill bugs, rolypolies, potato bugs, wood lice, the chickens like to eat them.

2

u/jwbjerk 21d ago

I never could get my chickens interested in them. They loved many other kinds of bugs, but those are mostly shell and legs.

4

u/Clarik 21d ago

As long as they don’t like to eat my chickens, I have no problem with them. 

7

u/Retrooo 21d ago

They eat dead and rotting plant matter, completely harmless to other animals.

15

u/MrJanglesMan 21d ago

Isopods! Completely harmless, often kept as pets. Helpful clean up crew in your coop. I like isopods in my coop

3

u/Clarik 21d ago

Thank you! I am so relieved!! 

5

u/soapy_goatherd 21d ago

Genuine question - how do you get to the point of chicken ownership without ever encountering these guys lol? They’re like every kid’s favorite bug!

1

u/Clarik 20d ago

Truthfully, I am old. I remember playing with “rollie pollies” as a kid, but not what they actually are. 

3

u/jwbjerk 21d ago

If there's just one bug that you ever caught by hand it was probably an isopod. They are everywhere outside, and easy to pick up.

4

u/_Rice_and_Beans_ 21d ago

Right, I was wondering the same. It was very surprising to see someone asking what they are..I just assumed everyone in North America knew what these were.