Any ideas about keeping the wasps away from your coop this summer?

[NHchicks]

It's single digits outside tonight but my mind is on the warm weather.

In the summer wasps build their nests under the eaves of the chicken coop. I'm tired of dodging those things. I hate spraying pesticide so close to the chickens. Any ideas for keeping them away?

 

[Lil_Miss_Farmer_Chick]

some people raise Guinea Keets. I haven't tried it but that's what I hear.

 

[piccolini]

Thats what we do! Ever since we got the guineas no more ticks, wasps, or small snakes!

 

[Cass]

Question.... Do the Guineas eat bumble bees and honey bees? I only want the wasps gone, not the beneficial bees...oh and the snakes. They can have all the snakes they want....I'll chase those darn things toward the birds.

 

[journey11]

I used to just swat them and remove their nests, but last year I found out that I am allergic to wasps and now I have to carry an epi-pen.

So, although I'd rather not spray chemicals, my husband now sprays japanese beetle spray in the corners of the coop (chickens are kicked out for the day). Somehow it works to keep them from building there in the first place. I guess because it's oily... Works for up to a year or two.

 

[piccolini]

I am not entirely sure if they eat the beneficial bees as well. If you find an answer I would love to know. 1 thing though, do not get guineas if you like peace and quite. They are the LOUDEST, most dramatic birds I have ever met but they are worth it so get rid of the ticks

 

[donrae]

What kind of wasps are they? Many wasps are very peaceful and beneficial. I've convinced my husband to be at peace with them--his method was a propane weed burner--and we have a fair number of nests around. No one has been stung on our property in the eight plus years we've been here. And I swear since he's quit killing them I have fewer flies. I don't know much about the different kinds, but mine are paper nest builders if that helps. I guess I'm a live and let live--til it comes to black widow spiders. They must DIE!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I bought one of those bug vacuums that run off a rechargeable battery. I think I bought it from ebay- brookstone was the seller? I forget.

It is hand-held, and sucks the bugs into the base where they are electrocuted. Only thing is, the wasps don't die- they are only stunned. So I dump them out on the ground and pound them with a log.

But I have not had to use pesticides in or near my shed chicken coop this way. I usually go through around 6 cans per year of poison to control the wasps around our house.

 

[NHchicks]

Looks like we've tried every way to get rid of wasps in this group. I don't know what kind of wasps mine are, but they are also by the pool and my daughter has gotten stung a couple times, so I don't think they're the peace-loving kind. They've worn out their welcome.

As far as guineas, I used to have those. Unfortunately, they travel a lot. Even tho we have acreage for them, we're on the edge of it, and they would roam (noisily) into my neighbor's yard, who met them with a bb gun. (grrrr) They say you can train them to not go into the neighbor's yard, but good luck with that. Other than that, I loved those birds. They are really fun to watch.

Guess I'll just zap the wasp nests with spray, when the chickens aren't home, and try to get the nests in the earliest stages. That's one good thing about winter. No wasps.

 

[lilchick]

Just knock the nests down with a broom or stick early in the season. you usually see one wasp on a tiny nest at first. Get rid of it and the wasp will leave.

If you let it go by summers end it will be huge with several hatchlings hanging on it. Then it is a real hassle to kill them.

So do preventive measures and check the eaves and porch areas often to get rid of nests early before they get started....

I have used the foam spray made by Raid that shoots several feet in the air. It will knock them down off the nest. And destroy and hatchlings in the nest. good luck!