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

[WoodlandWoman]

I hang a wren house on the coop, to keep the wasps away. I hang one on the edge of my house, too. I don't know if all wrens are good for this, but the ones I have here are. We just discovered it by accident.

We've also used the disposable traps for wasps. They work like the disposable fly traps, except it uses a different, not stinky, bait. They're usually a clear jar and yellow lid, instead of a red lid like the fly traps, when you're shopping for them. They always worked well for us, too.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
Take a candle and rub it all over the the eaves covering every part of the surface with the candle wax. Wasps can not adhere the nest to the candle wax.

Best wishes.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
This works best when you have at least one other person helping you. My sister knocks down the nest and I spray it with off insect repellent. Then I spray the areas the wasps love to make nests before they try. Every spring we have to do this and if we get the nest when it's small, the wasps usually get the hint and move on. I will not bother a nest with more that two wasps on it and I never do it alone. Their sting is incredibly painful for something small.

 

[gritsar]

I haven't tried it yet, but I read that hanging bounce dryer sheets around the outside of the coop will keep wasps at bay.

 

[lilchick]

The fabric softener sheets work in mail boxes to keep the wasps out! And your mailman will thank you for it....

 

[aceoftrumps]

Here is a tip I learned.....mix lemon scented Joy with water in a small sprayer....spray the areas where the wasps nest. They don't like it and won't build there. Also works for new nests. I've sprayed nests lots of times...knocks them silly...and even kills some of them.

I use it every spring as a preventive method. Also works good for keeping spiders at bay.

Kurt

 

[NHchicks]

Kurt - I REALLY like that idea, esp. because it's non-toxic. Gonna definitely try that one.