Best backyard bug killer that won’t harm my chickens

[khloee]

We live in Missouri and the mosquitoes and gnats have been really bad this year. We want to spray our lawn to get rid of really those two pests. Since our chickens and geese eat the grass everyday we want to find a pesticide that won’t harm or kill my birds. What is the best product we should use?

 

[cmom]

Not sure about what to use outside but I use permethrin around the coops. I don't free range my birds but they have nice large pens. I have Rain/shade tables in all of the pens. That's the favorite dusting place for the birds, under the tables, so I have put poultry dust or sometimes spray a concentrate solution under the tables. I had a mite issue awhile back. I treated for the mites. I also had a wicked fly issue. To my surprise the treatments pretty much eliminated the flies in the coops. I do put poultry dust in the nest boxes. I don't really have any issues but starting to notice the fly population increasing. I'm going to treat all of the coops. I haven't checked for mites at night but have checked the birds over during the day and saw nothing. Some are starting to molt. I'm treating for flies but if there are mites or anything else they will be gone. Permethrin has worked well for me. There are other products as effective but quite a bit more expensive. Good luck...

 

[khloee]

Not sure about what to use outside but I use permethrin around the coops. I don't free range my birds but they have nice large pens. I have Rain/shade tables in all of the pens. That's the favorite dusting place for the birds, under the tables, so I have put poultry dust or sometimes spray a concentrate solution under the tables. I had a mite issue awhile back. I treated for the mites. I also had a wicked fly issue. To my surprise the treatments pretty much eliminated the flies in the coops. I do put poultry dust in the nest boxes. I don't really have any issues but starting to notice the fly population increasing. I'm going to treat all of the coops. I haven't checked for mites at night but have checked the birds over during the day and saw nothing. Some are starting to molt. I'm treating for flies but if there are mites or anything else they will be gone. Permethrin has worked well for me. There are other products as effective but quite a bit more expensive. Good luck...

Thanks for the suggestion. I have heard about that pesticide. Although I do let my birds free range and they eat the grass and what ever bugs they can get ahold of. The pesticide you suggested is not safe for any grazing livestock and I’m not willing to risk that and my geese cannot be penned up for more than a day they’d be pretty angry.

 

[cmom]

It's not a pesticide. Permethrin is an insecticide and is approved for use on and around livestock and poultry. Also there is no egg withdrawal period.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Bug zappers. Water bottles 1/4 full of apple cider vinegar hung around.

You'll never get them all. Don't waste your money and create more headaches with pesticides

 

[khloee]

It's not a pesticide. Permethrin is an insecticide and is approved for use on and around livestock and poultry. Also there is no egg withdrawal period.

I’ve read that it’s not safe for them to ingest. I know a lot of farmers and livestock owners use that product but I’m just a little nervous about it.

 

[khloee]

Bug zappers. Water bottles 1/4 full of apple cider vinegar hung around.

You'll never get them all. Don't waste your money and create more headaches with pesticides

Yes I read another thread similar to mine and someone suggested bug zappers. I may actually do this. The mosquitoes are terrible day and night and if this can at least reduce the amount that are biting me and my birds then hey I’m all for it.

 

[Isadora]

How about a bug zapper instead of a chemical?
Edited to say, whoops, I see now that that was already suggested.

 

[addctd2plnts]

To manage flies, you really need a multi pronged approach.

First use Rescue fly trap bags, AWAY from the coop: https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-FTD2-...ld=1&keywords=fly+traps&qid=1626974112&sr=8-3 Hang them no higher than 3 ft above the ground, or they won't work as well. We have a farm of 24 acres and hang them out around the periphery. They stink, and will draw flies TO your coop if you put them near the coop!

Keeping the coop as clean as possible helps. We use these in the barn. They have no pesticide and only attract though the reflection. Not sure if chickens would mess with them, but you could put in the coop, while they were out for the day: https://www.amazon.com/Farnam-Garde...=991V4HV04ZWB7XW9DY9E&qid=1626974512&sr=8-178 This is another type, but you hang it up higher for a different kind of fly: https://www.amazon.com/Farnam-Garde...=991V4HV04ZWB7XW9DY9E&qid=1626974639&sr=8-125

Lastly, you need to spray. Permethrin with Piprofoxin contains a harmless growth regulator. The growth regulator only effects insects because it stops them from being able to shed their exoskeletons. This is one that could be used for a quick spray inside the coop. It will knock down the current flies only. And it's safe enough for inside hospitals and restaurants. https://www.domyown.com/565-plus-xlo-20-oz-p-121.html This is another type of pryrethrinoid that we use to knock down flies and it's AMAZING! I totally love this because it doesn't smell and make me sick spraying it. As long as you don't get it in their water, it's totally safe, once dried. In fact it's made to be sprayed in poultry houses. This is a once dose container but we get it in bigger ones: https://www.amazon.com/Tempo-includ.../dp/B014I3EGQ8/ref=psdc_3737951_t2_B003AYWEL6

The electric zapper is a great idea to eliminate flies in the outside coop.

Lastly, If you get flies in the house, THESE ARE AMAZING! I loathe flies in the house! we change them once a week,because who wants to see dead flies LOL https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N02XQ2U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Looks like the gnats are a really serious issue too: https://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2...-alert-black-fly-buffalo-gnat-poultry-deaths/

 

[Krugerrand]

You can plant flowers to attract dragon flies. Bat houses can help, too.