Flies and Mosquitos and More Mosquitos

[llombardo]

I can not go out there without getting bit 50 times plus. It's friggin miserable.

I found this stuff in my cabinet--anything in here bad for chickens or ducks? It smells pretty good.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I have never used that, but geraniol is an ingredient in some of the mite treatments at our feed store for chickens so I would say it is okay. I can't imagine rosemary or peppermint oil being bad for them, but I will defer to the experts on that.

I hear you on the mosquitos. I am mildly allergic to their bites, so when I get bit it swells to the size of a half dollar and gets red rings around it. I can't be outside for more than 15 minutes without getting half a dozen bites. A few weeks ago, I had to wear jeans in the 98 degree weather with high humidity because my legs seriously looked like I had some awful disease. I have just started spraying deep woods Off on my legs when I go out. Hate the stuff but I can't do without it. Nothing else seems to work for me.

 

[llombardo]

I thought about spraying myself but the chickens peck at me, the dogs lick my legs and I dong want them ingesting that.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I bought this for my goats to keep mosquitoes off... and it can be used on walls as well...

It actually kills them not just repel them. I wouldn't hesitate to spray it on my clothes. It also works for mites and such and IS labeled for use in chickens. Under $8 and this bottle lasted me 2 years with 2 large goats, 3 medium dogs, and 82+ birds... in the equine section.

Yes I also use deet products like Off when I need to because they work really well.

But the lemon eucalyptus spray also works well but has to be reapplied after a couple hours...

Alternatively... I would TRY some mosquito traps... a 2 liter bottle with the top cut off and inverted, then a little sugar water and some active dry yeast. In THEORY the co2 will attract them and they won't be able to get back out. I think it needs to set in the shade. When I tried it... it isn't warm enough here to make the yeast react enough, but your weather sounds like it should work fine.

Or if you are having a party... put some dry ice in a similar set up and it should work well.

I actually make mosquito larva traps... set up dishes of water with some grass debris to attract the layers... and make sure it gets dumped and refreshed weekly. They think they are happily laying their eggs, yet I am happily controlling the population.

Did you know that ONLY female mosquitoes bite? They need the blood for the eggs. While male mosquitoes feed on pollen or nectar (I think).

My view about rosemary and peppermint... the oils MAY work... but growing them is NOT a deterrent, as I watch the skeeters land on the plants all the time.

Good luck!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I found this stuff in my cabinet--anything in here bad for chickens or ducks?

Looks like you are supposed to use the whole bottle and it will work for about one day.

I might use it if I had it... but set it off while the birds aren't around to inhale it directly or get in their eyes. I would definitely consider trying it for a dinner party type thing. But here in the PNW the breeze is almost always blowing a bit... so it may be ineffective for me.

We have to be careful here.... young children might be carried off by our nasty mosquitoes!

Wearing LIGHT colored clothes REALLY does help. Skeeters blend easily with dark clothes and that's what they search out. They can bite through many layers of clothing here.