Gnats and vanilla mixture

[DragonflyBayou]

So I’ve seen some posts on local FB pages about losing multiple chickens to gnats? Some people mention treating coop/run with vanilla and water mixture and spraying?
I’m very new to this, in south Louisiana so I want to be prepared and be vigilant and start treating the coop and run now,
I have chicks almost 4 weeks going outside next Monday.
Thanks guys.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

You should definitely start treating the coop. My polish pullet died after gnats sucked her dry, and went up her nostrils. Horrid creatures! I would spray the vanilla mixture on the chicks too. Maybe try lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, or geranium essentil oils, which also deter bugs like gnats.

 

[llombardo]

I imagine it would work on chickens, I use it on my dogs. I just put vanilla extract on the back of the ears. They fly around but do not land.

 

[sevenfatcows]

Very interesting information Does vanilla repel flies as well?

 

[RWise]

WOW, the price of vanilla is sky high here, like $25 for a 4 oz bottle. It looks like there is a shortage of vanilla beans to make the real thing. So would vanillin work the same? It is dirt cheap when compared to the real deal. I know it does not taste the same, but would it work as a repellent here? Also what would the mix be, or is used straight up?
Info on the two;
http://www.quirkyscience.com/vanilla-and-vanillin/

 

[Laz]

Just went to the store and picked up some small face cleaning pads, stick pens and vanilla extract. I’m thrifty and like to stretch a dollar so I’ll see how well this works. I soaked the pads in the vanilla and stuck it to the wall inside the coop to keep the blood thirsty gnats away.