Gnats are so bad this year!

[farmkat55]

Do these gnats affect all of you and your chickens? They are so bad this year and I read an article that they can kill livestock! They do not seem to be in the coop or run but they are everywhere in the grass and pastures so when the chickens are free ranging, I worry about these pests. We can't even be out long since they get in our eyes and mouths! Yuck!! I feel like we need to spray as they are tormenting the goats and horses too...but what will kill them but not hurt my chickens?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The gnats are really bad here in Wisconsin too. Mosquitoes are suddenly everywhere as well. It's gonna be a bad summer. Generally gnats seem to avoid the shade and like the sun. Unfortunately that's where the mosquitoes hang out.

The good news is I have been watching my chicks chase down gnats. So they can be a good food supply.

 

[llombardo]

Vanilla keeps them away. I put vanilla behind my dogs ears, on myself and I will get a vanilla air freshener for the coop too.

 

[Green Acres farmer]

In central Iowa we have been having buffalo gnats. They are killers! Almost everyone I know that has chickens has had several die. One friend lost 20 chickens in one day! These gnats HATE the smell of vanilla. I put a mixture of equal parts vanilla extract and water in a spray bottle and spray the chickens several times a day. Fortunately I have not lost any. My friend that lost 20 put a vanilla scented plug- in type air freshener in her coop but it wasn’t enough to deter the gnats.