Gnats killed my babies

[trumpeting_angel]

I’m planting extra basil!

My girls still live inside, but they are making some trips outdoors. I’ll keep an eye out for black flies. They come after me, too, and I was in the garden all day and it wasn’t a problem today. Yesterday was terrible!

 

[getaclue]

I've never used fresh for fly control, just the dried. Let me know if the fresh works as well.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Actually are probably Black Flies.
Were they in the coop too?
Haven't had them that bad, but have read a fan and/or real vanilla will repel them from the coop/roost area.
Sorry for your losses.[/QUOTE

I’ve heard they are called buffalo gnats, or black flies. They were all in the coop, in the nesting boxes, everywhere. I gutted the entire coop, got rid of bedding and dead birds and our babies are still in the garage. Of course with no birds, there are no longer any gnats inside. But even if I put a fan in, and soak my birds with vanilla spray, I am so nervous I might lose more. The Polish pulled through!!

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I want to try the basil, it sounds like a good idea, but these thugs are psycho. They were still trying to bite me and the chickens when I had bug spray and vanilla on, they are bloodthirsty. Permethrin spray might be my only option

 

[mixedUPturk]

I want to try the basil, it sounds like a good idea, but these thugs are psycho. They were still trying to bite me and the chickens when I had bug spray and vanilla on, they are bloodthirsty. Permethrin spray might be my only option

It was my only option and your swarms sound even worse than mine who killed So Many. Im scared that your right about maybe having more losses but for you. I wrote an article on my terrible ordeal.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/buffalo-gnats-and-what-you-need-to-know.75016/

 

[llombardo]

I lost a hen last night and I suspect this. I went and got lemongrass to put in the nesting boxes and I'm going to sprinkle it in the coop and in the dust bath. I also have vanilla. I got cintrella essential oil and I will be spraying around the run and the outside of the coop. I also read a bowl of vinegar with some dish soap attracts them and they drown. I will be doing that in the outside of the run.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I do hope any of this helps you all

 

[getaclue]

Careful with the citronella.

 

[mixedUPturk]

I lost a hen last night and I suspect this. I went and got lemongrass to put in the nesting boxes and I'm going to sprinkle it in the coop and in the dust bath. I also have vanilla. I got cintrella essential oil and I will be spraying around the run and the outside of the coop. I also read a bowl of vinegar with some dish soap attracts them and they drown. I will be doing that in the outside of the run.

The receptionist at the disease and diagnostic center recommended that to me, so i set up three big containers of vinager water used my whole gal of vinegar and it didnt do a thing. Theyre not gonna just drown, they lay their eggs only on moving water.

 

[ChickNanny13]