Gnats killing birds

[coach723]

Sounds absolutely awful. Found this:
"Fortunately, buffalo gnats are daytime biters and rarely venture indoors. So one thing you can do is go inside if the gnats are biting. Providing shelters for poultry may help, since the flies don’t like enclosures. Secondly, you can provide screen-wire enclosures for your birds that block black fly biting. Although not specifically labeled for black flies, there are on-animal products labeled for mosquito and biting fly control that you can apply directly to chickens.

Many of these products contain the active ingredient permethrin. One example is Permectrin II® spray insecticide. Another product, called Ravap®, has different active ingredients (tetrachlorvinphos and dichlorvos) and may also be used directly on poultry.

Remember to read and follow all label directions for exact amounts and dilutions for these and any other insecticides, especially when using on-animal products."

 

[Blooie]

Here in Wyoming gnats have killed large populations of deer, too. Nasty things! I’m so sorry about your losses. There are only two things that will help, as you’ve heard....time and spraying. Wish I could help you more.

 

[mixedUPturk]

I was so shocked by this....who'd have thought it possible?? It turns out they kill a lot more than just birds....large animals you would never think could succumb to insects. I found this on the web...

“There can be death due to blood loss — exsanguination,” he said. “There can be death from a large number of flies blocking the air passageway — essentially, suffocation. But if you look at a lot of the literature, it suggests that most of the deaths will be due to toxemia. Basically, the animal reacting to the saliva, the anticoagulants in the salivary glands of the gnats.

It also said they tend to breed in terrific numbers when there is 'spring flooding' as they breed in and around water

Yes and the rains have been pretty spring like. Thanks for explaining the anticoagulant bit, i didnt understand some of the vet report. Havent been dwelling on it as ive been working but it did say toxemia.

Sounds absolutely awful. Found this:
"Fortunately, buffalo gnats are daytime biters and rarely venture indoors. So one thing you can do is go inside if the gnats are biting. Providing shelters for poultry may help, since the flies don’t like enclosures. Secondly, you can provide screen-wire enclosures for your birds that block black fly biting. Although not specifically labeled for black flies, there are on-animal products labeled for mosquito and biting fly control that you can apply directly to chickens.

Many of these products contain the active ingredient permethrin. One example is Permectrin II® spray insecticide. Another product, called Ravap®, has different active ingredients (tetrachlorvinphos and dichlorvos) and may also be used directly on poultry.

Remember to read and follow all label directions for exact amounts and dilutions for these and any other insecticides, especially when using on-animal products."

You know i thought its weird when they ride in on my body where im unable to kill them all off of me, they run to the sunny kitchen window and stay there til i extract some revenge. I have used several of the bait things but im going to have to continuously spray not just my yard but the unkepmt lots on each side and the pasture to the back not taking any chances.

Here in Wyoming gnats have killed large populations of deer, too. Nasty things! I’m so sorry about your losses. There are only two things that will help, as you’ve heard....time and spraying. Wish I could help you more.

Thank you! not really posting for help for me i learned what needed to be done and went to work. This is to all the flocks out there where people need to know birds are dying everywhere from this this year, lots and lots of them. Ive seen these things for years and last yr they were bad enough i didnt bring my baby and toddlers outside because of the whelps theyd get but

To All Of You

Id never imagined it could be this bad.

I guess i did know mites could be this bad, ive had reptiles suffer from them and heard of chickens.

Last night also my mother in law messaged me about the gnats saying chicken deaths are all over facebook. Im going to post there too being as how i have the vets report qnd can spread true testimony. She read that it was reccomend to mix vanilla extract and water 50:50 and spray it, i figured it couldnt hurt so i took it also on my hands and put it on their faces and necks, i believe thats what saved my last quail and no more deaths. Not saying do this but in a pinch it might just save a life.

Because of the fear of arsenic i was holding eggs waiting on the report, now ive set all 26 of the quail eggs i currently had.

 

[danceswithronin]

*Googles buffalo gnats*
Holy sh*t those aren't gnats, those are biting flies! I had no idea they could kill chickens or anything else!!!

 

[mixedUPturk]

*Googles buffalo gnats*
Holy sh*t those aren't gnats, those are biting flies! I had no idea they could kill chickens or anything else!!!

Its horrible no matter what u call them. Theyre called bull head gnats in this area

 

[danceswithronin]

Its horrible no matter what u call them. Theyre called bull head gnats in this area

I knew they could bite like a son of a gun but I never honestly thought they were a serious danger to livestock.

 

[-BOGGS-]

Sorry for your lose OP! I never heard of this before..sounds unreal, thank you for sharing and informing others

 

[mixedUPturk]

I knew they could bite like a son of a gun but I never honestly thought they were a serious danger to livestock.

Sorry for your lose OP! I never heard of this before..sounds unreal, thank you for sharing and informing others

Thank you for your condolences. Very glad to help others learn from this terrible ordeal and stop the deaths

 

[Trux]

Sorry for your losses and I commend you for going to the state lab for a necropsy! Smart move IMO, and most of all thank you for passing on the info so other can protect their flocks! Your awesome!

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry for your loss but glad you sent one in to get an answer.
Keep permethrin on hand. I always have one of these on hand:

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

IMG_20180322_102709

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018

I call them flies. I hate them!

Here is one story about them:
https://www.fox16.com/news/local-ne...showed-up-showed-out-early-in-2019/1874108824