Gnats! Mosquitos! How to keep them off of my chickens??

[FeatherLace]

I live in the hot and humid Southeast Georgia. With all the rain and humidity upsurging lately, flies, gnats, and mosquitos have swarmed in. Watching my chickens today, the poor things are CONSTANTLY flicking their heads due to gnats absolutley swarming them. A few of them have tiny blood specks on their combs from scratching and bites. I moved their pen today all the way across the yard so the bugs would be more attracted to the poo smell rather than their new spot, but I feel this won't last long.

I've researched a couple ways to keep them off, such as planting citronella plants around or citronella oil, but it hasn't said how to apply the oil or if its safe for chickens. What are you guys methods??

Also another quick question. My chickens are showing no signs of worms, but should I worm them anyways? And if so, what dewormer do I use? How often am I supposed to worm them? And how?

Thanks!

 

[FeatherLace]

Just boosting back to the top. Went out this morning and gnats were swarming again, so I took some bug-away spray and sprayed the ground outside their coop with it. The can said "hazard to people and domestic animals" so i didn't spray it where it would get on anything they eat or drink or on their feathers.

It'd be nice to know of some more solutions. I don't want to use citronella torches or candles due to fire hazard

 

[dawg53]

Just boosting back to the top. Went out this morning and gnats were swarming again, so I took some bug-away spray and sprayed the ground outside their coop with it. The can said "hazard to people and domestic animals" so i didn't spray it where it would get on anything they eat or drink or on their feathers.

It'd be nice to know of some more solutions. I don't want to use citronella torches or candles due to fire hazard

We're dealing with the pesky gnats as well, others are dealing with the mosquitos from all the rain we had. Box fans are the way to go. They are about $18 each at Walmart. I have a box fan in each pen running at medium speed. I shut them off when the birds go in the coops for the night. I also have standup fans inside the coops to blow air out a vent. Indirect airflow enters through the other vents and there isnt direct airflow blowing on the birds. I run the coop fans at night on medium speed and shut them off the next morning and then run the fans in the pens.
I hate when the gnats get in or around my ears, drives me nuts.

 

[FeatherLace]

We're dealing with the pesky gnats as well, others are dealing with the mosquitos from all the rain we had. Box fans are the way to go. They are about $18 each at Walmart. I have a box fan in each pen running at medium speed. I shut them off when the birds go in the coops for the night. I also have standup fans inside the coops to blow air out a vent. Indirect airflow enters through the other vents and there isnt direct airflow blowing on the birds. I run the coop fans at night on medium speed and shut them off the next morning and then run the fans in the pens.
I hate when the gnats get in or around my ears, drives me nuts.

Good idea. I'll run an extension cord out to the coop, thanks!

 

[dawg53]

Good idea. I'll run an extension cord out to the coop, thanks!

I have 3 extension cords running out to the coops. They have power strips plugged in at both ends. That way if there's a bad storm coming, a flip of the switch shuts down the power going out to the coops including lights and fans. I have a couple back up portable generators as well.

 

[FeatherLace]

I have 3 extension cords running out to the coops. They have power strips plugged in at both ends. That way if there's a bad storm coming, a flip of the switch shuts down the power going out to the coops including lights and fans. I have a couple back up portable generators as well.

All of my outside power is traced back to my porch light, so a flip of one switch in my hallway turns off and on all of my outside power. I put surge protectors on all of my electronics due to the amount of times my house has been struck by lightning lol. Thank you for the advice!

For a fan to keep gnats away, would just a small cheap box fan from the dollar store work, do you think?

 

[dawg53]

You have an excellent set-up.
I use the Lasko 20" box fans in the pens and in the shed coop. I have one 16" oscillating fan inside one coop, and a Honeywell table fan inside a smaller coop.
I buy the cheapest fans possible. They last 2 or 3 years but slow down in time or quit altogether. The chickens kick dust into them, poop on them and whatever else. If I get two years out of them, it's worth it. I have two that are almost 4 years old and havnt slowed yet. No complaints from me lol.
If we didnt have a Walmart locally, I'd buy from a dollar store as well. Are you in Charlton county? We're in Baker county, Fl. just 3 miles below the Ga/Fl border near the St Mary's river.
I used to live in Camden county, Ga but moved to Florida 8 years ago. Here's a few pics for you:

 

[FeatherLace]

You have an excellent set-up.
I use the Lasko 20" box fans in the pens and in the shed coop. I have one 16" oscillating fan inside one coop, and a Honeywell table fan inside a smaller coop.
I buy the cheapest fans possible. They last 2 or 3 years but slow down in time or quit altogether. The chickens kick dust into them, poop on them and whatever else. If I get two years out of them, it's worth it. I have two that are almost 4 years old and havnt slowed yet. No complaints from me lol.
If we didnt have a Walmart locally, I'd buy from a dollar store as well. Are you in Charlton county? We're in Baker county, Fl. just 3 miles below the Ga/Fl border near the St Mary's river.
I used to live in Camden county, Ga but moved to Florida 8 years ago. Here's a few pics for you:
View attachment 2205622View attachment 2205623View attachment 2205624View attachment 2205630

That looks good! I'm still building their permanent coop. I started it before I got the chickens but all the rain and sickness going around has delayed the building considerably.

Close! I'm in Brantley County, which is about 30 minutes from Charlton. You know about the humidity and the bugs that come with it then. I literally put on a pair of ear muffs before I go outside to keep the bugs away from my ears! I have a fan on my 6 week old guineas, turkeys, and waterfowl. The temp has been the upper 90s so I actually ended up just taking the heat lamp out entirely around week 3! If I don't turn the fan on them then they just end up panting and drinking every drop of water from the brooder, causing me to have to refill both waterers constantly.
My chickens have plenty of space to dirt bathe in so they aren't hot, but the gnats just make them miserable!

I can't wait until I get my new duty station in a couple months, because I'm going to try to get housing to move my chickens with me too.

 

[dawg53]

I've been through Brantley county a few times, on my way up to Pierce county to Roberson's butcher to butcher hogs I used to raise. That was a long time ago. I considered moving to Brantley county back then, property and homes, as well as property taxes were much cheaper than in Camden county.
I was stationed at Kings Bay for 2 years, then Mayport, Fl for 6 years. So, it was best to stay in Camden. I was in the Navy for 22 years.
If you're in the military, I seriously doubt they'll move birds, nor will they allow them in military housing. You could do a self move if they still have that option, then YOU can move the chickens yourself, just dont tell them that. They wont be allowed in government housing. The exception of course is if you're moving into the civilian community and then you'll have to look into local laws and zoning. The local zoning department is where to start.

 

[FeatherLace]

I've been through Brantley county a few times, on my way up to Pierce county to Roberson's butcher to butcher hogs I used to raise. That was a long time ago. I considered moving to Brantley county back then, property and homes, as well as property taxes were much cheaper than in Camden county.
I was stationed at Kings Bay for 2 years, then Mayport, Fl for 6 years. So, it was best to stay in Camden. I was in the Navy for 22 years.
If you're in the military, I seriously doubt they'll move birds, nor will they allow them in military housing. You could do a self move if they still have that option, then YOU can move the chickens yourself, just dont tell them that. They wont be allowed in government housing. The exception of course is if you're moving into the civilian community and then you'll have to look into local laws and zoning. The local zoning department is where to start.

I'm in the Navy as well, and my contract is for 8 years so I was actually hoping to apply for off-base housing so I could keep my dog with me and possibly my chickens too.
If I get on base housing I could just keep my noisy laying chickens and two roosters inside without them knowing

Brantley is nothing to write home about though, there are only two traffic lights in the whole county, no joke! Im hoping to get stationed somewhere drier with better and more diverse views than pine forests lol