Gnats

[1Drumstickplz]

What do I spray on my chickens to get rid of gnats . Me too for that matter , lol
Never had a gnat problem in TN . Now I’m way down in Southern MS

 

[coach723]

Welcome to one of the joys of the south!
The best thing I have personally found for my birds is to plant rosemary bushes where they can get to them. You may need to protect the roots to keep the birds from digging them up however. I cut a piece of hardware cloth a foot around with a hole for the plant to come through, put it an inch or two below the surface and cover with dirt when you plant, keeps the birds from digging them up. You can also put large rocks or bricks on the cloth to help keep it in place. The oils and scent from the plants seem to discourage the gnats and my birds spend a lot of time in and under them during gnat season. They are fairly care free plants as well, once established. You have to be careful of spraying anything on your birds on a regular basis as many things can cause them respiratory irritation, particularly if they are aromatic. Besides being horribly time consuming.

 

[1Drumstickplz]

Welcome to one of the joys of the south!
The best thing I have personally found for my birds is to plant rosemary bushes where they can get to them. You may need to protect the roots to keep the birds from digging them up however. I cut a piece of hardware cloth a foot around with a hole for the plant to come through, put it an inch or two below the surface and cover with dirt when you plant, keeps the birds from digging them up. You can also put large rocks or bricks on the cloth to help keep it in place. The oils and scent from the plants seem to discourage the gnats and my birds spend a lot of time in and under them during gnat season. They are fairly care free plants as well, once established. You have to be careful of spraying anything on your birds on a regular basis as many things can cause them respiratory irritation, particularly if they are aromatic. Besides being horribly time consuming.

Thank you ! I do have a few rosemary bushes- small - and I have noticed my 5 birds around them . Makes sense ! Thank you very much !
Sounds like you enjoy gardening also .

 

[coach723]

I do, but I find it very challenging in Florida. I grew up in Oregon where the dirt is black and apples and berries grow everywhere. Florida, and the south, is a whole different thing!

 

[1Drumstickplz]

It is ! I have never had trouble growing anything until here ! Too much sand and clay . But I’m slowly conditioning my little spot on this planet .

 

[1Drumstickplz]

At least purple hull peas grow well and that’s my favorite!

 

[1Drumstickplz]

Gotta go check on my newest collection. I bought 12 chicks that were less than a week old . So cute !

 

[coach723]

I have chicks now also, incubator hatched here 6 days ago, 9 of them. I have been amending my garden soil for 15 years and it's still not great. Very, very sandy here. I went to raised beds about 5 years ago, which has helped. Luckily I have plenty of chicken droppings to compost and work in! I have about 45 birds currently.