I NEED HELP!!!! The gnats are killing my birds!!

[ChickenCanoe]

I didn't say herbs were bad, but I honestly don't see how cayenne pepper would be good, as spicy as it is. I know I don't do spicy.

I know you and others don't do spicy but chickens don't have comparable taste buds. Many people recommend feeding chickens hot chilies for all sorts of reasons, one being to ward off parasites and bacteria. I don't buy the concept myself but they certainly aren't a problem.
As I said, salt is the only thing one should limit, it isn't plant based. Feed already contains about 0.5% salt. Bread is high in salt so should be avoided as a chicken treat.

Birds don't have the taste receptors for capsaicin.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1171-chilli-eating-chickens-repel-bacteria/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In answer to the OPs first question. There is a natural DEET free insect repellant that is specifically for gnats. It is plant based and called BUGGINS. Some of the feed stores and big box stores around here carry it. I use it myself and have sprayed the chickens with it and spray it on the hardware cloth openings.
I think the extremely wet season has made gnats worse this year.
You can find Buggins online at amazon and lots of other places.
https://bugg.com/store-locator/
I know Walgreens, Ace and Menards carry it.

The primary ingredients in Buggins are geraniol, lemon grass oil, peppermint oil and clove oil. Geraniol is an ingredient in citronella.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I know bread is bad. Tomatoes(not green, unripe tomatoes) make a nice treat, right?

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I do know oregano is good, is it better to give dried or fresh?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Tomatoes are what my Jersey Giants would fly over the fence to eat. As long as feed is available and there is plenty of forage, I don't worry about what the chickens eat. I've never experienced them overeating any dangerous substance.

Fresh herbs are always better - as are any fresh vegetables over canned or frozen.

 

[Little Red Birds]

@Little Red Birds How is everyone this morning? Did your birds do okay overnight? Hope things went well!

Good! Everyone else is fine so far and I have been dousing everything and everyone in vanilla every two hours (my turkeys now run from me when I go outside- I feel powerful!!) but I have a few 4h meetings tonight, one of which will be 5- possibly 9 depending on the younger kids. So I’m going to have to enlist an eight year old that is terrified of turkeys to spray all the birds while I’m out. I’m not taking any chances. As for the little porcelain (Cleatus), he is still hunched over but he is eating on his own and pooping solids!! Now I’m just giving him electrolytes. He’s such a good boy!

 

[Henriettamom919]

Good! Everyone else is fine so far and I have been dousing everything and everyone in vanilla every two hours (my turkeys now run from me when I go outside- I feel powerful!!) but I have a few 4h meetings tonight, one of which will be 5- possibly 9 depending on the younger kids. So I’m going to have to enlist an eight year old that is terrified of turkeys to spray all the birds while I’m out. I’m not taking any chances. As for the little porcelain (Cleatus), he is still hunched over but he is eating on his own and pooping solids!! Now I’m just giving him electrolytes. He’s such a good boy!

I'm glad everyone is doing well. Go Cleatus!

Good luck to your 8y/o! On the plus side, I bet your birds smell amazing

 

[Little Red Birds]

I think he’s having a relapse. Now I’m seriously freaking out. He was just fine this morning and now he’s not taking anything and he’s curled into a ball. He’s starting to have random twitches!!! I have no clue what to do and my little sisters are freaking out!! He seriously JUST FINE an hour and a half ago, eating, taking electrolytes, pooping. Now he refuses anything. I’m so scared.

 

[Little Red Birds]

I don’t know what’s going on!! This is so frustrating! I hate that he is suffering like this...

 

[Henriettamom919]

I think he’s having a relapse. Now I’m seriously freaking out. He was just fine this morning and now he’s not taking anything and he’s curled into a ball. He’s starting to have random twitches!!! I have no clue what to do and my little sisters are freaking out!! He seriously JUST FINE an hour and a half ago, eating, taking electrolytes, pooping. Now he refuses anything. I’m so scared.

You've done everything right up until now. Try to stay calm and be with him if that's an option.

@ChickenCanoe @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous anything else she can do?