I need some help with gnats!! Advice??

[Chickie Mamma]

Please help.. I am over-run with gnats. It has been raining for weeks on end and the moisture is causing a big problem. I looked over my chickens and I do not notice any on them. Do mites fly? I believe these are little black gnats. Can I use Sevin-5 in the coop and nest boxes. DE does not work. I have used the sevin-5 in the outside pen, but I am afraid to use it in the coop, but I don't know what else to do. It is rediculous, I have been doing a complete pine shaving change every week and its not helping. Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Be happy to know that they will go away. We've dealt with them in the south and now they're running their course up north. One way to deal with them is with Avons Skin so soft if it's available to you. You can mix up some and spray it on your chickens. Another way to deal is with vanilla extract. For some reason, vanilla extracts them....

A fan will help to keep them from landing on your chickens and setting in to draw blood.

The wet keeps them around and from what I understand, it's been wet up north. Try tossing in some pine needles if you have them to absorb the water from the run. Some Stall Fresh if it's available helps too. I also sprinkled my nest boxes heavily with DE.

They will run their course and go away, but it's very un-nerving to wait them out.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Thank you so much for the tips. I am sick of going out to feed and water them and gnats go up my nose etc. I have never had a problem like this before. I have been using fly paper and I have to change 6 strips, 2x a day. The birds do not seem bothered by them, but I am. I forgot all about Avon, skin so soft. I'll try that and some stall dri (if I can find it) Thanks for being so helpful!!

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Ah, ha... Here's a question.. Would Apple Cider Vinegar attract gnats/fruitflies? I give my ducks ACV in their water. They slobber it all over and the bottom of the duck house is mesh, so the water falls through. I am beginning to wonder if it is the attractant, since the gnats are on that side of the pen. Hmmmm....