Mosquitoes

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Is there any way to keep mosquitoes out of waterers? I have a five gallon one, and I keep having to dump it out before it is empty because larvae are squirming around in it.
I am giving the routine worming to my chickens this week. That should keep them out until I get an answer. Any suggestions?

 

[FlyWheel]

I'd like to know if there's an answer to this problem myself.

 

[kitkat5505]

I live near a lake so mosquitoes are a huge problem. So I have a bucket nipple waterer. Completely closed so the water stays clean and very little waste.

 

[SueT]

Look up BT ---bacillus thuringiensis, a biological control....you put it in stock tanks...

 

[SueT]

Yes, nipple waterers are awesome, you put a lid on and have clean water always. There's a learning period ...my hens took a while to figure it out, but chicks got it right away and taught them....

 

[DesertBird]

Yes, nipple waterers are awesome, you put a lid on and have clean water always. There's a learning period ...my hens took a while to figure it out, but chicks git it right away and taught them....

View attachment 1095655 I live near a lake so mosquitoes are a huge problem. So I have a bucket nipple waterer. Completely closed so the water stays clean and very little waste.

What a cute video, Sue! And your chickens are adorable, KitKat and Sue! How did your chickens learn to use nipple waterers? I have two "sets"(?) of chickens, one of them they're all about 5 months, and the other they're all a little less than 4 months. Will it be easier for them to learn to use it? They've been on the open tray (?) waterers from Tractor Supply CO their whole lives. I live out in AZ and it's super hot, so they can't really afford to take too much time on the learning period. They're constantly going through gallons of water. It's almost monsoon season out here, so that brings in a huge wave of mosquitoes, and they'll probably make their way into the waterers.

 

[SueT]

How did your chickens learn to use it?

I introduced it to week old chicks who figured it out immediately. There was no need to leave their other waterer in. But the hens were stubborn. Not until these chicks as pullets were integrated with them, did the hens get curious about what the young girls were doing pecking at that bucket.....and they loved it!
Nipple buckets are a cheap DIY project, and it's worth a try...just keep tapping on those nipples with your finger, and the hens might get the idea....

 

[lazy gardener]

If it's an open container, it would be a good idea to clean it out often enough so that there are no mosquito larvae. I simply dump mine and clean it every couple of days.

 

[DesertBird]

I introduced it to week old chicks who figured it out immediately. There was no need to leave their other waterer in. But the hens were stubborn. Not until these chicks as pullets were integrated with them, did the hens get curious about what the young girls were doing pecking at that bucket.....and they loved it!
Nipple buckets are a cheap DIY project, and it's worth a try...just keep tapping on those nipples with your finger, and the hens might get the idea....

Thank you! I'll try that, and hopefully it works; my chickens are a bit stubborn and wouldn't even go under a tent cover I put up as an extra shade structure in their pen. lol

 

[centrarchid]

Two approaches I use to control cost. First is to dump and completely refill waterer every couple of days. Helps keep water fresh / free or organic matter likely introduced by chickens themselves. Second is to add a little bleach to water bucket. The bleach kills the little microorganisms the mosquito larvae feed upon.

Larger water trough the free-range birds use has fish (bluegill or other sunfish (Centrarchids of course)) stocked in them. Not only are mosquitoes absent, so are the pesky Gray Tree Frog tadpoles. Troughs without fish have tadpoles or tadpoles and mosquitoes.