Mosquitos annoying my chooks whilst roosting, CITRONELLA??

[vineviewfarm]

Hi All,
Any ideas for how to prevent mosquitos in and around my coop? we have no stagnant water close by but seem to have alot of mozzies around the coop at night time in particular i observed the chooks being quite irritated by their presence,
any ideas?? do they actually feed of the chooks?
Can you use citronella brushed on the roosts?? any ideas

regards
Ben@vineviewfarm

 

[enola]

Yes, they actually feed off the chickens and can spread/cause diseases in your chickens. Mosquitoes do not like moving air. Use a fan to keep the air moving.

 

[vineviewfarm]

Ok thanks! Im unfortunatly not able to get powre down to the coop for a fan, I have made the coop draft free to prevent illness but in the afternoon i open the doors on either end to air out.
I have put those sticky bug tapes in hung from the roost but they seem to only get flies.
any other ideas?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Tall grass, weeds, large trees, and flowers are all attractive to many mosquito species. I realize that chickens like grass as well as the skeeters do. But everything in life has its trade-offs.

 

[Pork Pie]

Growing lemon grass or pyrethrum helps to deter mozzies, but to be honest it always seem to be a losing battle. Encouraging lizards / geckos can also help a bit (don't ask me how, i greet our resident geckos every evening as they come out of their hidy holes).

CT