Spring/Summer time Mosquitoes and chickens

[KrysPel]

Hi guys! I really hope this is in the right place!
I was just wondering if any of you have any tried and true methods, or just some helpful suggestions, on keeping the mosquitoes from bothering, biting and bugging my chickens so much. The enclosure they have is simply chicken wire, so that's not helping any as far as mosquitoes! I'm not sure what I can use that will be safe around the chicks, (They're around 6-7 weeks old). I live in south florida, and the heat has been just unbearable, on top of that, the air is so humid and we tend to get 2 minutes of rain every few days, just enough to dampen the ground, yikes.

I was thinking of maybe screening in the area if possible...
Luckfully there is no standing water and my chicks are dry where they are at! Grass is trimmed as well! I just need some kind of deterrent/repellent of some sort!




Oh! Also, I know west nile virus effects dogs and humans, does it also have the same effect on chickens? I read somewhere that they are immune, then another place, that not all chickens are!

Anyone have any input?

Thank you!!

 

[bdjh]

I think the mosquitoes are likely bothering you far more than your chickens.

Chickens have been around for a long time....and no one has ever had to protect them from mosquitoes.

 

[KrysPel]

Hmmm... That's a good point! I guess I kind of look at them as my pets in a way so I see things similar as protecting my dog from mosuitoes and west nile! It's not much a problem for them when they're awake, the skeeters simply stay away because they're getting chased and eaten!

...But I kind of hate seeing them trying to sleep, and having to keep scratching and twitching 'cause they're getting eaten alive :/

 

[bdjh]

I hear you. It's often said that mosquito is the Manitoba provincial BIRD! I know they are very bothersome for horses and other livestock.....

Once our girls are locked in at night, though, I can't say that I've ever seen any bugs in the coop at all. In any case, I've never heard of them being a problem for anyone......