Utah!

[farmerbrian87]

How do you keep wasps out of your hen house? Do you need to? When I bought my coop, it had a few in it. I knocked them out and killed the few wasps that were hibernating in them. Now there's 2 new nests in the works.

I'm curious about this as well. I have a few nests that I knock down and not sure how to keep them from building new nests

 

[RedIII]

How do you keep wasps out of your hen house? Do you need to? When I bought my coop, it had a few in it. I knocked them out and killed the few wasps that were hibernating in them. Now there's 2 new nests in the works.

I just knock them down with a stick or some water and call the hens over. I have at least one that finds them to be delicious. I have heard that if you make sure to get rid of the little node where the nest attaches to the wall/ceiling/whatever, they will not rebuild the nest there.

 

[the-bird-man]

How do you keep wasps out of your hen house? Do you need to? When I bought my coop, it had a few in it. I knocked them out and killed the few wasps that were hibernating in them. Now there's 2 new nests in the works.

i hear those fake nest looking things sold at lowes and such work good tho i have not tried them personally yet. they say you hang one up and wasps avoid the area

 

[Sambi89]

So wasps work with hormones. Once they find a suitable place to nest the scout marks that spot with a smell the others wasps will know as "build nest here" You have to either get that smell off or cover it up. I always use cedar oil on the old spots. If you knock down the nest they will start rebuilding in the exact same spot almost immediately.

 

[RJSorensen]

That is interesting information Sam… I do not like Wasp's in the least, should I get stung I swell up. But out buildings and hidden places all seem to provide places for them to live. I was surprised when I first saw one of my hens eating a wasp. But I like the idea of the birds cleaning up any of the flying pests that rest in window sills or other places the chickens can harvest them.

I'll have to remember to re-scent the places in which I dislodge their handiwork.

Best to all and your birds,

RJ

 

[bitsyhorse]

best part about cedar oil, is it should be all natural....

just make sure not to spray the wasps with the chemical spray, and let your chickens eat them... I don't think that would do them good at all

 

[abkoldewyn]

So wasps work with hormones. Once they find a suitable place to nest the scout marks that spot with a smell the others wasps will know as "build nest here" You have to either get that smell off or cover it up. I always use cedar oil on the old spots. If you knock down the nest they will start rebuilding in the exact same spot almost immediately.

Thanks for the info Sambi! Where is the best place to get cedar oil?

 

[sundancenbare]

I talked to a gentleman named Van. he lives down by spanish fork. He has some Seramas for sale and asked that I tell everyone here. his phone is 801 754 3977 He is also looking for some Black copper Maran or blue copper Maran Chicks or adults. Roosters are ok

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Be careful with the cedar oil guys---there is lots of info on here that cedar wood is toxic to chickens, it causes respiratory distress...liver damage....so be sure to put oil where the chickens cannot be exposed to fumes or able to peck at it.

Some say yes, some say no, but I would proceed with caution. I put cedar shavings in my coop at the beginning before I knew and I did have some with breathing problems.

It is definitely a great idea, I will have to get some where we have nests by the eaves on our house!

 

[farmerbrian87]

My hens will not eat bees. I've tried with all my girls but they don't seem to think bees are fun to mess with lol. I'm highly allergic to bees so I try to keep all nests out of our yard. I've seen those fake wasps nests and wondered if they worked. I may have to get a few around my house. Is there any kind of herb or mint I can plant around the yard that bees don't like?