Wasp nests in the chicken run

[dawg53]

Starter fluid spray kills wasps on contact. Easy peasy.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

but permethrin also kills new wasps who wish to restart at the old nest location...

and is more biodegradeable than starter fluid, for those concerned with such things.

 

[dawg53]

With starter fluid the old nest location isnt re-buildable due to being non-biodegradeable.
That's a good thing, no more getting stung by a hot poker.

 

[DukesDucks]

I leave old wasp nests in place after killing the wasps. The idea is that any new wasps coming around looking for a place to start, will think the area is already taken.

 

[Sally PB]

but permethrin also kills new wasps who wish to restart at the old nest location...

and is more biodegradeable than starter fluid, for those concerned with such things.

Yeah, I am concerned with that.

Good news: I see no more wasps on the nests. Thanks for the suggestion, @U_Stormcrow.

Less good news: There's a new wasp nest in my garden shed (far away from the chickens). I still have a can of Raid, so I will blast them with that. Last time they built a nest in the shed, I found out by getting stung on the back of my hand. Dang, that HURT!

 

[Mosey2003]

I just hit them with the garden hose and keep going until they've either drowned or are disoriented enough on the ground to safely stomp

 

[Al Gerhart]

Seriously, almost any sort of hydro carbon will mess wasps up but lacquer thinner works best. This is the top corner of my spray booth where I tend to spray only lacquer or pre cat lacquer. One summer a couple of dirt daubers started trying to build some cells for eggs but would get drunk and kept starting a new cell every few hours. They would come back with a load of mud, usually smack into the wall or ceiling and drop to the ground, or if landed they would forget which cell they were working on and start a new cell. Nothing like spraying the final top coat on an expensive cabinet door and having a dang wasp land in the middle of it. Red wasps, yellow jackets, they all love the smell of lacquer thinner, get drunk, become incredibly docile, and easy to squash. A single drop or mist on them also kills them instantly.

 

[Sally PB]

A single drop or mist on them also kills them instantly.

I will have to remember this. Thanks for the info.

 

[early riser]

View attachment 3591562
I found two of these inside the chicken run.

If they were outside, I'd spray them with Raid wasp/hornet killer. (And then skedaddle.) The bugs fall to the ground, twitch, and die. Sorry bugs, my house/shed/greenhouse, my rules. You're not welcome. You've stung me before.

I don't want the chickens to eat the wasps, and I doubt the spray that falls to the ground should be on their menu. Someone mentioned spraying the nest with a mixture of Dawn dish soap/water, a teaspoon soap to a cup of water. Would that be safe for chickens to eat, if they chose to?

Does anyone have other ideas on how to get rid of them in a chicken-safe manner? I'm going to tag a bunch of people for input. I can't be the only person with this problem. Thank you!

@aart @DobieLover @U_Stormcrow @sourland @Shadrach @3KillerBs @Perris

I go out at dark and knock them down. Chickens take care of the rest. My birds free range and they like to eat anything that moves!

 

[davez]

View attachment 3591562
I found two of these inside the chicken run.

If they were outside, I'd spray them with Raid wasp/hornet killer. (And then skedaddle.) The bugs fall to the ground, twitch, and die. Sorry bugs, my house/shed/greenhouse, my rules. You're not welcome. You've stung me before.

I don't want the chickens to eat the wasps, and I doubt the spray that falls to the ground should be on their menu. Someone mentioned spraying the nest with a mixture of Dawn dish soap/water, a teaspoon soap to a cup of water. Would that be safe for chickens to eat, if they chose to?

Does anyone have other ideas on how to get rid of them in a chicken-safe manner? I'm going to tag a bunch of people for input. I can't be the only person with this problem. Thank you!

@aart @DobieLover @U_Stormcrow @sourland @Shadrach @3KillerBs @Perris

Puff them with diatomaceous earth aka DE. Safe to eat. Bad g for any bug with an exoskeleton.
Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade