Add camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol.
Cathryn rainbowsilkiesTM in Michigan
On Tuesday, June 10, 2014 7:24 PM, "sidesaddle5@yahoo.com [CHICKENS-101]" <CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
It's the season for gnats, all right--blackflies, in this neck of the woods. I'll have to say they don't seem to bother my chickens, but they are horrible for the horses (and us). Especially Cricket, who isn't as inclined to roll now as close to term as she is, and the black flies are terrible on the sides of her swelling udder (I've been rubbing Bag Balm into it every night). I've heard of gnats sucking baby bluebirds in the nestboxes to the point of anaemia or death, although haven't seen it happen here--they'll get fly larvae in the nest material, though, that will do a bad job.
A suggestion for future--you, or they, might want to grow a good supply of insect-repelling herbs--I'd have to look up what works best, but if my memory is right, that could include rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, and some of the scented geraniums. I think I've even seen some (high priced!) packets of dried herbs that could be put into nest boxes, probably strewn on the floor as well.
What about adding a little powdered garlic to the hens' feed--is that safe? I do so for the horses all summer, plus cider vinegar, in their grain, and it does seem to help some.
I'd better do some work on safe bug repellent, too--can't use the commercial stuff on Cricket's tummy, udder, or other places the baby might mistakenly suck or lick...
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
A suggestion for future--you, or they, might want to grow a good supply of insect-repelling herbs--I'd have to look up what works best, but if my memory is right, that could include rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, and some of the scented geraniums. I think I've even seen some (high priced!) packets of dried herbs that could be put into nest boxes, probably strewn on the floor as well.
What about adding a little powdered garlic to the hens' feed--is that safe? I do so for the horses all summer, plus cider vinegar, in their grain, and it does seem to help some.
I'd better do some work on safe bug repellent, too--can't use the commercial stuff on Cricket's tummy, udder, or other places the baby might mistakenly suck or lick...
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
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Posted by: CathrynTherese <cathryntherese@yahoo.com>
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