mostin Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I have just read the September issue of Practical Poultry magazine. Page 26 has an article entitled "A mixed bag". In the second column lemon balm is mentioned as a way to keep your chicken run smelling sweet and insect free . Very interested to hear this as I have a whole flower bed in my garden taken over by lemon balm. Has anybody tried using this plant before? I have a covered walk in run which I fill with a deep bed of rapasorb easibed which smells of citronella for the 1st week but then fades. Should I scatter it all around the floor of the run? Should I put it in the coop too? It seems to be one of the few plants my girls don't eat when free range round the garden so perhaps they won't eat it when it's in the run? Any ideas/advice/experience anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 It's got to be worth a try!!! Apparently lavender is good also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 You could try dividing some of your original plant and planting some in the run, the chickens might not eat it if its bitter... Otherwise if it was me I would tie stems in to bunches and 'bruise' the leaves so they release the oils then hang it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 I don't have to worry about running out of it. My "original plant" is about 5m square now and about 1.5 m tall. Didn't think about hanging bunches of it. Will definitely need to bruise the leaves though to release the scent, your right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'm interested to read about this too . MIL gave me a lemon balm plant in a pot and I put it in the chickens' free range area (still in the pot) to see if they'd eat it. They haven't, so I think I'll repot it and put it in the WIR . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Always good to hear of a plant the feathered fiends leave behind... And could be useful as well.... I might have to acquire some I think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I sowed some catnip seed this spring, and was thrilled when it all germinated, raised lots of little plants ... I was less thrilled when I went to pinch the tops out and realised they were ALL lemon balm. I've complained to the (well-known) seed company because it was a proper packet purchased from a shop, but have yet to receive a reply. I freecycled about ten plants, but still have a few left, I will try it in the chicken run. I already have one in the garden, and it does tend to take over, a bit like mint - only plant it where you want it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I have planted quite a large bush of lemon balm, taken from a bigger bush like yours mostin and planted it in my WIR. However the run isnt finished yet so dont know how the chooks will treat it. At least the bush is getting a chance to get more established before the girls get in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I also read this yesterday, it was almost stated with a 'as everyone knows' sort of tone - I was going to ask if anyone else had heard this before as it was news to me. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 I also read this yesterday, it was almost stated with a 'as everyone knows' sort of tone - I was going to ask if anyone else had heard this before as it was news to me. Tracy I thought that too. I have even, sorry forgive me , asked the same question on the P.P. forum , as it's not been discussed on there before either. Some people on there are saying they also put in lavender, rosemary and bayleaves with their girls. It sounds a bit like a recipe doesn't it , but it's all for insect repelling and antiseptic properties apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Some people on there are saying they also put in lavender, rosemary and bayleaves with their girls. I've got all of those in my garden, but I'm avoiding the bay at the mo...wasps & flies seem to have taken it up as a good meeting place What a great thought though....tussie mussies/bouquet garnis in the WIR !!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romany Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Interesting to hear that most of your chickens avoid eating your lemon balm - my flock completely decimated my entire patch in a matter of hours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 ok, well as some of you MAY know I have a mega mega fly problem! I have 2 guest chickens at the moment, on concrete slabs, with a mixture of Auboise , easy bed(non citronella one) & sofet fluffy ultra absorbant flax. I have tried the lemon balm leaves, WITH lavederAMD majoram & oregano leaves. Well its not heaving in there but they are still ther on the poohs, but then there are so many around the garden!!! I do find keeping it as shady as possible helps! NOT bay, they will be all over it... tried it last year, also massive eucalypyus tree next door overhangs, & they just love those leaves(the flies that is!) Oh and also been sptikling citronella oil neat onto roof of their wooden coop in there! Only thing that works is the fly papers on the ground & pemithrian spray! Nit I have long thin garden and move to differnt parts throught the day, for rotational fly slautering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 ok, well as some of you MAY know I have a mega mega fly problem!I have 2 guest chickens at the moment, on concrete slabs, with a mixture of Auboise , easy bed(non citronella one) & sofet fluffy ultra absorbant flax. I have tried the lemon balm leaves, WITH lavederAMD majoram & oregano leaves. Well its not heaving in there but they are still ther on the poohs, but then there are so many around the garden!!! I do find keeping it as shady as possible helps! NOT bay, they will be all over it... tried it last year, also massive eucalypyus tree next door overhangs, & they just love those leaves(the flies that is!) Oh and also been sptikling citronella oil neat onto roof of their wooden coop in there! Only thing that works is the fly papers on the ground & pemithrian spray! Nit I have long thin garden and move to differnt parts throught the day, for rotational fly slautering! I can really recomend using Hemcore, as the citronella in it does certainly help. I also have a water sprayer with citronella in it, for when the chooks are out and about. Although we try and pick up the poo's regularly, there is always a bit left on the patio/grass that the flies love and spraying with the citronella water keeps them away, until I do do a big hose-down and brush-up towards the end of the day. Just what we have found helps with the flies - but I am sure won't work for everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I am beginning to think I have had a hex on me with my flies. I bought 3 small jars of citronnella only a couple of weeks ago. used them in garden sprayers and as I said on the top of that wooden coop. Tried a small sprayer after the pooh pick, but they just go for a bit then swarm again! Loving an overcast day or 2! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 My chickens eat lemon balm, just before i remember to pick any of it so it's pretty useless at keeping flies away for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 and I was just looking ar the flies sitting on my bush today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
