4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[hopingforchickens]

I read on a thread on here a while ago that if you put some citronella oil in a terracotta dish high up in the run, as the sun warms the dish, it releases a nice smell. My question is, should I use pure 100% citronella oil for this? I've looked at a few online and it varies from pure oil right through to torch/bbq liquid (which I presume is completely wrong!). Does anyone get this and if so is there a good supplier online?

 

Thanks

[Chicken Kitty]

I bought some Citronella essential oil online from 'Amazon', sold by a company called 'Calmer Solutions Limited', it was about £5 including postage. Hope that helps!

[jaspersmum]

We got ours on ebay from a seller(can't remember who now - sorry) that specialises in equine products - it's much cheaper if you get a veterinary grade one than anything that's meant to be used on humans. We mix about 40 drops with water in a 1ltr spray bottle and use in as a light mist over the wood chips in their run, it helps to make everything smell sweet and seems to help with keeping the flies away. The girls don't seem to notice it, we just keep it away from their food and drink areas.

 

Hope that helps x

[jackian]

I brought mine last year on line (can't remember where from sorry ) but they were in a drop bottle .I hung a empty hanging basket up lined with a absorbent cloth and put a few drops in it .It worked really well,everything smelt sweet and It cut down on the amount of flies...Not used it this year you have just reminded me .(weather has not been that hot)

[Gertie]

I got mine from Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CITRONELLA-ESSENTIAL-Cymbopogon-nardus-100ml/dp/B002RJHBEA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1343932038&sr=8-3

 

I think it's just pure essential oil. I soaked a couple of terracotta pots in it and left them outside the run when they were newly done as the smell was very strong. I have not seem many flies but I don't know if that is due to the oil!! I think the bottle will last a while.

[clucker1]

Us equestrians use citroenella to deter those nasty flies on horses, so yes it does help to deter the little blighters.

You can buy it at horse feed merchants and online I expect too.

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks everyone, that's a big help!

[wannabe smallholder]

Is citronella safe for the chickens if sprayed on wood chip? Or should it be put outside the run somewhere? Just looking at my options as the flies are beginning to gather and don't fancy hanging the red top I bought as I don't think my garden is big enough to cope with the pong!! Xx

[jaspersmum]

As long as it's diluted in water (we mix 40 drops in a 1 litre spray bottle of water) it's fine to spray around on wood chip - just keep it out of their food and water containers, more because they don't like the taste. We've never had a problem using it like that.

[wannabe smallholder]

Thanks jaspersmum xx