Certain plants such as citronella, lemon balm, basil, lavender and several more repel mosquitoes. Plant a garden around your chicken coop to repel mosquitoes, insects, and even rodents. They can be planted in hanging planters, in recycled, painted old tires, etc. You can cut sprigs and leaves off them and place in your chicken coop bedding, nest box bedding, in a vase as a beautiful table decoration in your home or while cooking out, and anywhere you want natural protection from mosquitoes, insects, and rodents. Make sure you plant where your chickens cannot access the plants or else they will dig them up or eat them.
Citronella plants
Most common ingredient in most mosquito repellents. Has a strong fragrance which masks other scents. This beautiful clumping grass, is easy to grow and can grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Grows well in pots or in the ground.
Lemon Balm (Horse mint, bee balm)
Easy to grow, resists drought and grows good even in the shade. It can take over area's very quickly so you may wish to keep it in plant pots. The dried leaves can be used in herbal tea.
Cat Nip
Ten times more effective than DEET which is used in many mosquito repellents. Do not plant with other plants if you have cats. Cats love to eat, play and roll around in it.
Basil
Also called Great Basil or St. Joseph's Wort is a culinary herb of the Lamiaceae (mints) family. Basil is commonly used for cooking Italian, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes and is well known for it's ability to repel mosquitoes.
Lavender
Is of the Lamiaceae family, native to Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and some parts of Europe. Lavender probably best known for it's calming affects in herbal tea, is also well known for treating insomnia, nervous stomach, anxiety, colic, and depressive or migraine headaches, and sore muscles. It also works as a mosquito repellent because they do not like the smell that Lavender exudes.
Peppermint
Insects and mice do not like the smell of peppermint. If you get bit by a mosquito you can use the leaves to reduce the inflammation by rubbing them onto the bite.
Pennyroyal
Well known for killing germs on the skin, as a treatment for gout, venomous bites, mouth sores, as a flea-killing bath, and it repels mosquitoes. However, it is important to note that Pennyroyal oil is highly toxic if it is ingested so do not plant it where your chickens have NO access to it. Some people use Pennyroyal as an abortifacient (has been used to induce abortions in animals that have mated undesirably). Using it as an abortifacient is highly dangerous as hemorraging and other complications can occur.
Rosemary
Also called Rosmarinus officinalis is a fragrant flowering herb with leaves shaped like the needles of an evergreen tree. The flowers can be white, pink, purple, or blue. Often used to flavor lamb and fish dishes. Known to attract butterflies and repel mosquitoes.
Geraniums
Well known as an acne treatment, to reduce inflammation, relieve anxiety, and balance hormones. The smell of geraniums is very close to the same smell of roses. Geraniums are known to repel leaf hoppers, nematodes, and other pests but it has not been proven that they actually repel mosquitoes.
Marigolds
An annual growing, hardy bright colored flower that mosquitoes do not like because it contains Pyrethrum which is an ingredient used in many insect repellents.
Garlic
Planting garlic around your chicken coop will repel mosquitoes. You can make a garlic spray and spray it around your coop to keep insects away. The spray will repel insects and mosquitoes for about two weeks and other insects for almost a month. You can also feed your chickens a little garlic but doing this will effect the flavor of your eggs. Scroll down to find out how to make a garlic spray.
Most common ingredient in most mosquito repellents. Has a strong fragrance which masks other scents. This beautiful clumping grass, is easy to grow and can grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Grows well in pots or in the ground.
Lemon Balm (Horse mint, bee balm)
Easy to grow, resists drought and grows good even in the shade. It can take over area's very quickly so you may wish to keep it in plant pots. The dried leaves can be used in herbal tea.
Cat Nip
Ten times more effective than DEET which is used in many mosquito repellents. Do not plant with other plants if you have cats. Cats love to eat, play and roll around in it.
Basil
Also called Great Basil or St. Joseph's Wort is a culinary herb of the Lamiaceae (mints) family. Basil is commonly used for cooking Italian, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes and is well known for it's ability to repel mosquitoes.
Lavender
Is of the Lamiaceae family, native to Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and some parts of Europe. Lavender probably best known for it's calming affects in herbal tea, is also well known for treating insomnia, nervous stomach, anxiety, colic, and depressive or migraine headaches, and sore muscles. It also works as a mosquito repellent because they do not like the smell that Lavender exudes.
Peppermint
Insects and mice do not like the smell of peppermint. If you get bit by a mosquito you can use the leaves to reduce the inflammation by rubbing them onto the bite.
Pennyroyal
Well known for killing germs on the skin, as a treatment for gout, venomous bites, mouth sores, as a flea-killing bath, and it repels mosquitoes. However, it is important to note that Pennyroyal oil is highly toxic if it is ingested so do not plant it where your chickens have NO access to it. Some people use Pennyroyal as an abortifacient (has been used to induce abortions in animals that have mated undesirably). Using it as an abortifacient is highly dangerous as hemorraging and other complications can occur.
Rosemary
Also called Rosmarinus officinalis is a fragrant flowering herb with leaves shaped like the needles of an evergreen tree. The flowers can be white, pink, purple, or blue. Often used to flavor lamb and fish dishes. Known to attract butterflies and repel mosquitoes.
Geraniums
Well known as an acne treatment, to reduce inflammation, relieve anxiety, and balance hormones. The smell of geraniums is very close to the same smell of roses. Geraniums are known to repel leaf hoppers, nematodes, and other pests but it has not been proven that they actually repel mosquitoes.
Marigolds
An annual growing, hardy bright colored flower that mosquitoes do not like because it contains Pyrethrum which is an ingredient used in many insect repellents.
Garlic
Planting garlic around your chicken coop will repel mosquitoes. You can make a garlic spray and spray it around your coop to keep insects away. The spray will repel insects and mosquitoes for about two weeks and other insects for almost a month. You can also feed your chickens a little garlic but doing this will effect the flavor of your eggs. Scroll down to find out how to make a garlic spray.
How to Make A Garlic Spray
Mince five cloves of garlic
Cover the minced garlic with mineral oil
Soak for 24 hours
After soaking 24 hours remove minced garlic pieces
Mix the mineral oil the garlic soaked in with 2 cups of water
Add 1 tsp of lemon juice
Strain through a cheesecloth
Put in a spray bottle
Can be sprayed in and around your nest boxes and chicken coop.
Cover the minced garlic with mineral oil
Soak for 24 hours
After soaking 24 hours remove minced garlic pieces
Mix the mineral oil the garlic soaked in with 2 cups of water
Add 1 tsp of lemon juice
Strain through a cheesecloth
Put in a spray bottle
Can be sprayed in and around your nest boxes and chicken coop.
References: 11 plants that repel mosquitoes. (Mar.16, 2017). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEFAj6TXmb8
