5 Best Herbs to Control Pests Around a Chicken Coop

5 best herbs to control pests around a chicken coop are peppermint, marigolds, chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm. Why not use the wonderful power of these herbs to naturally control pests like mites, lice, fleas, flies, snakes, rats, mice, raccoons, and more around your chicken coop?

Over the past 20 years, I have tried adding many different dried and fresh herbs to my chickens’ environment. I narrowed it down to 5 herbs that work best at preventing pests from taking up residence in a chicken coop, but also naturally encourage egg-laying, create a calm and soothing environment, and smell great:

1. Peppermint
2. Marigolds
3. Chamomile
4. Lavender
5. Lemon Balm

Best Ways to Use Herbs Around Your Chickens

• Plant peppermint, marigolds, chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm around the perimeter of your chicken coop.
• Sprinkle these dried herbs around the perimeter of your coop, in dust bathing areas, in nesting boxes, and inside the hen house.
• Hang sachets of dried herbs inside your chicken coop and hen house.
• Add to chicken water

I have found that sprinkling dried herbs every 7-10 days keeps pests at bay and also leaves the nesting boxes and chicken coop smelling fresh!

1. Using Peppermint for Pest Control Around a Chicken Coop

Peppermint is by far my favorite dried herb to sprinkle in and around my chicken coop.

Peppermint deters mites, lice, fleas, flies, mosquitos, mice, rats.

• It smells fresh, but rodents and insects don’t like the scent.
• Peppermint will reduce the risk of mites, lice, fleas, mice, and rat infestations.

Encourage egg-laying in hens with peppermint.

• Chickens love the smell too. I sprinkle a little inside my hens’ nesting boxes each week to encourage egg laying.

During extreme heat, peppermint helps to cool hot chickens.

• I sprinkle 1 TBS of dried peppermint into each gallon of chicken drinking water. My flock seems to find it refreshing on hot summer days!

2. Using Marigolds to Control Pests Around a Chicken Coop

Marigolds help to get rid of mites and lice.

Marigolds contain a compound called permethrin. Permethrin is a natural substance that mites and lice do not like. In fact, they hate it, because it can kill them.

It works so well that many mite and lice products add permethrin to them.

I sprinkle these herbs each week into my hen’s nesting boxes and their dust-bathing areas.

Marigolds are also good at keeping flies and mosquitos to a minimum.

If you let your chickens free-range you will not want to plant these around the perimeter of your coop because they will eat them!

Instead, hang them in planters from your chicken coop.

I have found that the years I hung marigold planters from my chicken coop, it kept flies to a minimum.

3. Chamomile to Control Pests Around a Chicken Coop

Using chamomile herbs are effective in deterring pests around a chicken coop due to their natural properties and various uses:

1. Insect-Repellent Properties:

• Chamomile contains compounds such as bisabolol and flavonoids, which have natural insect-repellent properties. These compounds help to deter pests like mites, lice, and fleas when chamomile is scattered around the coop or included in nesting materials.

2. Aromatherapy Benefits:

• The pleasant scent of chamomile not only calms chickens but also masks the odors that attract pests. This can reduce the presence of flies and other nuisance insects around the coop.

3. Health Benefits:

• Chamomile supports overall chicken health by reducing stress and promoting better rest, which makes chickens less susceptible to pest infestations. Healthy chickens have a stronger immune response, helping them fight off pests more effectively.

By incorporating chamomile in and around the chicken coop, you can create a more pleasant environment that naturally deters pests and supports the well-being of your flock.

4. Using Lavender to Control Pests Around a Chicken Coop

Using lavender herbs in and around your chicken coop is an effective way to control pests such as mites, lice, and rodents. Here’s how you can do it, along with a personal experience:

1. Dried Lavender in Nesting Boxes:

• Place dried lavender in the nesting boxes. The scent of lavender repels mites and lice, providing a natural pest control solution. The calming aroma also helps to reduce stress in chickens, which can improve their overall health and egg production.

2. Lavender Sachets:

• Create small sachets filled with dried lavender and hang them around the coop. This will keep the coop smelling fresh while deterring pests. You can also place these sachets in areas where rodents might enter to help keep them at bay.

3. Lavender Plants:

• Plant lavender around the perimeter of your coop. The strong scent of the plants acts as a natural deterrent for rodents and insects. It’s also a beautiful addition to your garden and provides a continuous supply of lavender for use in the coop.

Personal Experience Using Lavender in My Chicken Coop

Several years ago, I noticed that my chickens were scratching more than usual and their egg production had dropped. After inspecting the coop, I found mites and lice. I decided to try using lavender as a natural remedy.

I started by placing dried lavender in the nesting boxes and hanging sachets around the coop. I also planted lavender around the coop’s perimeter.

Within a few weeks, I noticed a significant decrease in pests, and my chickens were more relaxed and productive.

The coop smelled wonderful, and it was a simple, effective solution that I continue to use to this day.

Today, I use a special blend of these herbs and sprinkle them inside their nesting boxes, dust bathing areas and chicken coop floor on a weekly basis.

5. Lemon Balm to Control Pests around a Chicken Coop

Lemon balm is a fantastic herb for deterring pests such as mites, lice, and rodents around a chicken coop. Here’s how it works and my personal experience using it:

1. Insect Repellent:

• Lemon balm contains citronellal, a compound known for its insect-repelling properties.
• By planting lemon balm around your coop or placing dried lemon balm inside, you can help keep mites and lice at bay.
• The strong lemon scent acts as a natural deterrent for these pests, making your coop a less attractive place for them.

2. Stress Relief:

• Besides its pest-repellent properties, lemon balm also has calming effects.
• This can help reduce stress in your flock, which is beneficial since stressed chickens are more susceptible to infestations and other health issues.

3. Rodent Deterrent:

• The strong aroma of lemon balm is unpleasant to rodents.
• Placing lemon balm around your coop can help deter mice and rats, which are common nuisances in chicken coops.

Personal Experience

A few summers ago, I noticed an uptick in lice and mite infestations in my coop.

I decided to try lemon balm after reading about its pest-repelling properties.

I planted lemon balm around the perimeter of the coop and placed dried lemon balm in the nesting boxes and dust bath areas.

Within a few weeks, I saw a noticeable reduction in pests. My chickens seemed more relaxed, and the overall atmosphere of the coop was much improved.

The pleasant scent of lemon balm was a bonus for me whenever I tended to the chickens.

With my extensive experience over the years using multiple herbs in and around my chicken coop, I have developed two special blends of herbs that promote your chickens’ health, happiness, and well-being.

One blend, Cooling Herbs for Chickens, has cooling properties, perfect for use during extreme heat to keep your flock comfortable and stress-free.

The other blend, Nesting Box Herbs, is designed to naturally boost egg laying, ensuring a steady supply of fresh eggs.

Both of these carefully curated blends also help deter pests such as mites, lice, fleas, and rodents, keeping your coop clean and your chickens healthy.