Every time you go out to the chicken pen, mosquitoes and other pests are swarming your flock. You want a way to keep the bugs off of your hens and roosters.
And you find yourself asking: Is citronella safe for chickens?
The short answer is yes. But there are a few things you should know if you want your flock to stay healthy.
What Is Citronella?
Citronella is the common name for plants that belong to the genus Cymbopogon.
There are several varieties of the plant.
The most popular version is ceylon citronella, or Cymbopogon nardus.
It is a grass that is native to Southeast Asia and grows in clumps up to 6 feet wide and 6 feet high. Most commercial citronella products come from the oil of ceylon citronella.
There are many other varieties, all native to tropical climates.
If you would like to learn more about the plants that belong to the genus Cymbopogon, click here.
Citronella Oil Is the Key to Repelling Insects
The plants themselves have a citrusy scent. They do a decent job of keeping mosquitoes and other irritating bugs away — from people and chickens.
However, it is the oil within the leaves that has more powerful repellent properties.
The oil is extracted from the leaves and used in commercial applications to make fuel for lanterns and tiki torches, as well as candles, soaps, sprays, and other products geared toward keeping away mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Some people apply the oil directly to the skin, but this can cause irritation. But you probably won’t run into that issue if you apply citronella oil to your chickens. (More on that later.)
However, the plants themselves are nontoxic to people and wildlife, including chickens..
So, if your chickens are snacking on the citronella plants in your yard, do not worry — they will be fine.
Citronella Oil Is Safe to Use on and Around Chickens
If flying insects are bothering your flock, add a drop of citronella essential oil to a carrier oil (such as coconut or olive oil), and apply it to your feathered friends.
This should keep the pesky insects from biting them.
Just be sure to avoid getting oil in their eyes, ears and nostrils!
An important thing to note is that this method works best for grown hens. Chicks have skin that is still a bit sensitive for direct application of the oil, so it is best to wait until they are a bit bigger.
Until then, try to keep the chicks in an area that’s relatively protected from swarming mosquitoes.
Citronella Candles Are Another Story…
What about citronella candles? Are citronella candles safe for chickens?
The main problem with candles is that they contain wax, which can compact in the digestive system. Many birds, including chickens, are drawn to wax and will nibble on it like a treat.
While the citronella oil in the candles is not toxic, the wax used to make the candle can cause potentially serious problems in the digestive tract of a chicken.
Paraffin wax is particularly risky. That’s because it’s made from petroleum and could contain many chemicals that are bad for birds.
On top of that:
Burning a candle in or near a chicken coop is a bad idea. The open flame could catch the coop on fire.
Besides the dangers of an open flame, the fumes and smoke released by a candle are bad for the respiratory systems of chickens and other birds.
Citronella Is Safe for Chickens — with Some Exceptions
All in all, citronella is safe for chickens. And it may be an effective way to keep mosquitoes and gnats from pestering your flock.
Just don’t put any citronella candles in or near your coop. Rely on the natural citronella plants and oils to do their work without the open flame.