Poultry, Pests and Pongs! Chicken Keepers – what you need to know about peppermint!

When my business partner and I were creating our coop spray we researched many essential oils to identify one that would not only complement our range but, more importantly, do the best job of repelling troublesome pests and flies. We had both heard that peppermint might fit the bill.

Before launching Coop Gloop we used it ourselves for more than 6 summer months. We were very pleased; it was even more effective than we had anticipated and appeared to work better than some of the established brands we had both used for years to combat the mites that rage through flocks in warm seasons.  I really began to wonder more about what we had only, luckily, stumbled upon, perhaps it wasn’t just an old wives tale...

Now we know, here’s the summary of our research..

Peppermint is proven to keep most pests away, including aphids, beetles, caterpillars, ticks, fleas, flies, lice, mice and moths. Spiders* are also repelled but we prefer not to include them in the list of pests.. but how does it work?

The chemical compounds found in peppermint oil include terpene, alcohol and menthol. Each one is a natural fumigant which is picked up by the smell receptors of insects and rodents. These can cause a range of effects (and can vary depending on insect type and which compound they find most troublesome) including paralysis, death, appetite suppression, non-maturity of larvae or burning sensations. 

It has been found to be effective against textile moths, various mites and has even been found to have an antiviral effect on herpes, influenza and Newcastles virus** It has been used in dilute form to treat everything from mites in honey bees to cockroach infestations.

Additionally, peppermint is an effective antibacterial and antimicrobial, particularly against E. coli and S. aureus. For anyone keeping chickens this is a solution that just keeps giving!

Using essential oils as pesticides is generally considered ‘low risk’ as the oils come from plant sources and being bio degradable Coop Gloop is not dangerous to the environment.

We chose peppermint for its uplifting aroma, it’s so fresh and, not least due to its use in toothpaste and other cleaning products, it creates a sense of ‘clean’. There is nothing to beat good hen husbandry but we are pleased to be able to say - Coop Gloop coop spray, not just a pretty colour and scent!

Author Jill Wilson

Jill is the co-founder of Georges Chicken Remedies

‘We make scents for chickens!’

October 2022

Sources include:

* https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-do-insects-hate-the-smell-of-peppermint/

** https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/56135/peppermint-oil-MRP-NYSIPM.pdf  (Page 11/18)

N.B. As an essential oil in its raw state peppermint can burn your skin but in the Coop Gloop mix a dispersant removes this risk although we still advise that the spray is not used directly on birds or eggs.