Chewing Tobacco Helps Get Rid of Mites and etc?

[Aleisha]

Got a piece of advice that I'm not sure if I should believe. The advice: add a bit of loose leaf chewing tobacco to the coop and run bedding in order to keep mites and lice at bay. Can this be true???

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, if you put tobacco leaves (the actual leaves) in the nests, it is supposed to keep out pests. There is a farm that grows it near me and I'm always hoping to find some they've dropped in the road to add to a nestbox, LOL.

 

[ErinG]

Have you checked out this thread - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4898663 ?

I would put it in a form that they can't eat, tobacco is toxic to chickens. The leaves might be attractive to them.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm talking about the huge plant leaves, not the ones in the can. They mean right from the plant and you put it under the straw in the nest so it's not really a temptation. I've also been known to put basil and sage leaves in the nests to repel bugs, in addition to adding some DE to kill any that may get in there in spite of the herbs.

Under no circumstances, put cigarette butts or tobacco from the can into the nest--those are too easily consumed. Tobacco would not be my first choice for bug deterrent, but yes, it is supposed to work.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

It's really hard for the chickens to hit the spitoon though.

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
I have never heard of this, I'll have to try it. I'm talking about basil, by law I can't have tobacco