My neighbor reported loosing a few more birds; they were older hens that liked to bask in the sun in the afternoon and evidently got caught too far from the safety of his fan protected coop.
The fan, by the way, works perfectly for me, and even kills a few as they get sucked through it; my 7 survivors usually stay either right behind it or in front of it. The youngest pullet came running out thinking I might toss treats at the far end of the pen.................. and ran back even faster. LOL
The bug zapper is completely plugged every day by 10 A.M. now. I\'ve discovered that bug band bracelets work to some degeee for myself. I gardened with them on yesterday, and had to raise them near my face occassionally, but I know they were working................................. I had just enough time to take them off and wash my hands and face before heading to a meeting yesterday, and with them off, a swarm was on me before I got to my van. They don\'t bite me [thank you God] but I inhale them and they make my throat scratchy and voice hoarse. Others tell me they get bit and it\'s quite painful. The bracelets have a strong citronella smell, so I need to find a long lasting citronella spray for my pens.
I also searched a couple of places for citronella geranium plants, I used to grow them for sale when I was employed as a greenhouse grower, but didn\'t find any. I like their aroma, but many complained they stank, and the owner would only let me grow a couple of hundred due to the complaints. They were one of the few plants that always sold out completely though. The ones buying them said they placed them around patioes and decks for mosquito free evenings, and I used them myself for the same.