Off label insect repellent

[MTKitty]

On recommendations here, I picked up some fly spray for the goats. We had a ton of rain this spring and the flies and mosquitos are horrible.

The spray I picked up has pyrethrins and seems to work a little. I am a bit alarmed that it cautions against getting it on skin, even though it is marketed as a wipe on solution.

Because I’m not impressed with its performance and the way I can taste it after I’ve applied it to the goats, I ordered Skin-So-Soft (original oil formula) from Avon. It is arriving tomorrow.

Now for the question(s): Has anyone used SSS on their critters? Did you cut it with water and use the “shake and spray” method to apply it? Or did you wipe it on neat?

Since it’s oil-based, I expect wipe-on will get messy, but I believe spray has control problems with respect to where it goes. Any thoughts on applying are welcome. I’ve been considering this for a week now.

 

[farmerjan]

I used to use it on the horse years ago... my cousin was an avon lady... I wiped it on with a cloth... kept the cloth in a plastic container in the barn and just put more on it when I needed to.

There is a dairy spray that has pyrethrins... it can be used in the milk house etc... yes, you are going to smell it a little bit until it dries... I used it on the cows in the barn for milking... spray, then put hay in the bunk, feed grain, then sit down to milk...kills the flies RIGHT NOW . If you go in a feed/ag store... go to the dairy cattle stuff and it is a tall aerosol can... it will say something to the effect of a dairy spray.... can't think of the name off hand... I don't remember it saying about not getting it on the skin... but you are not supposed to spray it directly on the bare skin... or soak them in it... It will get them off their legs and bellies within minutes...

 

[MTKitty]

Update: the SSS came in today. I poured a bit on chamois cloth, folded it, and stuffed it in a smallish container for a few hours to permeate.

At milking time, I wiped both momma and baby with the cloth. I actually watched a fly head for a lower leg and get within an inch. It seemed to stop for a split second before zooming in another direction. So far, so good.

Not to mention, the goats are all shiny and smell pretty.