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July 23, 2013 2 min read

Hungry deer are well known for eating any type of plant they come across, whether it is scrubs, flowers, crops, or even trees. A mother deer and her fawns can wipe out a homeowners garden in the time it takes them to go out to eat themselves! That is why many homeowners want to know the best deer repellents that work best of all. Luckily, there are a variety of solutions that work very well, and with very little effort or expense.

The most popular deer repellent that it tried and true over many years is actually one that can easily be made at home, with ingredients that most households already have right on hand. To make this deer repellent, you will need a gallon container: using one that you can recycle is best; an egg; and water. There are a few different approaches to this recipe.

The easiest approach is to fill the gallon container (a milk jug will work) with water and then crack and egg into it. Mix or shake it gently. If you agitate it too much, it will foam. Sprinkle this mixture liberally onto any leaves and flowers that you do not want deer to eat. This mixture is very easy and effective, but it will wash off with rain or watering, so it is very important to stay vigilant and reapply when needed. After a while, though the deer will find other places to eat, and once their habits change, reapplication may not be needed on such a regular basis.

The next variation is to follow the instructions above, but to let the mixture “fester” in the sun for at least an hour, longer if desired. After anywhere from and hour to twenty-four hours, the egg will putrefy and the smell will be much stronger. Apply in the same way. This stronger mixture may work better, although the verdict is still out. It takes a little longer to make, and applying it is a stinkier job, so experiment to see what works best for your needs. The putrefied egg smell is the main reason to use a recyclable, so that washing rotten egg smell off of containers need not be part of the deal.

The next variation is to cook the eggs first. It doesn’t matter how–no one is going to eat them. A cracked egg can even be quickly zapped in the microwave. This should be added to the mixture and mixed with the water as much as possible. Some research has suggested that egg solid works better than raw egg. Like the variation above, this mixture can be left outside to putrefy before application.

Finally, some more additions to any of the above variations can be tried. First, additions to make it taste bad to deer, such as chili power or cinnamon. The egg deters them with their sense of smell, and adding a taste deterrent boosts the power, according to some gardeners. Oil (vegetable, baby, mint, etc.) can be added to help the mixture adhere to the plant leaves.

Experimenting with the above suggestions will eventually create the best deer repellents that work best for your needs.

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