HOMESTEAD LIFE ✦ PEST CONTROL
Why I Put Up Bat Houses Instead of Buying a Mosquito Fogger
The natural pest control solution I wish I’d tried years ago — and the four bat houses worth considering.
Bat houses for mosquito control weren’t even on my radar until this summer got bad enough to change my mind about a lot of things. We have Nigerian Dwarf goats on our small homestead, which means we have low water tanks — and low water tanks mean we can’t add fish to eat the mosquito larvae. So every summer, the standing water fills up fast and the mosquitoes that hatch are absolutely relentless.
Several of my kids and my sister are allergic to mosquito bites. We’re not talking minor irritation — we’re talking quarter-size welts that last for days. For years I was one of those lucky people mosquitoes mostly ignored. This summer? They found me too. And when Mike came in from a quick walk to the lawnmower shed with ten ticks on his ankles, I decided we were done just living with it.
Ollie decided the goat tank was her personal splash pad. The mosquitoes thought it was a great idea too. (The big fluffy ones are my mom’s Great Pyrenees — we’re basically running a multi-species homestead over here.)
I was about to order a mosquito fogger when I went down a rabbit hole and landed on bat houses instead. A single bat can eat thousands of mosquitoes in one night. They don’t require electricity, chemicals, or refills. And they’re actually kind of fascinating to watch at dusk. Here’s what I learned — and the four options I’d seriously consider buying.
🦇 What to Actually Look for in a Bat House
Before I got distracted by the cute barn-style ones (and I absolutely did), I did some reading on what bats actually need. Turns out they’re picky. A bat house that looks great to us and does nothing for them is just yard art.
Here’s what matters: at least two chambers so bats can move between warmer and cooler spots depending on the weather. The interior landing surface needs to be rough — bats have to be able to grip it. The house should be dark colored or painted dark to absorb heat, since bats need warm roosts to raise pups. And it needs to be mounted high — at least 12 to 15 feet off the ground — ideally on a pole rather than a tree, away from branches where predators can reach.
Size matters too. Bigger houses attract larger colonies, which means more mosquito control. A tiny decorative house might get one or two bats. A proper double or triple chamber house can eventually host dozens.
🦇 Bat House Comparison — Four Options at Every Budget
| Option | Price | Chambers | Material | Best For | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xeeol Two ChamberBest Value | $26.99 | 2 | Wood | First-timer who wants to try it without a big investment | → Amazon |
| Lxnavihly Double Chamber RetroTop Rated | $38.99 | 2 | Wood | Amazon’s Choice with 74 reviews — proven track record | → Amazon |
| Wenqik 2-Pack CedarBest Deal | $46.99 | 2 each | Cedar Wood | Two houses for one price — cover more of your property | → Amazon |
| Deerdtride 15 FT Pole KitComplete Setup | $82.49 | Pole only | Metal | The right way to mount — includes telescoping pole + ground socket | → Amazon |
🦇 Xeeol Two Chamber Bat House — The Starter Option
This is the one I found first and the one I keep coming back to for anyone who’s never done this before. Two chambers, wood construction, comes with mounting hardware, and at $26.99 it’s not a painful experiment if your bats take a season to find it — which they sometimes do.
The two-chamber design is exactly what bat experts recommend for temperature regulation. It’s large enough to attract a small colony, which on a property with standing water issues is a meaningful amount of pest control. New on Amazon with a 5-star rating — small review count, but what’s there is positive.
If you’re on the fence about bat houses and want to try one before committing to a whole setup, this is where I’d start.
→ Shop on Amazon
🦇 Lxnavihly Double Chamber Retro — Amazon’s Choice
If reviews matter to you (and for something you’re trying to attract wild animals into, they probably should), this is the one to look at. Amazon’s Choice badge, 74 reviews, 4.7 stars, and over 200 bought in the past month. That’s real traction.
The retro design with the peaked roof is honestly the nicest-looking of the bunch — it actually looks like it belongs on a homestead rather than a science project. Weather-resistant wood construction, easy to hang, and the brown-and-black finish is already dark enough to absorb heat without needing to repaint it.
At $38.99 it’s the sweet spot between “cheap enough to try” and “built to actually work.” This is the one I’d pick if I was only buying one house.
→ Shop on Amazon
🦇 Wenqik 2-Pack Cedar Bat Houses — Two for the Price of One
Here’s the math that got my attention: one bat house for $38, or two cedar bat houses for $46. If you have a larger property — or standing water in more than one spot, which we definitely do — two houses at different locations doubles your coverage.
Cedar is also worth noting here. It’s naturally weather-resistant, so you’re not relying on paint or stain holding up through Kansas summers and winters. The pointed roof style on the 2-chamber version sheds rain well, and cedar holds heat differently than cheaper pine or composite wood.
111 reviews at 4.2 stars with an Amazon’s Choice badge on this one too. The most-reviewed option on this list, which means more real-world data that these are actually working for people.
→ Shop on Amazon
🦇 Deerdtride 15 FT Telescoping Pole Kit — Do It Right the First Time
Everything I read about bat houses said the same thing: mounting matters more than which house you buy. Too low, wrong direction, too close to trees — and you’ll wait years for bats that never come. The pole is the piece most people skip and then wonder why their bat house is empty.
This kit comes with a 15-foot heavy-duty telescoping metal pole, a ground socket, and everything you need to install it without digging a post hole. That height — 15 feet — is exactly what bat researchers recommend for attracting a colony, especially in an open area away from trees.
At $82.49 it’s the biggest investment on this list, but you’re buying the house AND the right mounting solution together. If you’re serious about making this work the first season, pair any of the houses above with this pole and you’re set up correctly from day one.
→ Shop on Amazon
If summer pest pressure is hitting your backyard too, you might also like: How I Built a Butterfly Garden This Spring — more ways to work with nature instead of against it.
The Fogger Can Wait
Mosquito foggers work. But they also kill the beneficial insects, require refills, and have to be repeated all summer. Bat houses are a one-time setup that gets better every year as your colony grows.
I’ll be honest — I don’t know yet if ours will work. We’re putting them up this summer and I’ll report back with real results. But I’d rather try the natural solution first and reach for the chemicals only if I have to. 🦇
Have you tried bat houses on your property? Drop a comment — I want to know if they actually worked for you!