How can I keep flies off of my chickens during the summer?

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PixieChick19

PixieChick19

Chirping
Jun 19, 2015
55
8
71
To the left of the middle of nowhere
Every year, I have the same problem with my black and other dark colored chickens. Since they are dark colored they get really hot and there is nothing I can do about that, but the weird thing is that these flies continue to viciously bite and exposed skin causing my chickens (only the black ones or ones that have black legs) to bleed and to be extremely agitated in the hot weather. It gets so bad sometimes that I had a chicken that literally went crazy and ran around until she collapsed in an attempt to get rid of the flies. It also affected her laying and she went on strike for about a week. This is a very serious problem for me because I have a young black pullet that is just starting to experience this problem. What can I do or use to keep the flies off of my chickens?
 
Pardon me for stating the obvious. Keep the poop picked up and dispose of it in a composting area with hydrated lime sprinkled over it to discourage fly breeding.

I have twenty-one chickens and no flies. The run is sand and easily scooped several times a day. Flies are attracted to the poop. Deny them the attraction, and soon you won't have any.

If scooping poop doesn't appeal to you or you haven't got the time for it, then research ways for your run to be self-composting, ie, deep litter method.
 
Mrs. K said:
What part of the country are you in? Different parts of the country have different problems due to different climates.
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X 2. We have "deer flies" here, but they may be different than what yours are. The ones here do not bother chickens that I know of, but they do hurt when they bite. I think some call them horse flies.
 
keesmom said:
Quote: X3

Deer flies are different than horse flies, they both are annoyingly aggressive and unrelenting as h3ll and the bites from both are painful and bloody.

PixieChick19 said:
Is there a kind of spray that I can use that is safe for my chickens?
Click to expand...
I doubt it.
Most anything strong enough to deter the deer flies could cause respiratory problems for the birds.

But what part of the country are you in?
Knowing that might help folks give you a suggestion, which is why it was asked.

Are the deer flies in the coop too?
Maybe keep the birds cooped during the worst part of the day.
Click to expand...
 
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Feed store are starting to carry a product I LOVE, kills flies on contact 2 for around $25. Red hanging plastic with holes on root and back, a tube of attractant at the bottom. They last 8 weeks. It made me a believer within 2 days. Only problem is I can't remember the name. When I go to the barn in the morning I will look at box and will let you know the name.
QuickStrike is the name of what I'm using.
400
 
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