Natural Remedy to help with flies.

[Ellenaj]

If you want to stay away from chemicals, this is the way to do it.

Fresh sprigs of Rosemary (about 4-6" long), spread around the perimeter of the run, hanging in the coop and right around the coop helps eliminate flies. We have a Rosemary bush, and whenever we trim it (just like other hedges), we spread the trimmings and it has worked great! There are other herbs that will help and I'll update this, as I find out more "helpful hints".

I combed through a lot of similar posts asking for help with flies. I don't know how to reference one post, to add this to all of the posts at once, that are asking this question, so will post this here, in hopes a moderator will see it and spread it where it needs to go, or combine all the posts of the same question, so it's easier to find. Please feel free to delete this, if I'm not supposed to put this here. Thank you.

 

[eleaserek]

I've been fighting flies here too! I've had really good luck with this trap:

Which is reusable. I've been using this bait as refil:

But, when I ran out I just didn't pour all the dead flies out when I emptied it, and added more water. Worked just as well.

The only downside though/ THE SMELL is enough to make you hurl. The bait stinks to start, then the decomposing flies just adds to it. It's really really horrible. So just this year I'm gonna try out fly predators. I'm really excited to see how well they work. I like the idea of no more stinky traps!! And it's about as natural as you can get!
Here's where I got mine:
https://www.spalding-labs.com/produ...t_flies.aspx?gclid=CNup8OrVzcwCFQWUfgod_OUNsA

 

[cavemanrich]

You are just fine starting this thread.

. Thanks for your solution to a persistent problem. My solution is fly traps. I keep a number of them around my coop. In a weeks time it looks like I caught about 5000 flies.
They are less than $5 each.


WISHING YOU BEST and

 

[cavemanrich]

Many stores sell them . I get the bag type at Walmart. Amazon has a mess of different ones available. If you buy enough $ amount , the shipping becomes FREE.. I'm sure all the Farm and Fleet, TSC, and other Feed stores carry such as well.

 

[cavemanrich]

The traps come with an attractant inside the bag. You just add water to proper level and the sack inside dissolves and provides the attractant. On the top one in my post above there is a small vile of attractant that you squirt into trap and fill with water to proper level. The buzzing flies inside eventually drown in the water which causes more flies wanting to get in. When it gets going, it looks like you cleaned out the whole neighborhood.
These say disposable when full. That is just a manufacturers suggestion to come and buy another. I have found ways to empty the top version and throw out the 5000 dead flies and refill with water. I then threw is some dry cat food into water to act as attractant. It takes a couple days longer to start working again, BUT IT DOES. Once it is in action with flies inside, its just as good. Considering the $5 price, it is not a budget breaker just to toss and get new. New with its proprietary attractant starts working instantly.

 

[manddharris02]

Ellenaj,
Did you ever find any other herbs to help w flies?
Doe the predators actually work? Where do you put them so the girls ( I only have Hens) won't eat them?

 

[BeeFriendly]

Try

...

I've not seen these anywhere, but I like that it says no pesticides. I bet I can find them on line though. lol thanks for adding to the input, maybe these ideas will help others he

 

[BeeFriendly]

Try walmart. They have bunch of then on shelfs now.

 

[BruceAZ]

They are less than $5 each.

this is what i used before but it smells pretty bad.. even worst than chicken manure

to get rid of flies you have to get rid of their larvae as well-

beneficial insects-- there's a type that will eat flies larvae but i forgot the name


as for adult flies-- you can use traps. but those commercial traps can be pretty smelly

so if you like build your own fly trap like this and just use your chicken manure as bait to save money.. there's no need to pay for those fly bait



or you can use insect screen.. i think they are $9 per 4'x50' roll ? wrap it around your chicken run and keeping them from getting inside the coop

i found the video

fly parasite- mini wasps --(beneficial insect against flies larvae0

 

[BruceAZ]

Thanks everyone! My goal is to be pesticide free so this helps!
BruceAZ - do you have plans for your flytrap? My husband asked what u used to keep them in?

plans? you can use this
http://www.instructables.com/id/Industrial-Fly-Trap/

or you can buy from this place
http://www.groworganic.com/pvfs-wood-fly-trap-12-x12-x12.html

probably cheaper to build your own though

since i have some 1x2 lying around with staples .. insect screen roll is around $10-$20 per 4'x25' roll .. i think