Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

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Congratulations, the coop looks great!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

For flies, find the moisture and cover with DE or Sweet PDZ. Both are good desssicants (they help dry things up).

 

[mclevinson]

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The flies you see are emerging from the soil, from where they crawled as larvae and pupated some time ago. I use the plastic bag types of fly traps around the compost area (the ones with the yeasty mixture inside that REALLY stinks). We still occasionally get terrible outbreaks that last a couple days in late spring, but we haven't had any recently. I think that next spring I'm going to use nematodes, they'll attack the fly larvae as well as the Japanese beetle grubs. Here are some fly control options that shouldn't be harmful to your chickens: http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/organic-pest-control-fly-control

They're in the soil? Grass and Garden? Oh yuck. I think maybe the beneficial nematodes then. Thank you. I did use one of the stinky jars. Gag me with a spoon.

 

[Mahonri]

We just had irrigation for our yard. FLIES ARE EVERYWHERE!

 

[mclevinson]

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Oh heck. They are all over my strawberry bed and buzzing and once in a while I get a bunch in the house. UNacceptable.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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I use DE - I haven't seen the flies this year yet, but whenever they show up, I sprinkle DE around the run on top of the poop - it kills the fly larvae and if flies can't reproduce, they dwindle away.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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Nice to see you back. Hope things are going well with the homeschooling and chickens.

 

[mclevinson]

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I use DE - I haven't seen the flies this year yet, but whenever they show up, I sprinkle DE around the run on top of the poop - it kills the fly larvae and if flies can't reproduce, they dwindle away.

I have been using DE in the coop, perhaps not often enough. The hens all scratch quite a bit, it's hard to believe anything survives in there. Shavings over sand, lots of scratching and digging. I throw fresh shavings in when I see poop, and stir things up when they do not. I think it's the lawn and garden.

 

[mclevinson]

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And I thought irrigation would be a good thing.

 

[LarryPQ]

SPeaking of flies: I FINALLY get rid of the flies, and then today I got a whole pallet of sod for free! I KNOW the chickens will kill it eventuaally, but I covered the entire run anyway. Then I watered. Waiting for flies to attack...