Dealing with flies

[ProCB]

How do you guys with chickens deal with flies? I've tried the obvious things like cleaning the coop regularly to ventilating everything and having multiple escape routes for them but they are still there.

I would just like some ways you guys deal with flies.

 

[kickinthethroat]

Do you use diatomaceous earth? I sprinkle some over the pine shavings on the floor and haven't had any fly issues.

Edit: Make sure its food grade DE

 

[ProCB]

Do you use diatomaceous earth?  I sprinkle some over the pine shavings on the floor and haven't had any fly issues.

Edit:  Make sure its food grade DE

Ok thanks. How much do you put on and where can you get it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Mys Teri]

I think keeping things dry really helps. I sprinkle PDZ over everything when it rains, and whenever I see wet poop. I still get a few flies, but not too bad.
I read on another thread that some people use vanilla car hangers, the cheap ones that look like palm trees. Others use vanilla extract (no sugar).

 

[kickinthethroat]

https://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous...1466990665&sr=1-4&keywords=diatomaceous+earth

That's what I bought... they had a sale recently but I think the price went back up.

 

[JensChickies]

This is the first year I have used DE and it has been really helped. The flies will not land on it, which is great!

 

[Cacique500]

Keeping things dry really helps. I also use 100% pdz in the coop and run which dries the poop out VERY quickly - the flies won't mess with the dry poop. I also hang a fly bag about 50 feet away from the coop and it's working...thousands of flies are in it. It helps if you start the fly bag early in the spring and keep it going until fall. When it fills up, throw up another one and keep it going.

http://www.rescue.com/product/big-bag-fly-trap

 

[azjustin]

I would just like some ways you guys deal with flies.

We have a few chickens that take care of them

Seriously though: if there are flies in the run, on the food, in reach of a chicken beak, the food gets necked back for a half day or so and the flies mysteriously disappear. Chickens will always go for the easy food, chasing mash or pellets is a lot easier than pesky flies!

Fly bags and DE help with the flies that refuse to be eaten and hang out above reach.

Good luck.