Flies everywhere

[jjweiler]

I thought my chickens were going to control my fly population, they have however brought more around my yard. My 6 chickens are free-run and the flies love the droppings but I don't see them chasing any of them. Anybody have thoughts?

 

[rizq]

My chickens don't bother with flies except to snap at the dumb ones that get really close. I used to have a problem with flies. Now I treat my run with stall dry after it rains and use wood chips in the wettest parts. When the wood chips start to get icky (time period depends on how much rain) I rake them out, apply stall dry (heavily in the icky areas), and top off with some woodchips. I don't use the chips very heavily, just a light sprinkling except in the areas that get the wettest.

My chickens free range during most of the day and only spend the night and morning locked in the coop/run. I don't let them out until about noon because I work nights.

 

[kelliepulido]

I use de in the coop when I clean out the coop I throw some of the bedding out in the run then the de works out there too.My flies aren't bad at all,flies increase I clean out the coop and use more de.I was using the wood chips but they are more expens.and it would take 3 bales of them to adequately dust the coop floor.and they are harder to clean out heavy.Now I use 1 bale of straw de and that lasts about 3wks,.throw it out in the run and start over.Or it goes out on the compost heap.A baleof straw costs 2$ and a bale of the wood chips costs 6 plus needs 3 bales.

 

[rizq]

I have trouble with bedding getting nasty fast no matter what it is (drainage problems) and, for me, it is harder to clean up straw than woodchips. Here, straw is $5.50 a bale. About the same as woodchips. I use straw in the dog kennels though ... lasts forever in there.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

Even with all sand in my coop and run, I got tons of flies!

I broke down and got some de...was not happy because I had to order it and the shipping was more than the actual price!

Worth it though, cut down on flies by at least 80%.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

DE ??? Whats that ?? Im just using regular straw and guess what i dont have any flies at all .

As for my goat stable HAHAHA. Thats another story . In the stable i have wood grains and its like that attracts flies so im good using the straw, i get a bale of straw for about 3$ /ea

 

[rizq]

DE is diatomaceous earth. It is also an ingredient in stall dry, which is the only form of it I can find locally. I refuse to pay the shipping to order it!

 

[gottalovemychickens]

thanks for the heads up !!!

 

[Freyja]

I'm going to use DE as well but in the meantime I bought one of these disposable fly traps at the feed store. It uses food & food ingredients to attract the flies -- you just add water. It works great so I'll definitely be getting more.

edited for clarity.

 

[jjweiler]

I do have DE as well, but have only been using it in the coop. The birds are only in the coop at night and spend the whole day in the yard. Just thought these chickens would love tasty flies.