Flies everywhere!!!!

[SunnySkies]

Mythbusters did the penny in water trick, and busted it. You might be able to find the episode online. It was a couple seasons ago.

I have a tape trap and got some fly bait (made by Bayer) today to put in the kitchen. I can't stand how many flies got in my house!

Next year, I will try fly predators, only I don't know how successful they will be as the neighbors have cattle and sheep. I can buy enough to account for my animals, but I have no idea how many he has...I think it fluctuates. I loved the predators at our previous place, but the neighbors had no animals and the farm had a stable equine population.

 

[JanetS]

This is what we did. We bought some basil plants (boxwood & sweet) put them in hanging pots and attached them to outside of the run and coop. They have a very
strong smell that fly don't like. This has worked great. Fewer flies without using chemicals and sprays. Rosemary and lavender work also.

 

[RedneckGurl]

Quote:
I've got rosemary planted in raised beds around my run but those haven't stopped the flies one little bit. Perhaps I don't have enough? Although I have to wonder exactly how much is enough? I don't have any basil near the run but I've got six or seven in my garden next to my tomatoes. I wonder if it only works if you hang the plants?

 

[wasntme]

The above posts brought up another point. When I was doing aquaponics and raised beds, Marigolds were great for bug repellent. I'd also like to point out that chickens love Marigolds! Just don't let them have too much as it will change the color of their yolks to too dark and will be unappetizing. They are also supposed to repel lice, etc. In my situation, my girls are in a coop and run most of the time so they wouldn't really get into the flowers anyway. Hey, you all just gave me an idea!

 

[DLV58]

Hi, I have my first flock and was surprised about how many flies they attract.
I tried the baggies with pennies/water and the vanilla tree air fresheners and they don't work.
I bought some sticky fly strips from Ace hardware and they catch 100's of flies !!!
You have to be carefully where you place them (low traffic areas)
It doesn't get rid of them but you can see that it helps.

 

[steveurkel]

I planted a box of basil and mint next to the run and its worked out so far. Good luck!

 

[AmpersatChick]

Love these ideas! I think we need to do some chicken coop landscaping next weekend!

 

[wasntme]

There's a book I found at Tractor Supply (might find it online at Amazon too) called Free-Range Chicken Gardens by Jessi Bloom. The table of contents consists of:

chicken & gardens-working together

chickens in your garden: practical considerations

designing a chicken-friendly garden

landscape materials for chicken gardens

plants with purpose ( plants for chicken gardens, food & forage, medicinal plants, poisonous plants, chicken-resistant plants, colorful seasonal plants, native plants, plants for fragrance, plants as noise barriers)

innovative chicken housing

friends and foes of hens in the garden


Pretty good book and many ideas. Thought I should pass it along.

 

[AmpersatChick]

I have and have read that book. It's a good one, and pretty too!

 

[RedneckGurl]

I have that book as well...I found it more suited for urban chicken keepers than those who are rural (of which I am one) but still a few good ideas for anyone who keeps chickens and wants to let their chickens help out while not destroying your garden.