Flies, flies, and more flies.

[Afroggie4u]

I could not find anything specific so I decided to pose a question of how do you deal with flies? I keep my coop clean, have tried the bottle with non toxic stuff that attract flies, vanilla air freshners, vinegar and water spray. I'm sick of flies and I am willing to try anything. I read about the ziplock bag with water and a penny, did anyone try this? I'd like to hear about any of your success with this problem. I'm tired of only being able to get rid of flies for a day or two and that's all I've been able to achieve. I do not keep food or water in or near my coop, that is kept out in the run.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there.

Sold in the equine section... also works on mosquitoes, poultry lice, fleas and other pests... mosquitoes is what I bought it for. It is sold under many names and in different concentrations (Gordon's, Permethrin 10, etc.). The one pictured is ready to use. The active ingredient is Permethrin... said to be a synthetic form of pyrethrin, a chrysanthemum extract.

Safe for use in chickens, with no withdrawal time needed for eggs.

Also for use on walls, in the lay box, coop floor, under roost, and so on. Not safe for use with cats. But labeled for use in many creatures including dogs, goats, and so on... this bottle cost under $8 and lasted me 2+years with 82+ birds, 2 large goats, and 3 medium dogs.

I bought the first one on the following link and it works quite well...
https://www.peststrategies.com/reviews/fly-products/best-fly-traps/

The penny in the water bag is bull and not effective at all. I have seen it used at restaurants where the fly literally landed on the bag with the penny. Actually I can say the same about mosquitoes and mint or other type plants... saw them land right on the whole bush. Those work best as deterrents when fresh cut more so than just growing them.

I also leave my (dog/chicken) droppings in an old dog food bag open to be fly blown during the daytime and close it up and dispose of it about dusk (no more flying activity) with all the new (eggs) larva inside it heads of to the dump. Since I don't have major issues I only tie it up weekly. But doing so daily is ONE way the wildlife rehab center/zoo I volunteered at kept them down.

Interestingly... when I do pick up my dog (or pig) droppings they are often loaded with beetles and other things already consuming any nutrients and breaking down the material even further. So cool that what is often considered a pest is actually an integral part of life... and actually helps to keep disease at bay... when in balance.

I know how annoying flies can be though, as evidenced by the fact that I have actually BOUGHT fly traps... I have a HARD time spending money. Squeak!

For baiting homemade bottles... flies seem to like potatoes... which when they start to rot can smell just as bad as any meat, but it seems to attract them even before that.

Since we can't change the standard environment or what our neighbors might be doing... we just do our best. But this is an ongoing seasonal battle that you must follow through, even if every couple days... if the fly load is important to you.

Some of us even set up maggot buckets where the flies blow (lay eggs in) a piece of old meat, fat or whatever and then the maggots crawl out to pupate and get gobbled up by our birds. The species and weather I have here mean the maggots are so small, it is not an effective means of control for me might be worth considering for you.

Okay one final thought on keeping flies at bay if not abating them... fans work wonders.

So many folks have been dealing with buffalo gnats this year... a type of biting fly. They have even lost entire flocks to them.

Hope this is helpful some!

 

[chickens really]

I hang vanilla scented Christmas tree air freshener in my Coop and at my back doorstep..

 

[Cxwhit3]

OMG I’m overrun with the buggers. The coop seems completely dry but it doesn’t get much cross ventilation. I was keeping the nesting box lid cracked until about 10 days ago because it was so warm (95 - 100) and didn’t really notice all that many. This week they are everywhere. I’m airing out the coop today and letting the wind blow things about a bit. (Here in central Iowa it almost always has some sort of breeze) I hate to use chemicals but may have no choice - don’t want the neighbors to be overrun too as my coop is between their house and ours.

Ok, I just had an Aha! moment. The girls have been digging up all the bedding in the coop lately - maybe they are after maggots. Ew, but good luck, Ladies!

 

[BreanneRN]

I was having a pretty bad problem this year due to a litter of kittens that took out all my fly eating western fence lizards hit) that lived around the house and ate flys. But then, then, there developed a huge number of baby toads that have now controlled the problem! love). Do not overlook natural predators as a control, and you can buy fly predators (an insect that lays a single egg in each larvae) over the internet and they do work. I was considering getting some this year until I was "saved by the toads".

 

[Cxwhit3]

I was having a pretty bad problem this year due to a litter of kittens that took out all my fly eating western fence lizards hit) that lived around the house and ate flys. But then, then, there developed a huge number of baby toads that have now controlled the problem! love). Do not overlook natural predators as a control, and you can buy fly predators (an insect that lays a single egg in each larvae) over the internet and they do work. I was considering getting some this year until I was "saved by the toads".

I just put screens over the window vents to see if that will keep some of them out. I’m hoping more moving air will also help. Where do you buy the predators? What happens to those insects after they kill all the flies? I think I will also put some sticky traps up. I’m hoping any trapped inside will “git got” by the girls but the traps might catch a few.

 

[aart]

I think I will also put some sticky traps up. I’m hoping any trapped inside will “git got” by the girls but the traps might catch a few.

Keep the sticky traps out of reach from the girls, or they will get got by the traps.

 

[Elsveta641]

Those stinky bag traps work great. Having a strong fan running helps, I'm assuming because the flys have trouble settling or doing anything from the fan wind. Our area has recently become "infested" with frogs and toads, and the flies are so much less this year. Maybe try buying buttloads of them at baitshops and and let them loose?

 

[BreanneRN]

There are many places that will sell them, here is a link, to Spalding, one place that does.https://www.spalding-labs.com/produ...content=Google_March&utm_term=BS&adCode=AT184 They are actually a tiny wasp, don't worry about the amount to buy, as any you get will make more, up to 75 per female predator (Spalding has a complicated thing where they want you to buy bunches of them monthly, but you don't have to do that). As long as there are flys, they will flourish. You can also get them from other places, like Valley Vet. Just google fly predators and sites will come up. I have used the sticky tapes and they do help, I usually thumbtack those to ceilings or carport beams, anyplace the flies gather, but hang them high so you don't run into them. And I have used those stinky jar traps as well, but those have to be tended, which is unpleasant and you have to be strategic in placement, someplace the flies will go but you won't too often. And if you use those hormone attractants that come with those jars, you will attract your flies and all the neighbors as well, so if you do that, put it on the back edge of your property somewhere far from your house and animals, or it will just attract more and more, and you will kill thousands but still have thousands.

 

[mixedUPturk]

They sell "fly bait" at most feed stores. I set it up as bait stations in shallow containers on the ground under milk crates. Have to continuously fight the flies in South La with poultry but that stuff keeps numbers down alright.