Flies keep biting my chickens!

[Roostie]

Ok so I have three hens and starting last year in the summer there have been these little fly type bugs that land on my girls faces and just suck their blood they eventually went away for winter but now they are back again. I don't think that they are flees cause they fly around a lot and I've also seen the wild turkeys trying to fend them off. I've used a special chicken bug spray called "green goo 100% all natural bugs be gone" and it only helps a little not to mention the hens hate it and always fuss when I try to apply it without getting it in their eyes. These bugs are very persistent and make the chickens bleed. Does anyone know a remedy for flies???

-Roostie

 

[Wezdin]

I am thinking you have buffalo gnats, not sure on a cure though.

 

[Roostie]

I am thinking you have buffalo gnats, not sure on a cure though.

Tysm! I looked up buffalo gnats aaaaand apparently it's common on chickens! Below is a very helpful website and I will be using the vanilla bean dust bath and the vanilla/water spray!
https://wholefedhomestead.com/use-v...ns-from-gnats-biting-flies-and-biting-midges/

 

[danceswithronin]

From what I've read the buffalo gnats are supposed to have like a three week window to live in and then die back for the year, but we've had several people on the boards lose chickens to them, so they are quite dangerous to livestock.

 

[aart]

Not only are the bites bad-anti coagulant in saliva is toxic,
they can suffocate chickens by clogging their nares(nostrils) and throats.

More info here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/60443474/?q=gnats&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

[Trux]

They have really bad in LA. because they have have had lots of rain. Here is a thread form a couple weeks ago
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/

 

[littlebarngirl]

This time of year, I regularly spray the coop, patio furniture with diluted permetherine. This seems to keep all the bugs under control. I don't have experience with all types of flies but I do know it works well for my coop.

 

[Roostie]

From what I've read the buffalo gnats are supposed to have like a three week window to live in and then die back for the year, but we've had several people on the boards lose chickens to them, so they are quite dangerous to livestock.

They have really bad in LA. because they have have had lots of rain. Here is a thread form a couple weeks ago
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/

wow! That's really sad...
On that thread someone said that the flies breed in water which makes sense why we have them cause we live in a swampy area.
After reading all that now I'm a bit more terrified of those little demons!!!

 

[Roostie]

This time of year, I regularly spray the coop, patio furniture with diluted permetherine. This seems to keep all the bugs under control. I don't have experience with all types of flies but I do know it works well for my coop.

Im guessing you just dilute it with water, right??

 

[Trux]

Im guessing you just dilute it with water, right??

yes instructions and pamphlet come with bottle. it is also good for mites in the coop if you ever get them @mixedUPturk can maybe give you some advice on how to apply the spray