FLIES!!! LOTS OF THEM

[Bear Foot Farm]

Spread some pelletized lime in the run to control the ODOR that is attracting the flies.
Trapping them won't really do anything at all to hurt the populations

 

[6chick*start]

I read on here last summer, when it was so incredibly hot, to try vanilla air freshener hangers. Those cardboard tree thingys that hang in cars. I hung several in my runs and it helped a lot.
They need to be replaced often but are pretty cheap to use during the fly season.
I also sprinkle DE every week.

 

[Bobsgoodeggs]

Try a light dusting of the area with Diatomaceous earth. I have been using it since I started raising hens & have little to no insect problems at all. What hapless insects that do stray into the pen the hens greedily devour. The Diatomaceous earth is a completely benign substance that works by scratching any insect with a exoskeleton causing them to dehydrate, so they avoid areas where it exists. i also have a litter box I fill with "tube sand" (unwashed river sand) that I mix a cup of diatomaceous earth with for the hens to use as a dust bath. It has kept them completely free of mite, chiggers, ticks, ect. Being a non-chemical (organic substance) It work better than any chemical I've ever used. It can be purchased at any pool supply (used as a filter media) Our local Lowe's store has it in their pool supply section. Well worth the investment!!!

 

[GretchenM]

We use fly predators -- nothing else worked for us. We order from Spalding Labs, but I'm sure there are other sources. This only works well if the source of the flies is on your property -- when our neighbor gets new horses in, just across the road, the fly population goes way up. http://www.spalding-labs.com/

 

[FireTigeris]

Try a light dusting of the area with Diatomaceous earth. I have been using it since I started raising hens & have little to no insect problems at all. What hapless insects that do stray into the pen the hens greedily devour. The Diatomaceous earth is a completely benign substance that works by scratching any insect with a exoskeleton causing them to dehydrate, so they avoid areas where it exists. i also have a litter box I fill with "tube sand" (unwashed river sand) that I mix a cup of diatomaceous earth with for the hens to use as a dust bath. It has kept them completely free of mite, chiggers, ticks, ect. Being a non-chemical (organic substance) It work better than any chemical I've ever used. It can be purchased at any pool supply (used as a filter media) Our local Lowe's store has it in their pool supply section. Well worth the investment!!!

Please use only FOOD GRADE DE the other stuff, some has other chemicals it it that are not safe for birds.