Flies that don't go away.

[Show Sebright]

Hello, I have a coop with 6 chicks in a very large coop. In the outside run there is tunes of flies, i rack the area every week and clean out there bedding every week. My chickens and I live in the suburbs and so there out side area is part of the coop. They do get to be in the rest of the yard but we aren't able to let them free range all day (just a 1-2 hours). Any suggestion to keep the flies at bay? At my school we also have the same problem with the ducks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of your coop/run?

@dawg53 and @coach723 may be able to offer some tips since both are in Florida and may have encountered this issue. Weather, bedding materials and location often play a role in having pests.

 

[dawg53]

Put sand in the pen/run and remove feces several times a day. Then put the feces laden sand elsewhere in your yard away from the coop/pen/run.
You can also hang vanilla scented car air fresheners (the Christmas tree type) around your pen. They seem to deter flies rather well.

 

[cmom]

I use permethrin. Originally I used it because I had discovered mites on some of the birds so I was treating for the mites. I sprayed inside the coops thoroughly where there was a ton of flies. I have poop pits under the roosts that I can clean out from out side of the coops. While I was doing my weekly spraying for the mites, I noticed the flies were gone. What a nice bonus.