Flies!

[djseraphim]

And more rain to come I'm afraid. I am debating on switching to construction sand for the coop floor instead of throwing a bit of bedding and letting them deep litter it. When you look this up online it seems everyone has the solution...I saw this lady's Youtube swearing that lemon balm cuttings in her coop got rid of them all. I go outside and the lemon balm I have growing beside the coop had flies on it

 

[Birdielee]

And more rain to come I'm afraid. I am debating on switching to construction sand for the coop floor instead of throwing a bit of bedding and letting them deep litter it. When you look this up online it seems everyone has the solution...I saw this lady's Youtube swearing that lemon balm cuttings in her coop got rid of them all. I go outside and the lemon balm I have growing beside the coop had flies on it

Yeah, I have lots of lemon balm, too. I don't see flies on the lemon balm, but many other places, yes. The fly papers i put out have caught tons of deer flies. And a couple regular small and large black flies. I think cleaning up poop is really the solution. Sprinkling ashes on the junk helps make a fly hotzone calm down. They're not so attracted with the ashes there.

 

[djseraphim]

Yeah, I have lots of lemon balm, too. I don't see flies on the lemon balm, but many other places, yes. The fly papers i put out have caught tons of deer flies. And a couple regular small and large black flies. I think cleaning up poop is really the solution. Sprinkling ashes on the junk helps make a fly hotzone calm down. They're not so attracted with the ashes there.

Great suggestion...I burn A LOT in my firepit each week so I certainly have enough. I got one of those disposable hanging traps someone else suggested so with cleaning, ash, lemon balm, and using that - hopefully it'll get better. I also got the girls a fan for their coop...figured keep them cool and read that can help a bit too.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Rather than re-type it, I'm going to link my post when this subject came up yesterday. I could be completely wrong as correlation != causation, and proving a negative, well...


Black Soldier Fly Composter / Few Houseflies in Run

Also, I was unaware that Ducks were good for housefly control. I have 8 in the house, so possibly that's it, not the BSF composting system at all. Or it could be both???

In any event, hope you find a solution that works for you.

 

[Birdielee]

Oh, yeah, about the lemon balm: I don't suppose entire unbroken plants would necessarily repel flies, even if chopped pieces do work with their oils and juices smelling all lemon-balmy.
I wouldn't nix it just because the flies will land on the intact plants.

Sounds like a lot of work to be chopping lemon balm every day, though.

 

[Birdielee]

Besides, it makes good brain tea

 

[Entreparadis]

Why don't you try to grow lemon grass as an annual as well? That's what citronella oil is made from and I've heard it's stronger than the smell of lemon balm. It will be safe for the chickens, they may even try to eat it. I'm ordering my own seeds this year to help combat flies as well as lavender. You can then crush the leaves of those herbs or let them dry out around your run.

 

[Jenjens]

I use two of these in my yard. Its gross and it smells but man oh man does it work! The flies would pass up dog poop for these.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...rap-disposable-7-3-4-in-x-3-1-4-in-x-8-1-2-in

 

[Birdielee]

I use two of these in my yard. Its gross and it smells but man oh man does it work! The flies would pass up dog poop for these.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...rap-disposable-7-3-4-in-x-3-1-4-in-x-8-1-2-in

Awesome, thank you.

 

[Birdielee]

As far as lemongrass is concerned (also wonderful tea) be forewarned that it gets big 1.5 ft at base and 4ft at tips of leaves?) and the leaves are sharp. You won't want to squeeze past it all the time.