Flies!

[HarleyJane22]

I have 6 hens that have sand in the run. This year the flies are out of control. Never had a problem before. Fly tape is a joke. What do you all use to get rid of flies??

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Ducks eat flies. What are the flies attracted to? If you remove that, it should help. Also a mister would keep them off. Or a large fan. Or both.

 

[djseraphim]

I am having a huge problem with flies and I keep my coop very clean. I read a woman post about using lemon balm in hers and it helps. I'm going to try that...I dont want to start using DE.

 

[Callender Girl]

Flies are CRAZY here right now. Despite the heat, I often wear long sleeves and pants when I go out because they are everywhere. I have tried many things over the years, and honestly, I haven't found anything that will work completely.

However, I do like the trap-and-toss devices made by Starbar. They are disposable and kill contain hundreds of flies at a time. I post them on shepherds hooks around the poultry area and on the livestock fences. I now have one on my deck to deter the ones that want to come into the house every time the door opens.

 

[djseraphim]

Flies are CRAZY here right now. Despite the heat, I often wear long sleeves and pants when I go out because they are everywhere. I have tried many things over the years, and honestly, I haven't found anything that will work completely.

However, I do like the trap-and-toss devices made by Starbar. They are disposable and kill contain hundreds of flies at a time. I post them on shepherds hooks around the poultry area and on the livestock fences. I now have one on my deck to deter the ones that want to come into the house every time the door opens.

Thanks for the suggestion - I will try it! I am desperate. I'm in Tallahassee, FL and with the rain we've been getting it's like tripled my fly population.

 

[Callender Girl]

Last week, just walking through the yard was disgusting because every step raised a swarm of flies out of the grass (which I intentionally keep short to try to deter them). Starbar also makes a refillable trap. It's cheaper over all, but I find it repulsive enough to have to just toss the full traps. When it's really bad, they will actually have maggots in the liquid along with grown flies. Still better than letting them fly around. Good luck!

 

[Birdielee]

I had a fly problem and some suggested sprinkling basil on the ground. Worth a try along with the lemon balm, I suppose

 

[cmom]

I use permethrin. I spray inside the coop and under the roosts. I have poop pits that I can rake out from the out side of the coops. I have noticed more flies recently but it is the season. I have been planning on spraying but it's been raining every day lately. Some cow ear tags have permethrin in them to help keep the flies off of the cattle. I originally used it because I had discovered some mites on the birds in one of my coops and to my surprise it also eliminated most of the flies too.

 

[djseraphim]

I use permethrin. I spray inside the coop and under the roosts. I have poop pits that I can rake out from the out side of the coops. I have noticed more flies recently but it is the season. I have been planning on spraying but it's been raining every day lately. Some cow ear tags have permethrin in them to help keep the flies off of the cattle. I originally used it because I had discovered some mites on the birds in one of my coops and to my surprise it also eliminated most of the flies too.

Would this be a safe thing to spray on the ground of their coop where they peck around?

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

I am in Jacksonville & also having a horrible fly problem. I can't use Permethrin since there are 2 stray cats that come around daily & Permethrin is highly toxic to cats. I have no problem when it's dry & sunshine, but I got over 7" of rain this weekend. No solutions for you, but I truly feel your pain!