Flies!

[mrbstephens]

I never had a problem with flies until today. They're all over the run. It's nasty! I've also noticed the chicken poop is stinkier than usual. I rake the run once a week and on occasion I sprinkle on some DE. Is the poop stinkier because the hens are almost laying (they're 20 wks old and have been singing the egg song)? Are there more flies because of the stinky poop, or is it just because it's August? Anything I can do? Are the chickens in danger of illness or a parasite infestation because of them? Thanks!

 

[fordmommy]

Since I have been using the DE I haven't had any flies. But you gotta figure it's August and the flies and bees and things are crazy this time of year. I'd sprinkle more DE down. Did it rain resently where you are? That could be why. What brand is your DE? How much do you sprinkle down?

 

[mrbstephens]

I ordered the food grade DE from a farm supply website. I don't remember the name. I just sprinkled some more down. It actually hasn't rained in a while, but I have irrigation which doesn't get into the run and it's always humid here because I live near the beach. I also through in kitchen scraps so that's probably attracting them. Do I need to worry about the flies/maggots harming the chickens?

 

[fordmommy]

Bugs can cause paracites. But I wouldn't worry about it. Some people freak out on this web cite about them. I say, they are chickens. Chickens eat bugs. Plus, you said that you live near a beach. You probably had a batch of bugs just hatch. Give it a couple days and they probably will be gone for the most part. But maybe you should hold off on the scraps. That could make them want to stick around.

 

[windtryst]

It is the kitchen scraps....rake them up every day in this weather!
Or cut them out altogether, in this hot weather.

 

[trilyn]

Yeah, the kitchen scraps gotta go! Also, do you feed the de to the chickens, this way the fly larvae is not able to hatch in their poo. Works great!

 

[Biddylover]

I sprinkle lime down outside the hen house, there isn't any grass because it is well traveled, that eliminates the odor. Flies are another story it is hot here from June through September so we have been using these jars from Tractor supply that you put water and a fly attractant... lol you should see how fast they fill up. This on top of cleaning out the poo a lot but I really like how the Lime elimates the odor.