Flies!

[geojane42]

In less than 24 hours (since we set up the coop), every fly in the neighbourhood has made its way to our yard. I don't imagine that the situation is going to improve any time soon. Should I just put up fly strips? They are pretty much just staking out the hen house. It has gotten better since I cleaned it this morning but I'm a little worried because we've only had them out there one night and these are some seriously big flies! Do we need to raise frogs too?

 

[rosco]

Frogs/toads is a cool idea!

i'd say fly strips. they'll probably eat the "fly bait." and insectocutors don't seem to work on my flies.

maybe there is some sort of plant or something that can be used to keep them away. i'll bet there is a plant that can be grown that flies don't like. i'll check back with this post and hopefully someone has a good idea.

 

[geojane42]

I think I'm going to try venus fly traps. I can just imagine what my neighbours would say if I came home with a flock of frogs too! I hear that plants are relatively quiet. I hope it works because I really don't want to use chemical nastiness and fly paper is so ghetto looking.

 

[spammy]

Chickens love em

 

[grundail01]

You can use DE in their food and just scattered in their pen to help control alot of different pests. Tons of articles and posts on BYC about it too.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Our chickens and ducks do nothing to help with flies... unless "help" means making more of them.

The flies seem especially bad this year, so I'm going all out war on the little buggers! We've had pretty good success in the past with these traps but recently I can't find anything that attracts them... and I've tried everything from chicken poop to syrup / vinegar, etc.

I'm going to order some Golden Marlin and make sure the chooks can't get to it or the dead flies. I might even buy some of this stinky stuff to attract them into the trap.

 

[wendzgirls]

I use DE all over my coop, and don't seem to have a fly problem, which is very unusual here in the South! I also hang a few fly strips. DE and the deep litter method seems to work for me.

 

[cobrien]

I feel your pain. I had terrible flies last summer. I have a new coop with a covered sand run and am hoping it stays drier = less flies. So far, so good, we've had some warm days here in Northern CA and I haven't seen any, but the real test will be this summer. If they come back, my plan is to try the following:

-fly traps - the kind in a plastic container with attractant inside, the flies crawl in but can't get out. I've used them before, they get full of flies in no time, then you dump them out and add new attractant. It is gross to look at the thing full of dead flies, but I like that it is not toxic, doesn't smell if I change it out every 2 weeks or so (the only smell comes if you let the dead flies sit too long...I know, gross).

-DE and stall dry to keep everything dry, keep things as clean as possible (already doing this)

-fly predators - haven't tried them yet, but definitely will if the flies come back. I've read positive things on BYC about them. They are beneficial insects you can order online that eat flies, I think when they are in the larva stage
http://www.spalding-labs.com/

I think the fly strips help also, but my coop/run is so small that I end up bumping into it all the time...ewww!

 

[geojane42]

omg I'd totally forgotten about how much fun it is to bump into a fly strip and have it stick to your hair! Will definitely be careful where I hang them if it comes to that.

Yeah I keep seeing references to DE.... what does it stand for?

My chickens don't seem to have much of an appetite for flies but that's probably just because they have much tastier options right now as I try to buy their love with kitchen scraps. Maybe when the honeymoon is over they'll start taking care of pests for me

 

[cobrien]

DE is diatomaceous earth. be careful to use food grade, wear gloves and a dust mask if you use it. most who use it sprinkle it around the coop/nesting boxes to keep things dry, and it can also kill insects when it comes in contact with them as it has sharp edges that cut the insect's outer shell and dries them out. it is a naturally occuring substance made of fossilized critters. some add it to the chicken's food and claim it helps control internal parasites, but most agree it is not a treatment for an infestation. I once massaged some into a hen's feathers to help with lice and it seemed to work, others say it won't help with lice. but most agree it helps with drying things out and to control flies. there's a lot on BYC about it if you do a search.