Flies????

[artsyrobin]

i have tried the vanilla- it does work, but don't seem to last long- am also battling this too- have heard this is a possibiity- a maggot bucket....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=64539&p=1

i think i'll try the sevin and lime- any specific kind of lime?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I do see a bigger issue with my grow out pens than with my layer pens. . . .

The poops are different too - - - The grow out pen are on medicated chick starter crombles and their poops are more liquid.
The layer pen are on laying pellets and their poops dry to solid chunks - - less liquid in them.

My grow out pens are changed every 3 days. .. My layers are changed once a week.
Yet, the grow out pens have a much bigger issue with flies.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've noticed with the stinky liquid fly traps, after you get some dead flies in there, they're extra attractive to the other flies and work even better.

But effective for us.

 

[abooth]

I use fly predator or fly eliminator and vanilla car freshners.

 

[billl2099]

Quote:
i also rake the shavings and sprinkle food grade DE into the shaving and around the coop, i also don't have a fly, flea or mite problem, works great and least expensive

 

[HHandbasket]

We have had success with the artificial vanilla-scented air fresheners. Here are the drawbacks:

1. Because they are outside, they are ineffective in roughly a week; the scented oil evaporates more quickly outside than it does inside a car or indoors. As a result, you must replace them frequently.

2. The bizarre off-brands at the dollar store only last 2-3 days at most, and they are often so old by the time you buy them that the scent is gone anyway.

The good thing is that while nothing will COMPLETELY get rid of the flies, vanilla air fresheners cuts back on them significantly. I think there's something about the fake vanilla scent that they don't like. I have not tried other scents to see if they might also be effective, but we tried the vanilla air freshener technique, and it did effectively make a noticeably significant difference on the number of flies buzzing about.

Scraping/cleaning up the poo also helps cut down on the flies. Hard to do with a free range flock, tho, but if your flock is in a pen/run, try to stay on top of scraping it up as much as possible and put it in your compost pile.

 

[onthespot]

You can make your own fly traps from two liter sod bottles, (or even tiny ones from one liter) by cutting them so you can invert the top and stuff it upside down into the rest of the bottle, so the neck is up inside the body of the bottle. Drop a pinch of raw hamburger and a few tablspoons of water into it, invert, and hang it so inverted top part is on the bottom. You can hang them at whatever height you think works best to attract them. They get in and can't find their way out. Just toss them when they are full.

Another good product is Quick Bayt fly bait. Use as directed.