Flies

[erinszoo]

I know there have been other threads on fly control but I can't seem to find the one I read the other day. I'm not sure why but thought I'd share that we were told to put vanilla in our rabbits water because it would be in their pee and repel flies. We tried it and it made a little difference but not too much so we started thinking that if it is the smell that the flies don't like, we would just sprinkle vanilla in the coop and see if that helped. I used about two tablespoons of pure vanilla extract and sprinkled it around the bedding in the coop and along the window sills. I also put some on my hands and rubbed it all over the cages of the rabbits. When we came out to check a couple of hours later there were only four flies in there. So it didn't totally eradicate them, but it really helped A LOT. We then went out and bought some of those car air fresheners scented with vanilla and hung three of them (our coop is 9 by 14). There's a few flies today but nothing like they are outside. I'm so happy to get them under some kind of control. Plus our coop no longer smells like a barn ... it smells like car air freshener. Ha.

 

[Zippy007]

Good tip cuz i have a bad problem with flies around the chicken area and cant even open a window! Gonna try it for sure

 

[FirewifeJess]

That's a good reminder that I have some of those for just such a purpose and need to go get them out! It's 90 here today which might not seem hot to most, but it's BOILING for the pacific northwest (on the rainy side, seattle)! Flies are SOOOO happy today with my chickens, need to eradicate them!!

 

[Goober1201]

That a GREAT IDEA!!! I was gonna post to ask about how to cut back on flys too...lol THANKS!!

 

[CAjerseychick]

WOw what a great tip-- thats why I love this Forum, try finding that info in a chicken book!

 

[flyinchicks]

I put up some of the car air fresheners this weekend and WOW what a difference. I live in Ga and the flies here are terrible.. The pen was so bad you could hear them buzzing as you walked close. It didn't get rid of them but its now tollerable. Number of flies went from 50ish down to 5-10. And the pen does smell better.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Zippy007]

Im going to try it myself too, looked for some vanilla essence but didnt have any but the car freshner sounds better anyway!

 

[fishnet1971]

I ahve had a HORRIBLE time with flies this year. I even had a hen down with fly strike. Nothing more heartbreaking than seeing your favorite girl with tiny maggots all over her skin. Fortunatly I was able to save her and she is good as new.

I found an all natural spray at TSC two months ago that is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . It is made of Lemon grass oils, tyme, and herbs. I was skeptical at first but tried it anyway. Non harmful to the birds at all. I even put it on my hands and rubbed some on their fluffy butts before i went to work in the am. I sprayed some on the ground and on the low hanging pines that they hang out on. 8 hours of control! no flies. none. it's amazing. and safe.

 

[Donna Lynn]

Where do you hang them to keep he chickens from picking at them?

 

[RedStarLady1207]

I hung a fly trap and it captures flies like crazy but it stinks! I also have fly paper stips that the chickens can't reach and will on occasion throw some cecal poop over near those since it attracts flies and it isn't long before the flies are caught. DE on the ground in the chicken yard and in coop/run keeps out most insects and I also use Poultry Protector spray (from McMurray's) with a fine mist sprayer that keeps all insects away for the most part (for a few days anyway). I spray everything, the coop, run, surrounding area, overhanging tree leaves, the chickens behinds