Fly problem

[Chickenlueny]

I have a crazy fly problem! I think they are cluster flies that may have originated from a bag of worm casing compost I have purchased. I have never had a problem like this before, especially this time of year!
Any recommendations on fly control?? Traps are working for many of them, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.
I have 4 chickens in my back yard, they have free range of it during the day. The flies do swarm droppings, but I hope that is just because they are flies.
I would prefer a non chemical treatment to start with, but may consider one if it comes down to it.

 

[microchick]

Of course you know that flies happen when you have chickens. They arrived at my coop this past week.

I use a bait called 'POP' that I get from Jefferspet.com You put it in a trap mixed with water and hang it away from the coop or in the run. I make my own traps by cutting a 2 liter pop bottle, flipping the top so it is upside down in the bottom half of the bottle, punch two holes in the top for a hanger to go into and then put in the bait. It works. Flies climb in after the bait and cannot get out. They wind up drowning in the water. When the trap is full, you toss it and make another one. They also have traps for sale. I used it last year and was amazed at the number of flies one trap can hold. The only negative is that the stuff smells awful. Like a dead animal or whatever which is why the flies love it.

There are things like mint that is a repellant, sticky fly strips which do work, I've tried a lot of things but the POP bait traps work the best for me.

I found a picture of the 2 liter trap I make for mine. Keep in mind, the bait doesn't kill the flies, the water in the trap drowns them.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

These are the two I’m using currently. The top picture works better.