I hate chemicals, won't let them near my home. I have used Poultry protector to spray out the coops and roosts maybe there is something like that for horses. Also the ff is suppose to keep flies down so we'll see on that one. and I bought those fly traps [recycled bottles] that have the attractant you mix with water, they are kinda stinky but work real good. can't hang them inside though.
sure does smell strong) Also, the layers, who I was most worried about, seemed to perk up a bit and act more like normal. I can not wait till the warm weather comes and chases off the black flies (black flies leave if it gets over 80) so I can put the poor dears back by the pond. They were trying to swim in their water dish today.... pathetic!
Poor babies, but a friend who lives in Maine said when the blk flies come out there they [the humans] take garlic to keep them from biting so hopefully it will work with your flock too.So I gave, them garlic in their dinner, and they didn't seem to notice, and scarfed it right down. ( I did!!
You know, when I first saw this I was very, very skeptical. I mean in Maine, the Black Fly is interchangable with our state bird! But, I took your word for it Old Guy43 and off to Wally I go to buy packs of the vanilla trees. Stink? Oh Lord do I hate that smell! That's okay though...much to my surprize and glee, they work!!! There are no Black Flies in any of my houses, even with the windows and doors open all day. I've had them hanging in there for a month now and the stink...I mean smell from the trees is still there and working.
I went through Storey's Guide to Ducks today and the disease they get from these little Langoliers is called Leucocytozoon Disease. Normally it only affects the young, not fully feathered ducks and geese. Unfortunately the first signs of a problem with this is usually death of your birds. Right now I have Mallards that run around their yard with their mouths open just sucking these little buggers in as fast as they can. I have also mixed up a spray of white vinegar, 5 garlic capsules and the rest water, applied with a spray bottle. So far this is keeping them off the adult ducks and geese.Poor babies, but a friend who lives in Maine said when the blk flies come out there they [the humans] take garlic to keep them from biting so hopefully it will work with your flock too.
I do fermented feed for my flock and have been doing it in the bathroom so my first floor always smells like an Italian restaurant. I'm use to it but company may not like it.
Quote: Yep! I too was skeptical, but they definitely work in even a semi-enclosed space such as our screened in porch. I even called the Little Tree folk and told them. For the open areas I use Rescue Fly Traps.
