Help! Flies!

[TrixieBlue]

In spring I found my coop and run were infested with fire ants. I asked for help and found it, so now I turn to you, my chicken loving family.

How do I get rid of a fly infestation.

We were using wood chips and then hay in our coop and run, we saw we had a small fly problem. So we switched to sand. We kept up water but then it rained for 3 days. We saw that the coop was totally mud so went to the expense of buying paver base and stall mats to put in the run. We cleaned the run out all the way to the dryer clay base, took all the mud out, put down the paver base and added the stall mats on top. We have had rain since but the coop is remaining well drained.

We have millions of flies and can't figure out where they are coming from how can we get rid of them. I am worried for my birds and tired of being eaten everytime I walk in the coop and run.

Please help, I am at my wits end.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You may want to repost this in the Coop & Run Maintenance Forum ....

Have you tried hanging those fly traps?
So you have pavers down with stall mats on it ... Anything on the mats? I'm thinking the poo on the mats unless cleaned everyday and moved away from the chickens are attracting the flies. Can we get a picture of your set up?

 

[TrixieBlue]

We put paver base which is a sand and stone mix to help drainage when it rains and it has made a huge difference. I am cleaning the mats daily. I will try to get pics tomorrow.

 

[WthrLady]

I use the deep liter method and NEVER had a fly problem UNTIL this year. And it's all my fault. We had a nice day in August and I took the opportunity to take out all the black gold dirt from the winter and spring season to mellow in the compost. I cleaned it clear down to the dirt and didn't replace any of the wood fiber to balance out the greens (poo and food drops) Then the rains came, I mean A LOT of rain. THEN the heat came. THEN the fly explosion! I was going through hanging liquid traps like mad. It finally dawned on me the problem. The manure and spent feed and water were attracting the flies, which laid eggs and continued the mass explosion.

Last week I raked out the dirt run of all remaining feathers (molt is strong this year) and any manure. I forked the soil, and added back in my pine shavings and bedding pellets.

Within two day all of my flies have vanished!

The deep litter and the girls constantly turning it was keeping the flies at bay. Bad mommy. Bad.

We are back in our happy place. Which is good as we'll be 90 tomorrow and are looking at 5 inches of rain in the next few days. UGH.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Pictures will help

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x WthrLady .... Then the rains came, I mean A LOT of rain. THEN the heat came. THEN the fly explosion! I was going through hanging liquid traps like mad. It finally dawned on me the problem. The manure and spent feed and water were attracting the flies, which laid eggs and continued the mass explosion.

I do sort of a DLM, basically spread a deep layer of shavings on dirt ground. Works great except these past months we've had alot of rain. I ferment Flock Raiser, so there's less poo & what there is is firm & no stink plus no wasted feed on the ground. Haven't had any issue with flies

 

[TrixieBlue]

Thank you, I have not tried fermenting the feed. I will see if that helps.

 

[WthrLady]

I tried fermenting feeds. The smell made me gag beyond words. good luck

 

[Jim Wellman]

I'm having no see um issues as well (northeast Florida). My No See Ums are all over the inside, as well outside the coop. There seem to be thousands of them.
Last night I put a Black Flag Bug Zapper in the coop.
I also smashed a bunch with a t-shirt.
This morning, most all were gone. The Black Flag Bug Zapper is working nicely. I was able to shake lots of dead No See Ums out of it this morning.
I also just installed a small fan in the overhead of my coop to blow these little devils out.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Fermenting helps with their poop = less, firmer & no stinky, aside from the other benefits linked to it. The smell should be that of sour dough.