Help. Fly problem and Keeping chickens cool in AZ Desert??

[Parront]

One place I lived had Bougainvillea vine on the chain link for so long that it was part of the fence, when we cut back the sticker-y vine, there were big chunks of wood we had to leave stuck in the fence, the vine was blocking a gate that I wanted to use, which the previous owner had not used in years. Those chunks will be there as long as the fence lasts, they were still there when we sold. Using vines just needs maintenance!

 

[City farm]

If you've never had mature grapes you don't know how big and heavy they get.

Here is a photo of our run with grape. We used the hardwire cloth, 2x3 inch. Give great shade in the summer and let’s he sun in when they die back in the winter. They love the leaves as a treat until the grapes come in. You might already came over the the Arizona thread, but if not here is a link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7788

 

[chfriedmam]

Pics of your coop would help. Does your flock free range at all or are they in a run?

Fly traps. I like the yellow ones from just about anywhere. Also, some straw will help keep flies down because of poop in the coop. Maybe provide the wet area outside of the coop because heat combined with any humidity trapped inside will only make matters worse and your flock miserable. Something that worked very well for me was a kiddie pool I’d cut down to just a couple inches high that I put a ten pound block of ice in each afternoon. The flock could sip the water as it melted and stand in it to cool off. Cool, damp soil in the shade of a tree where they could catch a breeze was also much appreciated.

Can I ask, why so you need to cut the height of the kiddie pool down? I'm in San Fernando Valley in LA and I'm thinking of doing this. Ty

 

[AGeese]

I order my fly traps from Arbico Organics

 

[igorsMistress]

Can I ask, why so you need to cut the height of the kiddie pool down? I'm in San Fernando Valley in LA and I'm thinking of doing this. Ty

Cuz my flock was too chicken to get in the pool otherwise lol. I cut the side off leaving an inch or two so they could step in or out, but it still holds water when the ice melts.

 

[chfriedmam]

Cuz my flock was too chicken to get in the pool otherwise lol. I cut the side off leaving an inch or two so they could step in or out, but it still holds water when the ice melts.

LOL, ok!!! I'm sitting here thinking there must be a serious chicken-anatomy answer...

 

[igorsMistress]

LOL, ok!!! I'm sitting here thinking there must be a serious chicken-anatomy answer...

LOL. I dunno why they didn’t dig it, maybe it was slippery if they hopped in where the melted water pooled?