how best to control flies in the coop

[so lucky]

Between using DE in the coop and run, and hanging vanilla air freshners in the coop, I am not really having a problem. there are a few flies but not bad. I was at a house where they have chickens and ducks together in a pen. The flies were AWFUL!!

 

[5Leepy!]

Quote:
These worked great for me. I have vanilla air fresheners hanging around my coop and run to try to keep the flies away (it's a deterrent only) and then have the fly bait bags hanging on the other side of the yard as far away as I can get them. They stink to high heaven but work like crazy for me. I did notice it took a few days of them hanging for the flies to find them or be attracted to them... maybe they had to "ripen"? It also seemed like they started working after the wind shifted directions so perhaps it takes a bit of time for the flies to catch the scent.

There are threads on here about how to make your own fly traps using a 2 liter bottle, sugar and water. Those don't stink. However, mine didn't lure the flies in nearly as well as when I added chicken poop to the mixture. I got tired of having to "freshen" the mix so they'd continue working and having to fix them when the dogs/chickens knocked them over that I bought the bags instead.

I add DE to my chicken feed and it didn't make a bit of difference for me. Others say it helps them, though.

Next year I'm going to look into buying fly predaters, I hear they work well.

Good Luck!
5Leepy!

 

[riftnreef]

5Leepy! :

Quote:
These worked great for me. I have vanilla air fresheners hanging around my coop and run to try to keep the flies away (it's a deterrent only) and then have the fly bait bags hanging on the other side of the yard as far away as I can get them. They stink to high heaven but work like crazy for me. I did notice it took a few days of them hanging for the flies to find them or be attracted to them... maybe they had to "ripen"? It also seemed like they started working after the wind shifted directions so perhaps it takes a bit of time for the flies to catch the scent.

There are threads on here about how to make your own fly traps using a 2 liter bottle, sugar and water. Those don't stink. However, mine didn't lure the flies in nearly as well as when I added chicken poop to the mixture. I got tired of having to "freshen" the mix so they'd continue working and having to fix them when the dogs/chickens knocked them over that I bought the bags instead.

I add DE to my chicken feed and it didn't make a bit of difference for me. Others say it helps them, though.

Next year I'm going to look into buying fly predaters, I hear they work well.

Good Luck!
5Leepy!

I have also tried the milk jug fly trap...yes it was a horrid smell, and a few of the flies seemed interested, but during the whole summer last year it caught about a dozen of them. Just seemed like the flies couldn't figure out how to get in to get stuck. Anyway, if you are not looking for a holistic approach, just go with some barn knock down fly spray on the bedding while the birds are out of the coop. You can find those sprays at most feed stores, and most of them are approved for use with poultry (just read the can). If you have a high enough space, fly strips and poles still work well for getting the numbers down, then use the spray to keep them out of the bedding / droppings. The numbers will gradually go down over time with this method.

HTH​

 

[Kitty Cat]

They make fly traps. Here's a link for a look at some of them.


http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_product_group.html?cguid=8D189193-384B-46A1-B270-29D72E6C65B7

 

[kuntrygirl]

This is what I use and it works great!

 

[Nicole01]

I use DE in the coop and I do not have a single bug in there. I lightly sprinkle on the floor, nest boxes, and roosts. I clean the poop out daily, often 3-5 times a day. Their big clean up is in the morning when they wake up and head outside. I use food grade DE.