How does everyone handle fly control?

[clucky2]

I just saw another post with a picture of an inverted soda bottle and stale beer for fly bait. Very clever! With the weather warming up, and flies on thier way, let's share some ideas on this specific subject.
Personally, I want to keep to non-toxic methods.
Ideas........???!!!

 

[redhen]

Get ducks!They worked great last year!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

My dogs catch and eat them. I hear Muscovy ducks love them too...the chickens attract them

I usually just use a swatter.

 

[luvmypyr]

My "plan" ( i say that because my plans sometimes.. ok usually don't go as planned haha) but we have horses as well so we have a manure pile .. i want to keep all manure.. chicken or horse... in that pile and use fly predators.. i have never used fly predators before so i am not sure how its gonna pan out.. may be a really expensive chicken treat ... but we are also using a droppings board .. which reduces the amount of poo that accumulates in the coop.. fly strips.. swatters... i don't like the liquid fly traps they smell like a dead animal .. ewwww... i guess that would be ok as long as its in an area people don't frequent.. ( we also use "de" not sure how much that actually helps though ) looking forward to hearing other people's methods..

 

[Renee']

I just use a poop board and sweep it into a 3 gallon bucket every day. I keep a lid on the bucket and usually empty the bucket into the garden box once a week and bury the manure it with regular soil. The coop/yard doesn't stink and the flies aren't a problem either.

 

[MoSo]

Most of the insecticide-based fly strips use a form of nerve gas for the pesticide agent and aren't labeled for use in occupied human homes - why would anyone use them in a hen house? Maybe exterior ventilated areas like runs, but I read recs for these strips inside hen houses all the time and I just don't get it.

 

[MagsC]

DE is supposed to help with fly control....

 

[Camelot Farms]

I use those fly predators. Love 'em!!

We have horses, ducks, chickens and goats in the barn and few flies!!

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Dont the ducks/chickens eat them?? Or are they too small?

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Dont the ducks/chickens eat them?? Or are they too small?

Nope....too small.

Actually we had a super mild winter the year before last and the little critter wintered over inside the boards of our stalls and I didnt even have to buy any last summer. I am sure that I wont be so lucky after this wretched winter. They are well worth the investment....i HATE flies.