Is there anything to do for flies in the coop?

[ChickenToes]

I use DE and a fly trap made by Excalibur that I hang from the rafters. The fly trap looks like a little red lantern, you drop in a packet of the fly bait and put water in it. It works really well.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

We have a couple of the hanging sticky flytraps in our coop, but on two occasions we have had to unwind the traps off very sticky, flighty chickens. One of our silver spangled hamburgs got in one last night and she has been preening all day to get rid of the sticky.

 

[CallyB57]

DE in feed, on floor of henhouse, in run = NO flies. Also, no mites - if you hear that it does not work, don't listen. It's an all -natural pest killer - the bugs have to come into direct contact with the DE and they eventually will. And if your chickens already have mites, it takes a while to get the mites completely under control. If you begin using it when they are tiny chicks in the bottom of the brooder underneath pine shavings, your chickens will never know a mite. Also, if you used untreated lumber for fencing or building anything regarding pens or henhouses, spread it liberally around those structures - kills termites. Use the WHITE, FOODGRADE, PERMAGUARD DE. If you don't believe this, find an old board with termites, sprinkle the DE on the termites and watch.

 

[Camelot Farms]

We use Fly Predators. They ship them once a month and I just pour them out and they do all of the work. We have 3 horses in the paddock, 4 pygmys's in the barn and the chickens and I have very few flies even with this wet and soggy weather here in the South.

 

[cassie]

Put up sticky tape and buy some fly predators. You ought to be able to find them online.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Quote:
I have been wanting to try this . . . I was a litle woried about the possibility of introducing and invasive species.
What do you think of this, how big are they and do they do any other damage . . . like do they kill the good bees or turn to worms in the chickens?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
I have been wanting to try this . . . I was a litle woried about the possibility of introducing and invasive species.
What do you think of this, how big are they and do they do any other damage . . . like do they kill the good bees or turn to worms in the chickens?

They aren't invasive. They look like teeny little flies. And all they attack is fly larvae, nothing else. i think they are very effective. You don't see results immediately, but over time they really reduce the fly population. i use those, the hanging bags you put water in, the big sticky wands, and DE in the coops. It's a lot of work getting the fly population down, but worth it to be able to sit outside without having to swat a fly off your body every nanosecond. Here is where i buy my fly predators:
http://www.arbico-organics.com/organic-pest-control-fly-control.html

 

[Z&Z_Farm]

What about using mosquito netting or patio screening to keep the flies out? That is what I use on my coop and it works. I think trying to control the smell and food is a loosing battle. I gave up and covered the coop, you could do the same with the tractor.

 

[luvchicks8]

Idont seem to have flies but I don't feed mine in there coop I feed them while there free ranging, I think that might be why. I only fed them in there coop the first 2 weeks, so they knew where to go to a t night and I never got flies.