Need to get rid of FLYS!!! they are constantly on the chickens and ducks food. Any ideas?

[downsm75]

Get a horse.  My pasture circles my coop/run on 2 sides.  I almost never see a fly near the chickens - but fight them by the dozens on the horse - in her ears, around her mouth, chewing her legs till they bleed - fly sprays/powders/spot-ons have little effect..  Maybe I can hang a few water baggies w/pennies in them from her mane and tail.

Please take pics lol

 

[suzifire]

No, the penny in a water bag doesn't really work...Myth Busters did a segment on it recently...

 

[Heidi365]

Maggots do not dine on live chickens. Chickens love them and they are an extra source of protein. I bet if you lifted the mat and the chickens saw the little buggers, they'd be devoured in no time.

This is not to be confused with an egg-bound chicken who has maggots around her rectum. Different situation altogether.

What kind of food are you feeding that attracts flies? Lay pellet shouldn't do that. If you're feeding fresh veges that are spoiling in the heat, maybe you should switch to pellet until the weather cooperates and supplement with a small amount of fresh - not enough that would sit around and spoil.

 

[downsm75]

No, the penny in a water  bag doesn't really work...Myth Busters did a segment on it recently...

They did it wrong. They tried a bag of water and a bag of PENNIES with water. It works as long as the sun is shinning and it's ONE penny.

 

[wildrose41]

I sprinkled all the chicken feeding and watering area plus the floor of the coop with DE. Seems to help a lot.

 

[ladykbug]

I sprinkle DE inside the coop and the nesting boxes; in the pine shavings, on the roosts, etc and the flys are not a problem in there at all.

I do have issues with them out in the run, so I spray down that area every day, making sure to hit all the poop spots really good. No poop = no flys. The chickens love when I spray, they wait till I'm done then come in for a good drink in the puddles & dig around looking for worms. Sadly with the heat, there are none, but they are still keeping busy which is good all around.

I swear by the DE even tho other's say it doesn't work. When I have neglected the inside of the coop & flys start coming in, I scrape the roosts, sprinkle DE all over and the flys disappear.

I have never had issues with flys in the layer feed unless someone pooped in it.

I also add it to their scratch or treats occasionally to help with internal parasites

 

[MaineGigi]

I also use DE! I would never be without it. I use it in my coop, sprinkled on top of the shavings, add it to my chicken feed, fed it to chicks with coccidia and have not used any meds for it. I use it every time I clean the coop, no flies or odors. Some say it doesn't work but for me it has been a life saver!!
~Cathy

 

[Whittni]

I heard you could use grass clippings in your run to keep flys away, no idea if it works.

 

[dawnjo13]

http://www.buglogical.com/flies/

I like these benificial controls. I use the nematodes in all my planting areas to treat a long list of pests.

good luck!

 

[furbabymum]

I just have traps. I have them hanging where the flies are chilling.

THEY PICKED THE GROSSEST PICTURE I JUST WANTED TO SAY. lol