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

[Gardeningmama]

I've been using DE since about 2 weeks into chicken owning. The best thing I have ever bought!!! I too sprinkle it in the coop, the run, and extra under the roosting bars. Supposedly it sucks moisture out of just about anything, including poo, which repels the flies from laying eggs in a too dry environment. The chicken poo in my coop is pretty nearly always dry also eliminating the odor considerably. I've heard about DE possibly getting in their lungs, but mine are out all day, and only in the coop at night. I've had only great results with it.

 

[AmyLM]

I make my own fly traps out of old pop bottles. I lop off the tops of them at the top edge where the label ends. I flip the top upside down into the bottle. I fill the inside with a mixture of sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a little floral scented dish soap. The flies go into the trap... and cant get back out. When it gets full I just throw it away. It WORKS REALLY WELL!!

It also works on bees and wasps too. And because its non toxic I don't have to worry about the birds being poisoned.

 

[dominiques]

Get rid of maggot infested food. I've also seen something about herbs in the chicken coop. Anyone see this? Here it is: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/01/nesting-box-herbs-chicken-aromatherapy.html Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[craftbug1021]

I also swear by DE, I have linoleum on the floor of my coop for ease in cleaning. I bought fly strips at dollar tree, 4 for $1 and they work great. I tried the penny in the bag last year on the porch without much success, but it was a good conversation piece. I clean my coop completely every month, the pine shavings have made great mulch around my garden this year so I dont have to weed!! I also have a goat and I dust her every week with DE. I feed the chickens scraps next to the compost bin, that way anything they havent eaten within a few hours I just pick up and throw it in. I have 29 chickens in an 8x12 building they are out all day and my coop doesnt stink. The goat also sleeps in there I sprinkle DE on all of the bedding everywhere. I put more DE on her wet bedding that I fluff up everyday. I just wish I enjoyed cleaning my house as much as I do the coop!

 

[Elkie1]

I use Fly Predators from Spalding Labs. They eat the fly larvae and leave people and animals alone.

 

[pickledchicken]

My vote would have to be the DE I have an old large ketchup bottle I use for the coops and a small soda bottle for dusting the chickens. I have wanted to get one of the dusters below I have provided a link. I close the windows on the coop and put the chickens out in the run then dust the whole thing down. I just make sure to get plenty of the dust in the air and shut it up tight, 20 minutes later when I return the fly's are not doing well at all.

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Duster-...4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341961038&sr=8-4&keywords=diat

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

I was wondering about the penny in a bag too. I did use one of those fly traps which works great....well actually works a little too good as it attached every fly in the neighborhood.

 

[ldutch123]

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.

It's layer feed and I never saw the darn flys this bad until the 100 degree heat hit then they were swarming

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I use Fly Paper and I make fly traps. All you have to do to make a fly trap is to get some type of container or bottle and cut a hole in the lid. Then, put something sweet and smelly in it, syrup and jelly work good. The flies will crawl in and not be able to get back out.

 

[brahmakid11]

fly!!!!!!!!!!!!