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

[questions543]

really? What are you using in it as a lure? Mine is so full of flies / bees / wasps that I had to put new ones out yesterday. Also works on fruit flies in the house (I used little water bottles).

I used meat and somne chicken poo in 1 centimeter of water

ETA: 1 centimeter=1/2inch (sorry Im candian eh?) haha

 

[sdsmowen]

I also use DE and have not had any issues

 

[Cochaura]

I do DE in the coop, which helps some, but I still had some flies and insects around. I hung a sticky trap from the ceiling in a corner near the food and also bought a small package of cedar bedding that I threw in with the pine bedding. I know there is debate out there about cedar bedding, but it's a small amount, not overwhelming, and helped immensely. Last fall, I also hung bundles of basil in their coop - I learned that trick at a restaurant that had cups of dried basil on each table to keep flies away. I am late getting my basil going this year, so when its ready I will put some of that in there too. I also try to add a little fresh bedding every couple days, at least in soiled areas. Hope this helps!

 

[scriptkiddie]

Diotomacious Earth (DE), an all natural necessity!!! On the floor, in the shavings in the boxes, pan for dust bath. Read up on it, it is a must have for chicken owners, best pest control, wormer, antiparasite. I buy it for my chickens and my garden, at tractor supply, mypetchicken.com, or Co-op. It is a MUST! There usually is a warning it might irritate eyes and respritory, but have never had it happen. I put it down when my hens are out, and I use alot of it!
This is what we use. It also reduces the odors in the coop!

 

[itybiddies]

Hello Idutch, we have more flies in Kansas than I've ever seen in my life; I do NOT like it. Aside from the chix, my daughter has a rabbit and I have to keep flies off of him, too. I've tried the penny in the bag and it didn't work for me; it didn't seem to affect the flies at all. I also have a fly trap from Wal-mart, have had it up for 3 weeks now and haven't caught one single fly; I'm sure now that it's because the instructions say to fill it with water and sugar. I searched online and discovered the idea of using a 2 liter soda bottle; cut off the top 1/3rd, add whatever the flies are attracted to into the bottom 1" and invert the top into the bottom part, then tape around the top (which I found not to be necessary); you can then flatten a wire coat hanger and poke it through each side to hang it by. When the flies go in, they can't get out. This didn't work for me at first because of the various mixtures I read about putting in the bottom, such as sugar water, molasses, etc. I finally found one website that says to use a piece of wet, raw meat. I wasn't cooking meat at the time so I used beef broth and caught many flies in each container. Later I did use raw meat and it worked too, but I still think the broth worked better. I am now going to put several outside. I haven't noticed a smell, but you may want to put them in areas that are not noticeable. Fly strips work well in conjunction with these traps but they have to be hung in a spot where it doesn't rain.
I'm curious about the beetle trap, though.
Hope this helps and sorry so long.

 

[bantyshanty]

I've gotta swear by DE. Of course, it keeps humans out of the coop as well as flies :/ Every time I change the entire coop litter, I think, "Ahh, I can breathe now!" The wood shavings are bright and there's no dust on the windows or feed canisters. A couple hours later on a hot day... FLIES are drawn in. I open the DE canister, and the dust starts all over again. But no flies, And, it stays nice & dry, even in humid weather. I'm still working through my original 50 lb bag 3 years and a hundred chickens later

 

[Gramma Chick]

Flies are abundant this year ..I think it is this hot summer ..& they love chicken poo . I grab a handfull of Sweet Woodruff & throw it in the coop . It is a sweet fragrant herb / ground cover . The coop smells wonderful naturally . Other herbs work also ..I think they are alot safer for the chickens . Air fresheners are filled with chemicals ..I am allergic to them . they also use petroleum /crude oil for their smell . as real scent is too expensive .

 

[cassie]

Get some fly predators. You can find them on the internet. Once established they do a fine job of keeping down fly populations. The predators are tiny flies and they attack the fly pupae. They will not affect the adult flies, but they prevent more from hatching. Ideally, you should get fly predators early in the season, but better late than never.

 

[downsm75]

I have been mixing DE with my tard birds food for a week now and have seen an EXTREME drop in fly population. My new method!!!

 

[California_chickie]

Get some fly predators. You can find them on the internet. Once established they do a fine job of keeping down fly populations. The predators are tiny flies and they attack the fly pupae. They will not affect the adult flies, but they prevent more from hatching. Ideally, you should get fly predators early in the season, but better late than never.

FLY PREDATORS!! It takes some time to work, since they attack the pupae, but it does work! Worth every penny & the company will send you more fly predator on a schedule, so you just have to maintain it. Super duper effective.