Permethrin for laying ducks?

[Duckworth]

Too much ventilation for any air freshener in their house and pine shavings for 17 ducks? They would have to lay much more eggs before i can afford that. I can leave the straw in for ~3 months and only add a thin layer every weekend, i know what they would do with shavings…

I put the air fresheners on all of the mesh windows using zip ties. It’s hard to say how much it helps, but I think there would be more flies without them. I also have them all over my back porch around my kitchen door.

Consider putting one or two of the smelly jar traps away from the duck house and your house and see whether the flies go there instead. I have the reusable ones, which means dealing with the dead flies, but the fact that they fill up with dead flies is encouraging.

 

[Duckworth]

I almost bought permethrin today, but our neighbors have five outdoor cats that frequent our yard. We like our neighbors and value our relationship with them too much to risk their pets’ lives.

 

[casportpony]

I almost bought permethrin today, but our neighbors have five outdoor cats that frequent our yard. We like our neighbors and value our relationship with them too much to risk their pets’ lives.

I think it's only a risk while it's wet.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

What would they do with shavings ?

They would mix those with loads of poop, mucked water and stomp that into a concrete like mass. They they would come quacking at me, demanding some comfortable bedding on top of that hard floor: We want our straw back and we want it NOW! QUACK!
My experience is that straw dries out faster than shavings and the ducks stay cleaner and drier. And they build beautiful nests with the straw, try that with shavings…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I put the air fresheners on all of the mesh windows using zip ties. It’s hard to say how much it helps, but I think there would be more flies without them. I also have them all over my back porch around my kitchen door.

Consider putting one or two of the smelly jar traps away from the duck house and your house and see whether the flies go there instead. I have the reusable ones, which means dealing with the dead flies, but the fact that they fill up with dead flies is encouraging.

My duck house doesn't have real windows, two ½ sides are completely open, only covered with chicken wire (yes i know, not predator proof!) so that the duckies have lot's and lot's of fresh air without sitting in a draft. They love that, especially when it is hot and humid like now.

 

[Duckworth]

I think it's only a risk while it's wet.

Good to know!

 

[casportpony]

Good to know!

I have cats too, and I just make sure not to spray while they are near me.

 

[Duckworth]

My duck house doesn't have real windows, two ½ sides are completely open, only covered with chicken wire (yes i know, not predator proof!) so that the duckies have lot's and lot's of fresh air without sitting in a draft. They love that, especially when it is hot and humid like now.

Mine, too. But mine is smaller and houses fewer duck. I hang the air fresheners in my pen, too. My bottom walls are solid and upper walls are all hardware cloth.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Mine, too. But mine is smaller and houses fewer duck. I hang the air fresheners in my pen, too. My bottom walls are solid and upper walls are all hardware cloth.
View attachment 1823823

Similar setup here, the bedroom-walls facing the weather side are closed, the wall to the protected side is open at the top and the opposite walls for the living and dining area are open. My ducks love to sit in front of the wire and watch the pumpkins growing…
See here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-platform-ducks-from-zero-to-duck-in-an-instance.74658/

 

[katiebrock]

Have you ever heard of fly predators? I have never used them, but only read about them in horse magazines and catalogs, and I am not sure of the cost.