Preparing for fly pest season and need suggestions

[kcfuerst]

I have been browsing for fly bait to refill my stinky Fly Terminator which has worked pretty well, but refills seem a little expensive to me at $9.50 for 4 oz. Currently 6 bait stations are in use and that can get a little pricey.

I came across something called Maxforce. If this stuff is as good as it says it is, what happens if one of my girls eats a dead fly? Anybody tried it?

What do you do about flies where you are?

Plenty of DE and keeping things clean helps a lot. It would make me thrilled to not see a single fly around anywhere.

 

[bettythebird]

Hi, I live in NH and have used Fly Predators from Spaulding Labs for a couple of years now. My friends with horses told me about them. With chickens, you need to place the larva up high enough so the chickens will not eat them.
www.spaulding-labs.com
They work extremely well. We have literally not had a fly since using them. I also sprinkle them in the compost pile and in the dog poop composter. We are getting piglets in the spring and are confident that we will not have a fly problem, even with pigs and chickens in the yard. Go to the website for an explanation. They really work! I was doubtful when I first tried them, but they are amazing and I am sure that my neighbors appreciate the lack of flies associated with my little farm.

 

[ranchhand]

bettythebird, is that your company? Or do you work for them?


ETA, I like the good old fashioned fly strips, hung just outside the runs, where the chickens can't get into them.

 

[bettythebird]

There are also other companies that sell them.
www.arbico-organics.com is less expensive, but I have never tried them....

 

[bettythebird]

No, I have no connection whatsoever to either company. I am a nurse! I just used the product and it worked great. It was recommended by a friend.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I was just wondering, since your very first post was to endorse the company.

 

[bettythebird]

I don't really use any forums very much. Didn't know it was so sensitive. Just trying to help recommend something that worked for me. I do not have any interest in the company, just in trying to help others avoid fly problems without pesticides. Sorry to have sent a red flag that caused you to suspect my motives. Logging off now.......

 

[ranchhand]

My apologies, as I explained in the PM to you. Seems like some companies join just to push their own products and it makes me skeptical sometimes. As I did in the very nice PMs we exchanged, I apologize and welcome you to BYC.

My best prayers for your Dad.

 

[Tala]

Last year I got really long "barn sized" stick fly poles from TSC in the coop. And some of those stinky scented traps I hung out on the fence away from the coop.

I was sorta satisfied with the results, but they both have downsides so I'll be watching this thread for better ideas!
The glue on the sticky trap is non-toxic and my birds loved to eat the flies off of the pole when it got full. I had to keep it out of their reach until then, because feathers stick to the glue somethin awful! The only downside was that they were expensive and had a pretty short lifespan.

I have a love/hate relationship with the stinky traps. For one thing they *do* catch a lot of flies, but they smell when you walk past them and disposal has always been a major pain in my rear!!
(do not whack one with a stick while burning brush.....do not burn the results either....

do not bury them in the compost-irregardless of what it says on the bag, do not flush down the toilet-despite what it says on the package, do not do anything except put them in the trash can triple-bagged, 5minutes before the truck picks it up!!!!!!!!!)

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
We've been using the same predators for the last six years. I don't think we could live without them anymore. We have fewer flies around our place than most of the restuarants in town. I don't work for the company either.