Some Sort of Small Biting Nat or Fly

[centrarchid]

I have some chickens penned singly in orchard. They are being assailed by some sort of fly that distracts them a lot. We have had an exceptionally wet spring. Insect also targets me. Will be trying to ID and find a way to control effects. A broody hen in particular is targeted and I do not want to break her broody cycle by moving her. I have birds on four locations over a stretch that is about 150 yards in almost a straight line. Wind direction might be important. Same insect is normally an issue near water. Also some mosquitos.

 

[cmom]

Have you tried permethrin spray. I was pleasantly surprised of how dramatically it cut down the number of flies I have had.

 

[centrarchid]

Not yet. Will try sticky tape before going over to insecticide. Looks like the flies may be leaving on their own as everything dries out.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

There was a thread on here about flies or gnats that were killing chickens. I can’t recall the exact name of the thread, but I believe it was something like “Gnats killing chickens.”

 

[centrarchid]

I think I saw it. Maybe same critter but do not have good images to compare. The little pest do irritate birds and biting me behind ears now.

 

[HuffleClaw]

@mixedUPturk

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x about those gnats, it's horrible. Read someone else was dealing with a tiny black bug that bites, not sure if it's the same thing.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

Does permethrin harm wild birds on the area that eat bugs?

 

[cmom]

I only spray it in the coops. I dust the birds. My roosts are over poop pits. They do draw flies but I have noticed that since I have been spraying on and under the roosts and thoroughly in the coop that I also have a dramatic reduction in the flies.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Not yet. Will try sticky tape before going over to insecticide. Looks like the flies may be leaving on their own as everything dries out.

I understand not wanting to spray chemicals everywhere but the swarms that i faced forced me to do so. Lots of people around here lost birds, some lost entire large fowl flocks. My quail acted as something of an indicator, small birds in small cages, they didnt stand a chance. I lost 41 of them and one bantam hen. They were so thick i started doing my waterers at night so i didnt have to breath in or Eat so many of them I didnt see any ill effects on the strictly outdoor cats, other bugs, lizards who eats the bugs or anything else except the mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps. I sprayed both neighboring properties, the pasture to the back and the places across the st 10 times in total to keep the bugs at bay enough to bring my 3 little ones outside. Had no more losses when i figured out what the problem was and adressed it. Must not be that serious for you. They disappeared after 8 wks of breeding, others have noted they dispersed as winds picked up because theyre poor fliers and still others say once its hot for more than a wk. Vanilla extract can be used but has to be reapplied often. Fans can be Heaven sent.

@mixedUPturk

Thank you for remembering me and our struggle dear.