Soo many flies

[Lazy Farmer]

Hello from Rainy Florida!
Flies are an inheritance with any livestock, rural and suburbs.
You can't eliminate them but can control them. I use the homemade method pictured just above.
Constant maintaining the beddings. The will come in cycles. Sometimes tons and sometimes few. They have a short life span. If you control them prior to population explosion, there will be less during the climax of the cycle.
BTW.. Put a cover on your soda can if you put it down for a bit.. I know this from a gross experience...
Good luck too you and welcome aboard!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

You can make your own or buy similar traps.
View attachment 1069818

 

[tigger19687]

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...1_slid_&lsft=gclid:CPrX8NXI_dQCFdWFswod9AgKKA

I bought this fly trap from home depot and we will see how it goes.
It is outside the coop as I don't have anywhere to hang it from out in the run.
I have 2 fly strips and would love to hang lower but I am afraid that the darn chickies will get stuck

I am hoping that once I get the new coop up and set that I will be able to do a better job with a poop board.

 

[Pensmaster]

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9989021501727549667?lsf=seller:8740,store:13267902974811859493&prds=oid:15109584607111774921&q=home+depot+fly+trap&hl=en&ei=6dhiWdv8Dsr_-AGs8a2oDQ&mid=stvaYaoWc|dc_mtid_8903jx325196_pcrid_107016477808_pkw__pmt__product_100140851_slid_&lsft=gclid:CPrX8NXI_dQCFdWFswod9AgKKA

I bought this fly trap from home depot and we will see how it goes.
It is outside the coop as I don't have anywhere to hang it from out in the run.
I have 2 fly strips and would love to hang lower but I am afraid that the darn chickies will get stuck

I am hoping that once I get the new coop up and set that I will be able to do a better job with a poop board.

Your right they could get stuck. Even bats can get stuck on them. That trap is similar to what I build out of their disposable one. It should work great. Not sure what they use for bait however I use trapped rats and mice with a small amount of water about 1/4 inch in bottom. Use latex gloves for all fly traps. All traps stink so find an area out of your way.

 

[tigger19687]

Use latex gloves for all fly traps. All traps stink so find an area out of your way.

Yeah, what the crap is IN those ?? It's like Urine and something, totally gross. I am hoping it works a little.

 

[Pensmaster]

Yeah, what the crap is IN those ?? It's like Urine and something, totally gross. I am hoping it works a little.

They do work well but only for awhile. Your right it's gross I'd rather work with a dead rat than that stuff.

 

[tigger19687]

Funny you say that. Today while picking up poop, yeah I do that every day , I found a tiny 1/2 skull. Like a small mouse or.. chipmunk. I had 2 chickmunks in the yard and for 2 days I have not seen them. 3 days ago I saw one but not the other. I am sure they chickens didn't eat it into a skull only state.
But just wierd. Must have dropped form above.

 

[Pensmaster]

That is weird. Maybe a bird flying over dropped it. Or they found an old one just dug it up.

 

[tigger19687]

 

[Amy Rakoczy]

First of all this information is phenomenal and I love all the tips! So helpful especially to a newbie, thank you everyone. I have sand in coop and run probably 3 inches deep, probably need more huh? Also noticing that the sand is almost always wet from the ton of rain we've been getting this summer. So first of all I think my coop needs a little tlc to make it more water tight? But the run is where most of the flies are. Also what tool is great for sifting through the sand to give it a once over, I've been using kitty litter scoop so tedious! Any suggestions? My coop is small only 4 girls in a 6X6. Also how deep should the sand be in the nesting box because the one that's of age just kicks it to the side and sits on empty bottom where if and when she lays it would crack for sure.