- May 31, 2012
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Hi, sharing here my way of dealing--somewhat--with many flies attracted to where my girls' droppings. (Girls always seem to have saved up for when they besiege my back door waiting for treats.)
I now have 2 dry cubic screen and wood traps ~12"x12'x 12". Flies enter from below to get the bait and are trapped. For bait I use the hen droppings near the back door in a flat plate.[this is disgusting, but I have to clean up the poops one way or another.]
When the traps have a 100 or so flies, I submerge the traps in a water-filled barrel---flies can hold their breath for a surprisingly long time.
The hens recognize this process and gather 'round the water barrel in anticipation. When there is not much buzzing left in the trap, I open it to the hens. They are enthusiastic--thrilled to eat something that moves(not too fast)....happy to exercise their native hunting capacities.
My entomologist friend says that insect protein is the most efficient food on Earth--80 times that of any other source. (In the winter, I give dried meal worms to girls....protein promotes feather growth.)
in Boulder
I now have 2 dry cubic screen and wood traps ~12"x12'x 12". Flies enter from below to get the bait and are trapped. For bait I use the hen droppings near the back door in a flat plate.[this is disgusting, but I have to clean up the poops one way or another.]
When the traps have a 100 or so flies, I submerge the traps in a water-filled barrel---flies can hold their breath for a surprisingly long time.
The hens recognize this process and gather 'round the water barrel in anticipation. When there is not much buzzing left in the trap, I open it to the hens. They are enthusiastic--thrilled to eat something that moves(not too fast)....happy to exercise their native hunting capacities.
My entomologist friend says that insect protein is the most efficient food on Earth--80 times that of any other source. (In the winter, I give dried meal worms to girls....protein promotes feather growth.)
in Boulder
