Topic of the Week - Fly Strike

[Folly's place]

I like the fly predators too, and due to a mix-up don't have them this year. The difference is obvious! I make sure that the egg cases and the package are out of reach of the chickens, and they do work well. Mary

 

[MrsAuberry00]

Along the lines of prevention, the area under the waterer always became a muddy, stinking, party spot for flies. Tired of shoveling "swamp mud" out from underneath it, I dug out the area to a depth of about 3" and then filled it with landscape rock I filched from our landscaping around the house. So far, (It's only been about a day,) it's working beautifully and the fly population around the coop is so much lower. I also use a very inexpensive method to keep flies away...vanilla tree car fresheners. I hang about 4-6 inside the run and it really works!

 

[Coop de Grass]

I used Fly Predators when I had horses, and it did cut down the fly population by 80%. With them being a bug themselves I was worried the chickens would eat them and I'd be throwing my money away, so this is good to know they work around chickens!

I wasn't prepared for the tiny little "gnats" that were inside the coop the first time I applied the hatching larvae! They were having a field day because I had a poop tray with Sweet pdz. The chickens don't seem to notice them, and I don't notice them either.

 

[binji]

ive had this happen to a kitten before (she was taken to a vet and was fine) but i didnt realize what it was or that it was like, a fairly common thing. this site is honestly a blessing.
im definitely going to be checking the boys for this! but im assuming it would be a bit less common in ducks since theyre in the water so much?

 

[silkieRaiser]

I had a hen randomly die and there were a lot of flies in the coop, do you think fly strike was the problem? She looked completely normal under her wings and stuff and I don't remember if she had runny poo....

 

[Folly's place]

Maggots eating flesh produce an unforgettable stench! Having flies around isn't good, but hatched out eating maggots are unmistakable. Mary

 

[FluffyButt789]

I have an old chicken who has a problem with runny poop. I saw some flies around her and I worry about her getting fly strike. Should I worm her with Safeguard to remedy the runny poop? Then what? She had her feathers trimmed because poop kept getting stuck on it but now she poops on her skin. I've tried triple antibiotic cream and blu-kote to protect it but I worry it might not be enough. Any advice?

 

[black_dove2]

I've never heard of this new to chicken. I do remember when I was young my mother took my cat to the vet to treat her for same after she had a litter of kittens. The vet said the maggots were only eating the infected tissue. Surgically removed it and she was spayed at same time.

I see from posts it affects the chickens differently. Flies are horrible here in the desert. But I haven't had a problem with them. Is this something I need to look forward to?

 

[Folly's place]

Maggots will eat through healthy tissue (they produce toxins that make it unhealthy) in one or two days, right to the bone. I've seen it in dogs, cats, birds, and sheep. AWFUL! The screwworm maggots are even worse, which is why we try VERY HARD to keep them out of the USA! Mary

 

[black_dove2]

I know that certain flies only eat infected flesh. But the regular houseflies are harmful to chickens?