This is our first year with chickens and I have to say I'm shocked at the amount of flies they attrack. Please share your solutions?
Pilar Farmgirl Sister #2498 Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt
Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 5:49:46 PM
I have in the past moved the pen around to different areas of the yard. I have put lime on the ground on the manure and the flies do abate. I have fly strips up to catch the flies. You can get the big ones for the barn but be careful you do not walk into it they are nasty on your hair.
This year we are raising guinea hens and the flies seem to be less.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 06:57:52 AM
fly predators is what we use here. gardens alive on line has them. we use shaving in our yard and coop. it absorbs the moisture in the poop. helps a lot. also guinea hens work too. hope this helps. i would double check the lime thing. there are two kinds. be sure you get the right one. one is for construction work. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 07:46:53 AM
howdy, i buy pine. they are what is affordable here. i like the smaller cut. here they are caled quick pik. you can add cedar oil or shavings also to repel mites etc. we put D.E. about 1/2 cup in nest boxes too. in yard where they do their dust bath we sprinkle some. then when they are cleaning up it gets on them. dries lice mites etc up they die. hope this helps. congrats on chickens. we have a cafe on the beach here that uses a different method. they fill plastic baggies with water and pennies. then staple to entry and ceiling of coop. you need a lot. the flies think its a predator with lots of eyes. they avoid the area. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 7:19:27 PM
DE. is diamatacous earth spelling?? it is the shell of a cruustation that is no longer alive. if you look at it under a microscope. it is all jagged and sharp. it is soft to you and me. like powder do not breath it. it cuts the larvae and or mites etc with its sharp jags. hope this helps. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
1st year with chickens
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 4:48:16 PM
