My coop is in a barn, and while we have no other livestock right this second, we're going to have a neighbor's Black Angus staying with us until November or so soon. We have a pretty good number of flies already, and I'm sure we'll have more once the cows arrive. (The windows on the wall opposite the coop open to the corral the cows will be in). So...not just for my sake (I hate flies!), I want to see what I can do to control them. We've got what I assume are regular house flies and then in the morning and evening, gnats. One of my neighbors lost some of her chickens to Buffalo gnats (at least that's what she thought), so I'm not sure how you tell what kind of gnats are what. Okay so.....
I thought about putting a bug zapper in the coop (or outside) but my father-in-law suggested that I should put the zapper high in the coop where the chickens won't get to it, and then leave the tray off the bottom so the chickens can eat the bugs that get zapped and fall. Is this a good idea? I have no clue. Or, should I stick with fly paper or something more effective that you all know about? Thanks!!!
Eileen
Fly Control
A couple of years ago many people on DG lost chickens to buffalo gnats...so it is possible.
In the yard I use those bags with attractants that the flies go in, but can't get out. In the house I use fly paper. But every once in a while DH goes crazy and blasts the window frames with insecticide.
I think you are suppose to let the chickens attack the cow pies every once in a while (there is a specific timing to this, but I am not a forensic entomologist, so I don't know it) to reduce the fly population in the maggot stage. Sounds yucky...but everyone benefits. Salatin has it down to an art.
http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/pastured_poultry_profit:paperback
I won't go into the virtues of the maggot bucket....
A short time ago there was a thread here on DG about using baggies with water in them, hanging where flies gather. Claimed to keep flies away. I will be trying it out. Can't hurt.
Bernie
You will also have horn flies when the cows arrive. My chickens are not able to prevent them although they have access to the cow pies. A pour on like "Cylence" (sp?) will solve some of the fly problems. -The pour on goes on the cows, by the way. I also use the bag type fly traps and have very few flies. I don't recommend fly paper in the chicken coop. Ever try to unstick a hen from fly paper?
My neighbor swears by the water baggies. I tried them but I didn't have enough flies to tell whether they worked or not. Or perhaps they were effective beyond my wildest dreams.
This message was edited May 3, 2010 10:50 PM
Porkpal is right on, about the fly paper and yes I did have to unstick a hen wrapped up in it. She gave me that (stupid you) look and I have never used it since. I hate cows just because of the flies that come with them. Sorry but I hate flies. I just hate them. I love fly paper out side of the chicken coop though. It's nasty looking but sure works good. Hay.
I use the great fly bag around here, .. You fill it with water and it collects the flys... NOTE HERE... It stinks for the first few days, so dont use it close to the house..
And it stinks worse (but differently) after the first few days.
My fly traps recommend dumping the dead and stinky flies into the compost or garden soil and incorporating them in as an added nutrient source.
Great idea!
Can't do it.
FLIES and SNAKES!