Roxanne Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Anybody got any good ideas how to reduce the amount of flies around the hen houses? I have cleaned out the trays daily, I sift through the aubiose to collect droppings, water is changed daily, leftover food (hah!) is removed daily (skins of watermelon, cauli and cabbage stalks etc) but still the little blighters come. Other than good hygiene, what does one do? I don't remember it being this bad last year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 www.flitrap.com seems to work for us so far, touch wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Someone else posted about this problem quite recently . Hopefully you'll find some useful advice here: * flies * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 Thanks Poet Ordered and paid for! How is Little Bea doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 very well indeed roxanne, thanks for asking She laid us a beautiful egg yesterday (see the thread in the egg section). No egg today yet but the warmer weather definitely agrees with her, she's very perky p.s. I'm also going to get a bottle of citronella and put a few drops in a mister bottle with some water and mist it on and around the run/coop, just as an added precaution as we haven't had the girls in the really hot summer months. The flitrap has worked so far though. DH has to change it t'row actually as it's so full. It only smells when you're right up close to it. We have it hung on the shed, out of the way of any cats etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I've noticed lots of flies around our run too, but when you look round the rest of the garden they are everywhere else as well - not just near the chickens. Maybe it's to do with all the rain that we've had, then the hot sunshine straight afterwards. Perhaps it's got something to do with the bright colours of the eglu - they also settle on our chicken bench that I painted bright blue before our chooks arrived so that we would have somewhere nice to sit and watch them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I think you may be right Moomin. I've had my chooks for exactly 1 year now and I didn't have any fly problems at all, except for 1 incredibly hot day last Summer. But this last week I've seen little baby flies just sitting on the eglu housing. So I think you could be right about the bright colours and this weather is warm and wet at the moment. I do sometimes put a few citronella drops in the droppings tray or on some kitchen towel tucked under the shade. I bought it online from this link. http://www.neph-aromatics.co.uk/essential_c.htm#citronella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 that's true Hen Watch, they are small baby flies, Thanks for the link for the citronella though, as by the end of the summer they will probably have grown into big annoying buzzy things!! good to be prepared!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Citronella oil is great for deterring flies. I put a few drops in the nest box and tray and also put some on a bit of kitchen roll and wipe it all over my eglu and wooden henhouse. The effect lasts for about a week before it needs to be renewed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 Good tip about the citronella - will do that tomorrow. It has been rather humid over the last few days so maybe that's something to do with it too. Thanks for all the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Poet, does the FliTrap really smell. Just read the other thread that's mentioned on here and it says it smells like carrion Thought I'd wait to hear back from you before ordering. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 it hangs above the shed door and i can't smell anything when i go in and out of the shed. DH said when he filled it up it stunk and i expect when he has to empty it and refill it, it may very well pong but you can't smell it otherwise, well i can't anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Thanks Poet I'll get one ordered and it can be another job for DH to do -lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 There was a thread about the same subject and which touched on Flitrap the other day.**here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 I also noticed the huge number of flies, but they are everywhere - not just around the chicken run but 150ft away at the bottom of the garden where I'm digging my veg plot. I don't like the idea of any flies around my animals as I worry about flystrike so I'm going to order some flycatchers. I've seen RedTop flycatchers advertised in practical poultry (no website or email that I can find) but don't know if they smell or not. edited to add link http://www.redtop-flytrap.com/page4.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 that flitrap looks good, how long do the refills last?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Just to agree that I think they are attracted to the roof of the cube - none in the house or run really, but billions on the roof But if they are around they will soon become a menace I imagine so I'm getting a flitrap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 that flitrap looks good, how long do the refills last?? ours went up in about october (when we first got the girls) and is due for a change now. I expect during the summer months they might need changing more regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 he fly traps can u buy refills from anywere else or just online? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 oooh that long!! im sold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 **Sarah** Wearing my hubby down for my feathered dream! Sarah... I did the same thing last year and ended up ordering my cube and chickens without him knowing We are still married!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 oooh that long!! im sold! ive ordered as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 wish i was on commission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 They say you can refill them.....you can....but the smell as you are emptying the contents of the full one is indescribable. I''d just replace the whole thing another time....even though I am a keen recycler....the smell was just too much to make the job do-able on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 They say you can refill them.....you can....but the smell as you are emptying the contents of the full one is indescribable. I''d just replace the whole thing another time....even though I am a keen recycler....the smell was just too much to make the job do-able on a regular basis. I suggested to Ian that we just bin it and buy a new one but he's determined to empty it and refill it so I'll let you all know how it goes, should be this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
