Chickaboo Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 My girls are obviously very clean however I suspose it is inevitable to get fies in the summer around the eglu and run, and they are about 15ft from our kitchen door, I sprinkle a lot of citronella oil around the place which seems to help. But does anybody else have any tips to keep flies at bay. I don't want to use any chemicals - but maybe a plant I could have that keeps them away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoop Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 You could try the FliTrap (http://www.flitrap.com). Many of us around here have one and I think the general consensus is that it works well. (Should this topic be in the 'Eggs' forum??? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I noticed a load of flies around a "curry" poo so I tried an experiment - Diatom. It seemed to work, there were no more flies where there were before. I'm trying to find a way of dealing with flies when we convert to a permanent bark chip run, a sprinkle of diatom might just do the trick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted June 23, 2008 Author Share Posted June 23, 2008 Sorry no of course it shouldn't be in the 'egg' section But thanks anyway I will try both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Eucalyptus trees are excellent at discouraging bugs and are very cheap in garden centres.Think of Vics vapour rub and you'll get the idea of how obnocious the smell is to bugs,but we humans cannot detect it unless the foliage is crushed. Be aware though these trees are rampant growers so either keep it in a large spacious pot or prune it regulary & hard (they dont mind being clipped back hard).I recently cut one down in my garden which was a mere baby at 8 years old-it was 10ft taller than my house and the chainsaw was struggling to get through the trunk! I need to plant another though cos my garden has been invaded by bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Be aware though these trees are rampant growers so either keep it in a large spacious pot or prune it regulary & hard (they dont mind being clipped back hard).I recently cut one down in my garden which was a mere baby at 8 years old-it was 10ft taller than my house and the chainsaw was struggling to get through the trunk! ( agree with that, coincidently OH lopped off the top of our 2 eucalyptus trees the weekend, they were so high they were tapping on next doors window! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I love Eucalyptus trees but I'm banned from having them I planted my first one too close to the fence & my neighbour complained and we had to spend a fortune having it cut down which was very sad as it was beautiful, it gave us lovely dappled shade and danced in the breeze, the neighbour also complained it attracted flies to her garden and used to walk around her garden spraying fly spray personally I think perhaps she should have stayed in her London flat, then I planted another one at the end of the garden that grew huge and was also lovely until we had very windy weather it swayed backwards and forwards and knocked down our back wall Yup, I planted that too close too Perhaps I could try growing one in a large pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choppish Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 my chickens love eating the eucalyptus leaves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Lady Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 you can grow eucalyptus in your garden - you just need to coppice it every year. Once you've planted a tree, let it grow for a year or so just to get it established, then lop it off to about 6" above ground. Looks drastic, but it will re-sprout, and it forms a lovely bush - about 6ft tall and about 4ft across, with sprays of the young foliage which is much nicer than the mature foliage anyway imho. (I'm a professional gardener and have done this to a couple of my clients' wayward eucalyptus trees - they were horrified when I'd first done it but a year later almost always delighted ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Sorry to show my ignorance but, does a eucalyptus tree need to be grown in full sunlight, or will it tolerate shade? I have a small space just outside the bottom of the run. I've been wondering what to grow there. However, it is shady because of the apple tree and honeysuckle archway over the gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I bought a Gotcha fly trap from ebay which uses recycled milk bottles. You screw the bottle to the top and fill it with water and fly attractant. The advantage of this product over a FliTrap is that you don't have to empty it, you can just unscrew it and put the milk bottle lid back on it then bin it. Flies, smell and all just gone. I did read some horrible descriptions about emptying the FliTrap which is why I bought this product. It's also chemical free!!! ebay Item number: 160251773346 £4.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Lady Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 they prefer full sun I'm afraid - they come from the Australian outback read more about them here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/299.shtml PS did you want to grow a fly repellent plant specifically? can give you some suggestions if you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted June 25, 2008 Author Share Posted June 25, 2008 Its off to the garden centre for some eculyptus plants then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Another one which allegidly helps deter flies is the Indian bean tree.I havent any experience with this type though and by all acounts its a slow grower which maybe better or worse for your situation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/12242.shtml I did try googling 'trees which deter flies' and one option was Elderbery-which i know for sure dont work-i have six of them and still have bugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I read the other day in someone's blog (off forum) that the plant Nigella deters flies. Rather pretty too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 PS did you want to grow a fly repellent plant specifically? can give you some suggestions if you like Ooo yes please I have recently planted a Eucalyptus Gunni and was planning on copiccing it every year so I'm pleased that you suggested that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Lady Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Ooo yes please OK you're going to have to give me a bit more info first though how big is the space? is it a clear space (though shady) or are you growing lots of other things in there too? and what did you want - tree? shrub? little plants? anything else it needs to do too (eg deter flies )? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonX Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Must say I have been very impressed with the amount of flies caught in my flietrap, but to be honest there is no way I am going to empty it so would work out rather expensive when you have to replace them that frequently. Am going to give the milk carton suggestion a try that somebody left on her (sorry forgot who) so thanks! probably the same kind of product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 IT was me!!!! I love my milk bottle carton fly trap it's fab, I love watching the nasty flies drown in it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I have lots of refill sachets for my fly traps and can't afford to waste them, so will be biting the bullet and reusing mine. I reckon if I can clean up duck pooh I can empty a fli trap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I reckon if I can clean up duck pooh I can empty a fli trap Believe me.....speaking as one who knows......duck poo doesn't even come close to the stench of a full Flitrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I reckon if I can clean up duck pooh I can empty a fli trap Believe me.....speaking as one who knows......duck poo doesn't even come close to the stench of a full Flitrap. I'm watching mine avidly fill up (about 50% full now). So that I can get up the nerve and prepare myself any hints about how to go about emptying it - mine is only a third full of water to start with: do you assume all flies are dead or add more water when emptying to drown any stragglers? What do you do with the contents Not looking forward to this bit at all - but I love watching it fill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I emptied it onto the compost heap, and had a jug of water ready to rinse it a couple of times. Wear gloves, and although it sounds ridiculous, a face mask impregnated with something like Olbas Oil to prevent you sniffing the smell, which is absolutely vile and quite unlike anything I have ever smelled before or since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I'm watching mine avidly fill up (about 50% full now). So that I can get up the nerve and prepare myself any hints about how to go about emptying it - mine is only a third full of water to start with: do you assume all flies are dead or add more water when emptying to drown any stragglers? What do you do with the contents Not looking forward to this bit at all - but I love watching it fill Dig a hole in garden,empty and backfill.I used to use a wasp trap years ago (similiar to fly one) and it used to look like stinky black soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Dig a hole in garden,empty and backfill. Ah, just started a thread to describe my experiences with this method -- basically, the fox has been at the hole looking for whatever died there, and this despite covering the backfill with ash and bark chip -- and despite my Foxwatch. That must be some powerful smell to a fox... gross as it may be, the next one is going to be flushed down the toilet; but will wear a face mask as someone above suggested! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
