4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[gary&debbie&amy]

hi can someone suggest some thing to help us with our fly probem. Our neighbours are complaining that there are lots of flies in our garden since we had the chickens. We put garlic in their meal in the evening and wash down their area every day their run and house is fly free, but as they free range in the garden all day we have noticed the flies every where they poo advise needed urgently as we have become really attached to our ladies and don't want to have to get rid of them.

[stoice]

On reading other peoples opinions here, i spray some citronella oil and water around the place, flies don't like it and it smells lovely. Have also got some lavender plants and jasmine that hide chickeney smells too. Lavender i think deters flies a little too. You could try a flitrap but make sure you don't put it too near your neighbours boundry as it attracts flies (to catch them) and it may seem like there are more around. In a sunny spot up a tree should do the trick (Just try not to give it a sniff - it's disgusting... well not to flies obviously)

 

Hope this helps

[chelsea]

the key is to try and keep on top of things if you can.

 

Keep all garden poos sprayed up or brushed away

I poo pick daily in the run to get rid of the big poos that attract the flies

Citronella oil is good - some drops on some kitchen towel and placed in the poo tray or under the omlet shade works a treat

I have made a spray with water/citronella/eucalyptus and spray around the run a couple of times and gives a nice smell.

 

 

and just to add - its not chickens attracting flies - flies are everywhere in the summer - my sister has a worse problem than me for flies and she aint got any chickens!

[Clur]

I think this year is particularly bad for flies unfortunately, we've noticed it and I don't believe it's anything to do with the girls.

 

I try and poo-pick nightly and hose down the patio and the grass each night - may help?

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Hi G,D & A,

Take a look at this thread

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27612

 

It covers most of the pros & cons of FliTraps.

 

Personally I think they are pretty darned good and the customer service is great! Mine have both got quite a lot of dead & dying bodies in & have only been up since Tuesday.

 

Nasty things flies, my chook run seems to be a lot clearer now than at the beginning of the week. only good thing about flies is watching the chooks - who think they'll be able to catch them! - pouncing on the offending bugs, which wizz off, leaving them looking very bemused!

 

Good luck,

 

Sha x

[Tilly Bud]

I'm glad someone's brought this up, i'm sick to death of the flies in our garden. They swarm around the chicken/rabbit/guinea pig poo and are driving me mental.

 

I do agree that it is this time of year, but the way i keep tham a little at bay is by moving the eglu run as much as possible and brushing the poo into the lawn/into the borders with a stiff brush. It's good for the lawn and it gets rid of the big lumps that the flies like so much. I find the flies are only attracted to the poo, not the chickens so tell your neighbors that it would be the same if you had a rabbit or guinea pig.

 

The citronella idea is a good one though, i'm going to try it. I didn't realise you could buy liquid citronella, i've only ever seen it used for candles. Where would i get it from?

[abwsco]

The citronella idea is a good one though, i'm going to try it. I didn't realise you could buy liquid citronella, i've only ever seen it used for candles. Where would i get it from?

 

You can buy it online or your local chemist might sell it. It's £1.49 a bottle from ours

[Seagazer]

I always pick up the 'curry' poos as they attract most of the flies and then wash the residue away.

 

Its not just us with chickens that have the problem. Had lunch with a friend today and she was complaining about the amount of flies in her garden and house.

[AJuff]

I would buy a Gotcha fly trap that uses recycled milk bottles. Mine is working very well and has really made a difference.

 

I bought it as you don't need to empty it, just unscew it from the top, replace the milk bottle top and bin it. I had heard some awful sickening stories about emptying the 'Flitrap.' I bought mine on ebay two for £4.99.

[Yolky]

Does the 'gotcha' one contain the same ingredient which may attract foxes that the fly trap has?

[Stevie]

I bought the citronella oil used for lamps and put some in the Eglu's poop tray,some on a rag under the sunshade and also squirt some around the garden in borders etc.Plus i do poo pick regulary and dont have a fly problem.

[AJuff]

Does the 'gotcha' one contain the same ingredient which may attract foxes that the fly trap has?

 

I'm not sure what that ingredient is? I've not read a thread about it attracting foxes too.

 

I was thinking when that bottle was used up I'd just put hen poo soup in it as that attracts plenty of flies! And it's free!

[KateP]

As others have said, I think the main thing is to poo pick daily and also to give the area a spray of citronella a couple of times a week.

 

I have planted a couple of lavender plants and a eucalyptus bush near the eglu so hopefully these will also help.

[Mutrix Farmers]

we poo pick daily but still have a bit of a fly problem. The curry poos do seem the worst, but then the smellier the better if you're a fly!!

 

We have invested in a flitrap (haven't had to empty it yet though so can't tell you haw gross that is) and it seems to be working, although I think I need a second one for the other side of the garden.

 

Like the lavender plant idea though!!

[Chickaboo]

I have just bought a couple of eculyptus plants, which somebody advised on here - don't know if it works yet as since I got it its done nothing but rain!! I'll keep you posted.

[Egluntyne]

Nigella plants are supposed to keep flies away. Never tried them myself.