argent13uk Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 dear all, i purchased a flitrap from the webstie suggested here about 2 weeks ago. It was briliant - did the job and caught loads of flies! However, i emptied it today and it was the most disugsting thing i have ever done - and I am a forensic scientist and a mother of two! I would advise just binning the whole plastic contracption and buying a new one fresh - I know its more expensive but I don't think that I could do that again! tiffany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Fancy an Eccles cake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonX Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Exactly what I did with mine, straight in the bin wrapped in a few carrier bags and taped up (didn't want the foxes getting at it) I could see all the maggots crawling around and there was no way I could stomach that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I have a different make of fly trap (red top fly trap) and it is a bag hung under a plastic lid thing. It works great, has a big capacity but I just realised I have no option but to empty it before I dispose of the trap (not reusable) as it doesn't seal in anyway It is almost full and a fly had laid eggs on the side above the fluid line and they are now tiny maggots....it is just too grim. Saying that, the biomass of flies I have removed from the environment is pretty impressive and I am ordering a couple of flitraps later. I'm vauguely hoping they don't quite stink the garden out as much as the one I have at the mo, I doubt that though! Maddy xxx Ps, anyone emptied onto the compost? It was recommended in the gumph that came with mine but I am worried about the maggots hatching into flies in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I did once. The smell was absolutely indescribable. Cover the emptied contents with a shovelful of earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I gave mine another chance, and put the second lot down the drain, but a week later I needed to re-empty them again. And the garden was swarming with flies. I have come to the conclusion that the flitraps are actually attracting all the flies in a 5 mile radius, and they are queuing on my patio to get in. I emptied them again on Sunday and this time didn't refill them and there are no flies in my garden now. So I am convinced he traps just entice more flies into the garden - which is why they fill up so quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I agree FruitandNutCake. I use citronella oil dripped about the place and have planted lavender near the run (There is also lemon balm and mint doing it's own thing ) These should all help to deter flies. I had the red top flitrap and as our garden is quite small I couldn't put it any further away from the house. The smell of death and rotten ickyness (Not sure if it's a word - well it should be) was turning our stomachs so it had to go. Apparently you can wash them out and buy new sachets for them! just taping down the lid and quadruple bagging it made us heave! It now feels like there are less flies around without it (although the dry spell we had may have had something to do with that) Ho-hum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 someone on this or P P Keeping forum tols of these lid things you can buy to put on 1 litre milk bottles . flamin brilliant! wait till nearly dark, on't want dark might tripwith the vile thing! then take lid of put old lid back on & bingo! whole thing can be done with breath held I promise you. Proiblem was then had to get some barden gloves as just could not face the prospect of holding the bottle. Got 2 and 2 of those other vile refillable fly traps but got that sorted. Hubby does it when I am out ha ha!!! I was nearly sick 1st time with the smell !!! I too thought they are attracting flies from all over Woking... Hubby thinks from Egypt too!!! But soo does pooh!!! it is not the chickens though as had sme problem last year & just dogs then & I am paranoid about flies & picking up soon as done. Think if i had known about these thingys I might not have such a problem this year. rerfilled all now once & I do think that they are reducing, maybe all of us should stick weith it a while longer. Heard pathologists use! Vicks a lot... just gouig on ebay to buy a lorry load & we can all share it ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 The fly traps that use milk bottles are called Gotcha fly traps. I got two off ebay for £5. They are fantastic. They work well and attract hundreds of horrible flies. I changed mine yesterday and it was very easy. Armed with milk bottle top in hand, one deep breath, unscrew milk carton, put on lid and into the bin. Done!! Breathe again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Has anyone got a paddling pool, and noticed what an excellent flytrap it makes when you are trying to keep the water clean? They also like apple cider vinegar so I might try putting a bit of that in my empty flytrap containers-at least it smells nicer!! what do you put in he gotcha fly traps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Well I put the powdered fly attractant that came with them. I thought I might try chicken poo soup and see how that works. Will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 i put some of dogs tripe in the water, works just fine! smells just as bad as i suspect pooh soup will also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks for all the tips guys! With the damp and heat and chick poo it is too good for flies atm in the garden. Will invest this weekend. Another chore to add to the list... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 do the bottle ones stink as badly? I am really procrastinating when it comes to emptying it....yuk yuk yuk, it is only going to get more festy though I suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 stink like the others while collecting horrid yukky flies yes.... stink when emptying...? well you don't empty, so know as we said hold breath unscrew fltop lid & screw on milk bottle lid... breathe again.... easy... go for it, lets see how many flies we can all rid the country of!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I might give one of these a try. The Flitrap, whilst working well, was the most evil smelling object I have ever encountered when it came to emptying....and I always maintain that they attract foxes. Do the Gotchas (sp?) smell like carrion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Oh God...I emptied my 2 flitraps today and it was the worst experience I have ever had as regard odours..I nearly passed out and thought I was going to be sick. Iwon't ever empty them again ..I'll just bin the whole lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 The Gotcha's have an unpleasant aroma but not like carrion. I'm trialling one with chicken poo soup but there's hardly been any flies about today due to the heavy showers. I would definately go out and buy a Gotcha. I wouldn't be without mine and as they are so easy to change rather than empty they are a big yes for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumpty Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 OMG! I am sifting thriough all the latest posts to seek advice on chooks (not here til mid sept) and I'm in a major panic. All I've read about is noisy chickens, angry neighbours and now flies. I never knew flies could be such a problem, Is it a big part of keeping chickens? Do flies always go hand in hand with them and do we have to have these horrible traps I'm reading about and what is the smell???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I only got my chooks in May this year however I do have dogs but amalmost OCD about picking it up, almost before it hits the gound, yet last year I hd a major fly problem. We could not eat out side for swarms,m yet my neighbours were ok. I decided they come ibn to drink from the damp grass, (pee that is!) sorry all yucky! anyway I have this year noticed asimilar pattern. Also the dratted fly does not seem particularly attracted to the "Dry poohs" however the stincky wet ones from lots of vegetation attract them. liqid agaim. I AM THINKING THAT HADF I had chickens last year I wouild have been informed about these fly traps & maybe I could have brocken the cycle... even with our early hot spell, if i had them life may be better. I have 4 in my long gartden & while everything everyone says about them is 100% true right on, the normal smell in passing them is horrid but no worse than lots of other smells in life, like living near a battery hen farm!!!!!!!!!! or sewage works, or pig farm, or even the back of butchers.! Amy one been using tese things for a couple of years & still got problems? LOVE YOUR CHOOKS they will 1,0000 times reward you for poohs & flies. ADORABLE WONDERFUL AMAZING!!!!!! not noisy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 The flies were here before the chickens. It's just that with so many flies about, I think the risk of rabbits and chickens getting blow fly attack is greater (although shouldn't be if the pets are kept in clean conditions and not confined to a small cage). Living by the sea, I've noticed it the last few years on the beach with flies on the seaweed. The council now don't remove the seaweed left by the tide - and the swarms of flies make a visit to the beach very unpleasant, especially when t is hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Flies tend only to be a problem in the summer months. Oh God...I emptied my 2 flitraps today and it was the worst experience I have ever had as regard odours..I nearly passed out and thought I was going to be sick. Unbelievable isn't it. Nothing can prepare you for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I've just emptied my flitrap for the first time it was disgusting I was going to wash it out but gave up after a couple of rinses and put it in the recycling. I've now made my own version out of a milk bottle using the flitrap attractant powder in it. I shall look into the Gotcha traps if this doesn't work. Whilst being ghoulishly fascinated by the amount of flies in the trap it doesn't really seem to have done what we expected as in reducing the amount of flies in the run However it did give me a funny/scary moment with my neighbour as I'd put in on the fence on the opposite side of the garden to where we sit, and on Saturday I heard my neighbour complaining to her husband about a terrible smell then she called me over and asked what I had on my side of the fence I hesitated for a moment and she said "colourwise, I was thinking of repainting the fence and didn't want to give you different coloured stripes again" DH has just been to put something in the recycling and said it stinks of rotting meat down the side of the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Thought I'd give you an update, just went out to put something in the recycling bin down the side of the house & found that apart from the terrible smell that where I emptied the flitrap into the garden & food waste recycling bin there are now loads of maggots crawling up the sides inside the bin and escaping from the top of the bin I've just had to wipe off as many as I could and sprayed the bin inside and out with fly killer and to top it all it looks like we have new neighbours moving in today they'll think they've got the neighbours from hell Thankfully the bins get emptied tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
