arowland17 Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Hi, We got our 2 new hens yesterday and after an excellent first day they settled in well, took themselves off to bed at 9pm last night, and this morning are back out in the run, but the run is swarming with blue bottles! I have lined their poo tray with newspaper and dripped some citronella on it and we have a piece of kitchen roll with a few drops on pegs to the top of the run but it seems to be having no effect so please can anyone help, as you walk towards the run swarms of the flies fly off the poops - there's not even that many poops in the run, only got the hens at lunchtime yesterday and after less than 24 hours this seems it may be a big prob especially as we like sitting in the garden - any help would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 My hens free range and I get the same problem I just go out and spray the poo with the hose pipe to wash it away, I think that is the only solution I am afraid either clean up the poo or wash it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenp Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 I was worried about flies & what to do but I seem to have a routine that works now. I spray the whole run & eglu every day with citronella mixed with water, & also have pads sprayed which go under the rain cover. As we have a dog, we poop a scoop everyday, so the chicken poop gets scooped as well. also spay my dustbin with citronella & if we are in the garden (hopefully today) I burn a citronella candle. Hope hat helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 28, 2007 Author Share Posted July 28, 2007 I have bought some citronella but its the pure stuff - roughly how much should I mix with water do you think?? also does that work? I'm just so worried about it all, OH saying we wont be able to keep them and we don't want them to settle in and then have to uproot them if end up taking them back but we can't sit out in the garden with the swarms at the mo - where we've moved the run there's still swarms of them all over what little is left of the poop on the grass after picking it up and mowing the lawn over it although that may have just spread it out Is so hard, we were so excited about having them and they're both lovely I just don't know what to do I'll try the hosepipe tomorrow, got to go to work now so will just have to hope it rains and that usually gets rid of the flies probably another stupid question but does washing poop with hosepipe work? or should you pick up poop first then wash ground underneath?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Our fly problem seems to be levelling out, in the first couple of weeks there seemed to be millions of flies.......Now the girls have settled down and the poo is less smelly there isnt half as many flies now........ I would see how it goes, citronella does seem to work very well, I would only use a couple of drops in a spray bottle....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Get some hemcore - it's treated with citronella - I am using it in the nesting box and the poo tray at the moment. In the winter when the girls move closer to the house I will be using hemcore in the run (after a disastrous winter of wet back chippings last time.) I tend to just wash the poo away with the watering can - this does the trick - somehow after it has got a good soaking it is not so interesting to the flies and they move on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Thanks so much for the help - it was just so bad yesterday and we panicked and the OH was kind of bullied into getting the chickens by me so wasn't that happy with the situation! I was out at 7.30 this morning picking up all the poop - chickens were wide awake and scrabbling around in the eglu squawking to get out but kept them in until I'd got the worst of it up. I had lined the tray with newspaper with a few drops of citronella on it and the bluebottles didn't go near it even though they were literally inches from it all on the grass so I'm off out to buy a spray bottle later and will get spraying the run!! I think we may put the whole lot on hemcore as well just to be on the safe side - how easy is it to clean the run out?? We always seem to get bluebottles here when next doors cat comes and uses our back garden as it's toilet, so would want to clean it everyday, is that easy to do when there's Hemcore down in the run? Sorry for all the questions it just seems there's so much I need to know, I'm a bit of a nervous wreck, only had them 2 days, just want to get this fly thing under control so we can start enjoying having them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 There was a thread on here about a flitrap which they found broke the fly lifecycle with some good reults. www.flitrap.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Sorry to hear you're struggling Don't try to achieve perfect results straight away - it sometimes takes a bit of time to get into a system that suits you and your routine! Hemcore is great, the poop gets sort of absorbed into it and it lasts for ages. It's better if it doesn't get rained on as well. I filled both my runs with it 4 weeks ago and it really needs changing now (but it has been rained on very heavily which hasn't helped). I also use it in the poop tray - quite a thick layer. I take the tray to the compost heap and just pick out the poops and any wet hemcore. Also, they do seem to do wetter, smellier poos when you first get them. This does settle down. You could also try adding garlic powder to their feed (from horsey shops). It definitely makes them less smelly! Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 THANKYOU!! That looks fantastic and they guarantee satisfaction within 7 days and will refund if it doesn't work so it looks perfect. I've just ordered it and hopefully it will arrive this week before the weather gets too warm!! They have a pack to last all summer and it's only £9 so well worth the money in my opinion if it works! Thanks again for the link, it's such a relief to know that hopefully this will be sorted - OH said we'll have to get rid of them if we can't get the fly probs under control but if this does the trick it'll be fantastic thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Just saw the reply about hemcore - also really helpful thanks! I bought garlic powder and add a pinch to their water and they seem to really like it (surprised as had read on here that they can turn their noses up at it!!) and to be honest I haven't noticed much smell from them at all The poop isn't the most solid lol so picking it up and getting it all up wasn't that easy and I'm sure I didn't get it all up but probably best to get as much as poss up before the sun warms up and the flies come back out I'm so grateful for this site, the amount of info on here has helped so much and I'm obviously not the only one with fly probs and everyones advice has helped so much!! the OH over-reacted saying that after a day we had to take them back (it was bad yesterday!) but I've convinced him to give the poop-picking and citronella spraying first thing in the morning a try, and if that doesn't work and the new flitrap thing then we'll put down the hemcore and he's agreed to try all that before we make a decision about keeping them although I'm sure something will work - it's only a problem in the summer which to be honest is unlikely to arrive this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Just a little word of warning! Be careful where you sight the flitrap as they work by actually attracting flies and presumably smell bad? So you might have more flies initially until it makes a dent in the local population. Just be careful to site it away from the house and the neigbours for that matter! I think you tend to worry more about flies when you have chickens, we had a couple of days where there were loads of them and I panicked too. It turned out to be a load of dead starlings helpfully left at the end of our garden by nextdoors cat that was the main problem. There isn't too much of a problem now. We have started to add garlic granules (horsey type) and Bokashi bran to the feed it seems to be working as the poo smell doesn't seem so bad. I nearly barfed this morning though when adding the garlic as that really humms! Good luck! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 I know, I bought a tub and taking the lid off and the stink hits you!! lol put a tiny amount in their water and could still smell it! seems to be doing the job though as the poo doesn't smell I think the blue bottle prob is to do with next doors cat and garden - their garden is completely overgrown and they don't use most of it and their cat makes a mess in our garden and I'm sure it'll do the same in theirs - we've also had magpies left in our garden so wouldn't be surprised if there's the same in their garden but they don't clear it up so assume it sits there gathering flies until a cat or fox eats the rest of it. I'll probably site the fly trap towards their garden since that's away from our house and part of the garden we sit in, and they wont be in their garden to be disturbed by the increased number of flies! Thanks for the advice on that though - have you used one?? I was planning on putting it ontop of the chicken run so will re-think that plan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Hi there, only just caught up with this thread, hope you're having better luck. I don't poop scoop as it's virtually liquid, specially with all this rain, I just rake it in and I haven't had too much trouble with flies. Definitely keep on with the citronella, I also use tea tree oil - I drop a few drops of both onto the bedding (I use Aubiose as I can't get Hemcore so let me know where you found it if you did!) and on the bedding I use in the poo trays. Empty them every day or so and it's not too bad. Maybe there's a dead something nearby that's attracting them, and cat poo will DEFINITELY make it worse - set your chickens on them!! Have you posted any pictures yet? Hope other half comes round, mine loves them, but then he had to as I allegedly bought them for him! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 I bought their feed and garlic powder etc from Rokers Animal Feed opposite Merist Wood College in Worplesdon/Guildford and they had loads of horse stuff there so was going to pop down later and see if they do hemcore too. I've just looked outside and where the run was yesterday there are a few blue bottles (OH mowed over poop so it kind of spread out and couldn't be picked up!) but we moved run down the garden away from house in case had big problems again with flies and in the 3 hours they've been up there's a lot of poop but not a single fly so keeping fingers crossed - filled the watering can and put a few drops of citronella in and watered their run, they kept running under the water was so funny to watch, sprinkled some corn down at one end as I didn't think they'd appreciate getting wet, so am hoping all will be ok! Feeling much better about it all, think we're being over paranoid, don't want to give neighbours any excuse to complain about the chickens they're so sweet they cluck away whenever we go outside the back door! I think once we are able to let them free-range it might be better as then the poop wont be concentrated in the one area so much and will allow me to do a clean of the run without them being in the eglu as they were desperate to get out this morning while I was doing it but they're so nosey they get in the way! How do I post pictures on here? and do that signature thing? sure I've seen a link to it while looking up advice on the site but can't remember where, could look for ages on here there's so much info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 (edited) How do I post pictures on here? and do that signature thing? sure I've seen a link to it while looking up advice on the site but can't remember where, could look for ages on here there's so much info! Everything you need to know is here. Am glad the flies seem less of a problem. Edited as I spotted a typo! Edited July 31, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I've not used a flitrap thing myself, I posted a a thread very similar to yours about a month ago with a view to getting a redtop trap which is very similar. Someone on here had tried one (can't remember who it was now) and said it attracted scrillions of flies They 20,000 flies per trap As we have a relatively small garden it put me off a bit! Instead I cleared the jungle type area at the end of the garden that was helping the cats hunting antics and that had a positive affect, he is not nearly so good at catching birds when he has no cover! He has been getting wet a lot lately too as he keeps stalking our hens the little git! He got a good blast with the hosepipe yesterday! I don't know what he thinks he is going to do with a chook if he caught one as they are all as big as he is! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 judging by the experience of my own cat, he may try stalking but will soon be put off when a cross hen flaps her wings and aims a peck at his nose! I think it's instinctive, they see little scurrying feet and can't help themselves, but my chickens are more than a match - and my cat is quite big. Back to the flies - I've not had much of a problem with these, I do wonder if there is something else like the nasties already mentioned, that is attracting them. I strongly recommend the powdered garlic in their food, as it cuts down on smell - I don't know if that has anything to do with the flies, but it certainly makes it much more pleasant to clean out the run. I also endorse hemcore/aubiose, I think that will reduce the problem. It is a bit daunting when you are on your own with chickens for the first time, but every day gets easier - hopefully your OH will be won round when he sees how funny they are to watch, and when the eggs arrive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Mrs Bertie wrote: (I use Aubiose as I can't get Hemcore so let me know where you found it if you did!) We went to a horse shop where they sell Ambiose, Hemcore and Easibed. The Hemcore and Ambiose we were told are the same except the Ambiose is French which often means it can be more expensive than the Hemcore. Has anyone tried Easibed because that was a lot cheaper. We are having a major problem with flies too. It is driving me mad. I think I might try garlic powder. Have tried the boskashi bran but they don't eat it. I still but it in their poo tray though. It's supposed to rain til September so I really must remember to sort out a rain cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 We tried Easybed+ it is quite good and smells nice too as it's been treated with fly repellent presumably citronella. Hemcore dries out a lot quicker and seems to be more absorbant. I think we will stick with that. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Well for once I am quite happy to have rain as we never get flies when it's wet!! although saying that I looked at the weather forecast and it said all this week will be sunny where we are so I'm just hoping that the Flitrap arrives quickly - not too bothered about it attracting flies, as long as they go over to it and don't just hang around it in the garden! we're putting it near the neighbours fence as I am 99% sure their garden is the problem as there are usually bluebottles along that side on our fence even when there's no cat poop etc in our garden for them to gather on I keep checking the chickens, they run over when I go out- just put them some tomatoes in a bowl and they kicked all the tomatos out onto the floor and tried to get in the plastic bowl then had fun kicking that around and pecking it - as far as I can see they've totally ignored the tomatoes but I'll leave them there a bit longer! Have added a signature, hope it turns out right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Hi - I'm sure you will get the fly problem under control soon. I have always used hemcore in the run and garlic powder in the girls mash and dont really have a fly problem here - as others have already said the poo is definately worse for the first couple of weeks until your chooks settle in. Have fun with them - oh- and mine hate tomatoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Thanks for that, we're going to get some Hemcore tomorrow, not only for the fly problem but we went out to have a look at how they were getting on and they've scratched the bit of lawn they are on into a dusty mess!! lol and they were moved yesterday!! Just tried them on tinned sweetcorn and raw broccoli and they liked that a lot more than tomatoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DurhamChooks Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Hi there, Im also a relative chicken keeping newbie and went through the same anxious first few weeks. If I saw a single fly I blamed it on the chickens. A bald patch on the lawn was blamed on the chickens.... basically everything that happened in the garden since the chickens arrived was blamed on the chickens. It does ease and then you really start enjoying the little critters and their crazy antics. I agree with other posts, they poo loads when you first get them and its usually runny and very smelly, but give them a few weeks and it will be hard and dry and hardly smell at all. I had a few flies to start with, mainly in the coop but they soon left on their own when they realised it was either leave or be eaten by a chicken! Hope it all works out.... PS. I talked my OH into getting chickens as well and appreciate the extra pressure of having to make it work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thanks for that - I am just really worried about it all as OH was dead against it all thought it would be loads of poo, flies and rats all over our garden and so far only the rats hasn't happened!! I do agree, everything is being blamed on the chickens!! the lawn isn't coping with them well and I don't think moving it once a week will help it to recover, I reckon the whole thing will be wrecked fairly quickly so we're going to keep it in one place and let them wreck that area, then once it's been destroyed get some Hemcore (having problems finding a stockist though) or similar and buy the occasional turf roll for them to peck at! Flies do seem to be improving, I pick up the poop first thing and they seem to be steering clear of the poop in the run, even now and it's full of it but not a blue bottle to be seen so they must of found something more interesting or our chickens are getting better and catching them!! they kept missing the first day they tried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
