Mrs_B Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 A Red Top Fly Trap to be exact. We have a long garden and a potting shed was put up where we had a Red Top trap last summer at the top of the garden. Last summer it's been there festering and every single person in the house forgot about it (out of site out of mind because it became hidden from the shed!) For those who know of these, they can only imagine the hell unleashed Omg just awful...! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I can smell it from here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 I'm not surprised!! I even remember us all saying 'let's not forget about the fly trap now the shed's here.' We definitely won't be making that mistake again! Ahhh the shame x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Had never heard of such things and just done goggle search.YUCK. Looks like a good idea may get one in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Bought one last year and something nibbled the bag and let all the liquid out. Didn't want to pay a tenner for another! They are vile... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Would like to add that they are a fly attractant, so they not only attract the flies in your chicken run but also all the other flies around. I gave up with mine and use sticky traps tied to the roof of my run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyBean2605 Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Anyone ever done a slug trap with beer? My nan tried it once as she had a serious slug problem, the results were revolting beyond words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Yes, I've done the slug trap too, really not sure which is the worst out of the two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Would like to add that they are a fly attractant, so they not only attract the flies in your chicken run but also all the other flies around. I gave up with mine and use sticky traps tied to the roof of my run. Your so right, I couldn't work out why I was getting soooo many flies in the run, as soon as I took the trap out I saw a huge reduction in the flies. I can honestly say that's the only good thing about winter, you don't see many flies...I am terrified of fly-strike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSilver Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 One thing which is supposed to work in deterring flies and wasps is tansy, a leafy herb which was used Back in the Day as a "strewing herbe" to lay down on floors for people to walk on - by walking on the herbs and plants, they released a pleasant smell and sometimes the essential oils had various properties to deter pests. Tansy was a very popular herb, but fell out of favour for more chemically products pest deterrents. Tansy apparently is a very good companion plant as it discourages potato beetle, wasps, lice, fleas, and flies. Like everything on the planet use too much of it and it is toxic, but when I was a nipper my great gran added a teaspoon of dried tansy to her nest boxes and her hens were amazingly lice-free. Seemed to work a treat, but it does need moderating as if copious amounts are ingested it will kill a hen - still, in doses so small the hen wouldn't manage to eat enough is worth trying; it doesn't need to be much added to be effective. My son is absolutely terrified of wasps, to the point if he hears anything buzzing it can trigger a meltdown and a panic, so I'm going to experiment by putting some tansy in the back garden raised bed - it does need monitoring as the stuff can apparently spread like mint. Still, I want to see how well it deters flying pests; one of the perks of tansy is even though the smell puts wasps and flies off, bees love the flowers and happily collect pollen and nectar from them, and apparently ladybirds enjoy them too so it doesn't chase off beneficial insects at all, which is no bad thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Where can I get some Tansy ? It's sounds marvellous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSilver Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 You can grow it from seed - which is very easy to do, actually - and harvest the flower heads or place the plants near the run to deter pests. There might be some dried tansy available here and there but it's always a toss up as to how long the herb has been stored and it may not be viable. Plenty of places to buy tansy - Higgledy, Victoriana Nursery Gardens, Crocus, do a net search and give a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I have Tansy plants near the back door - I rub them on the dogs during tick season. I deter flies from the run with strips of kitchen paper dabbed with Eucalyptus and Citronella oils, I also make up a plant spray with those oils in some water and spray it in the nest box and on the run litter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Would like to add that they are a fly attractant, so they not only attract the flies in your chicken run but also all the other flies around. I gave up with mine and use sticky traps tied to the roof of my run. That's very true and important! I think it was OK for us as we have a big and long garden, so it was far enough away from the house and chickens to not cause a nuisance - but if there's not a distance like you said, it can actually attract more flies Bought one last year and something nibbled the bag and let all the liquid out. Didn't want to pay a tenner for another! They are vile... OH no, that's horrible I really feel for you, as the stuff inside is disgusting - i'd hate to have to clean the liquid up! Anyone ever done a slug trap with beer? My nan tried it once as she had a serious slug problem, the results were revolting beyond words! There's nothing quite like that smell either...ewww I opted for slug traps one year when slugs covered our garden and even after a short time the pots stank - never again lol! I have Tansy plants near the back door - I rub them on the dogs during tick season. I deter flies from the run with strips of kitchen paper dabbed with Eucalyptus and Citronella oils, I also make up a plant spray with those oils in some water and spray it in the nest box and on the run litter. I've also tried spraying Citronella oil onto terracota pots around the WIR and that's helped quite a bit, too - and it's a NICE smell The oil stayed for a while in the terracota and was of course easy to apply. I used the Redtops because there's an entrance to a storm drain just inside the woods by our house and in the summer we get a lot of flies coming from there, so combining the oil and the fly trap worked well. I just won't ever make the mistake of forgetting one is up in the garden lol x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 My friend said you'd get the same result if you used a bottle of urine I handed her the milk carton ( i used them with fly stuff in and when its full put a top on and into the bin) needless to say she didnt oblige i might try tansy too. If hens eat it by accident will it hurt them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Yes, they shouldn't eat it as it can be harmful in large quantities, so suspend it in the run, out of reach. Dried Tansy can be mixed in with the bedding, so long as it's used sparingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Thanks Clare. No one told my girls they shouldnt eat rhubarb leaves and they stripped the plant and lived to tell the tale but I will be cautious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Mine also eat stuff that's supposed to be poisonous; they're still alive so I leave them to get on with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
