help........being over ran with flies

[clinchbilly]

This is our 2nd summer living on our small farm. We only have chickens, the neighbors have cows and horses. The warm weather have brought out swarms of flies. Im needing a ay to get rid of the flies that wont harm my kids. Id like to stay away from harmful sprays.

[Maura]

You have the best fly killers already. Muscovy ducks are supposed to be great fly eaters, better than chickens. After poultry, those old fashioned fly strips work great.

[gone-a-milkin]

This stuff:
Qiuckbayt.
You can use it on roofs or in hanging bait holders, but no animals I have ever known will touch the stuff.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/1479...0140331212550s

[Harry Chickpea]

There are feeds that contain a substance that prevents fly larvae from maturing. Ask around at the co-op and suggest it to neighbors.

An old technique is a stinky or big stinky fly trap. Gallon jar with rotting meat and some water, screen funnel entrance for the flies. They come in for a meal and don't leave. Best if done a ways from the house.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Spalding Fly Predators. The company delivers a monthly shipment of larva ready to hatch and you sprinkle them on your manure piles. We've used them for about 7 years and they are fantastic. No more fly problems here at all.

https://www.spalding-labs.com/

[bloogrssgrl]

Depending on where they are congregating, air flow is a big help with keeping them away. We try to keep fans in stall areas where there might not be a good natural air flow. I also plan to have ceiling fans installed on our porch. Someday.

[Raeven]

Originally Posted by LisaInN.Idaho

Spalding Fly Predators. The company delivers a monthly shipment of larva ready to hatch and you sprinkle them on your manure piles. We've used them for about 7 years and they are fantastic. No more fly problems here at all.

https://www.spalding-labs.com/

That's what they used where I used to live for fly control at the County Fair. Agreed -- the method was amazing.

[bjgarlich]

I have my rabbits right by the house so I battle this every summer. I use fly strips liberally and I have one of those stinky fly attractor bags away from the house. In addition, I sprinkle diatomaceous earth wherever the manure falls outside the manure bins. I have to change the fly strips weekly but they work and are cheap at Walmart or the dollar store.

[chickenista]

When it is dry out and not raining, I prefer to sprinkle DE in the areas where the flies seem to congregate.. around the outside waterers etc..
and that made the problem non-existent.

Just do another sprinkle after a rain.
Oh.. and do a clean up too.
Blah.. no fun.

[Maura]

The OP does not own the cattle, just the flies.

[SeaGoat]

I can't remember what they are called but tractor supply sells these bags you hang up.
Flies go in but can't get out and it holds tons of flies.
... not for indoor use though ...

We had flies really bad last year with it being so wet.
The sticky long traps just ended up around the goats heads, but the bags stank enough to keep them away.
They really helped solve the problem.
Buy a good many, they sell like hot cakes around here

[farmwoman59]

Have you tried filling gallon Ziploc bags with water and hanging them at your doors? Something about the light reflection repels flies. Our next door neighbor has four horses and flies can be a problem for us in the warmer months. We keep the Ziploc water bags at both front and back doors and it works! I had a friend who could keep her door wide open with a bag hanging from the top of the door and never had a fly inside!

[gunsmithgirl]

I second the ziploc bags. As a kid in AL my dad did this and it worked!

[TedH71]

Fly predators and dung beetles. Dung beetles is more for critters that have manure not bird poop.

[clinchbilly]

We dont have many in the house. When it warm out they gather on the vinyl siding. Think i could spray the siding with something to repel them?