Flies are out of control!

[gsganzer]

Every fall we battle the flies. They always seem to start congregating at the back of the house (because it's south facing and stays warmer) and also faces the pasture. We also put in some new horse stalls, that are probably adding to the problem this year.

Next year I might look at putting an automated fly mister system in the barn/stalls. Does anyone have any experience with them?

In the meantime, I'm planning a full all-out assault on the darn things. I've always used fly bags around the property to help keep them down but I'm looking for other options. I bought some of the Golden Malrin, but they must have changed the formula, because it doesn't seem to work as well as I remember "back in the days". I've seen some folks say to make some bait stations with it using grape soda, so I'll try that. I'll do some fly spray with my backpack sprayer too.

What are some other options/products?

 

[EddieWalker]

We use Golden Marlin and it does kill some flies. Also bought 6 bug zappers and they kill bugs constantly, but not a lot of flies. We have noticed a decline in flies from the worse year ever after getting the horses, and then opening up another chicken coop in the horse barn. The chickens tear up the horse poop and turn a pile into dust almost imitatively. They love it!!! It's my guess that they somehow break up the cycle of flies being born, or they eat the flies on the poop, or something else is happening that contributes to fewer flies with having more and more chickens. We're at around 150 or so chickens and that led to a big decrease in flies compared to when we just had 20 chickens. Chickens never stop hunting, that's pretty much all they do all day long!!!

The water traps worked great when we used them, but we always forgot to get rid of them in time and the smell is horrible!!!

I've been buying these fly traps from Atwoods with good results. They fill up with flies in about a week. When we are raising baby chicks, we put them all in the tack room and the flies in there can get pretty bad. These work good, but it's never enough to get rid of all the flies. I think they are around $8 each at Atwoods, so this is a really good price for 8 of them.

https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Non-T...scue+fly+trap&qid=1569937833&s=gateway&sr=8-8

 

[AllByteNoBark]

We have a system from here Mosquitoes in the Mist | DIY Bug & Mosquito Misting Systems and it works well for what we need. Before putting it in we had a spider problem, along with mosquitos. Flies were not real bad. We have it setup for a short spray around 10 p.m. and another before daylight. Works great. Has not affected the honey bees or butterflies that we have noticed as the spray we use is not effective long term and we spray after dark. It has prevented wasp nest under the eves which had started to show up. Put it on the house and building and worth it for us. They seem to be good people and willing to talk to you about your needs. They are located in Houston I believe.

 

[WM75Guy]

We put in a Pyranha system when we built our Morton stables 10 years ago and could not be happier. I would not have stables without one now. I go through 2 jugs of solution a year, about $400. Occasionally have to change out a nozzle that clogs up. We have used Fly Predators occasionally but I was not sold on them. I also use the fly traps outside, never inside, or they will attract the flies inside. My local feed store gives me a good price on the jugs of concentrate. I buy my parts from Huberth.

Huberth Farm Services

Here is the pump and tank system installed.



Here you can see the nozzles and tubing. There is one above each stall and three in the aisle. They run for 30 seconds 6 times a day from 8 am to 6 pm. That way they don't run at night when everyone is indoors. The nozzles are spring loaded so they only open when the system pressurizes. There are no drip issues.

 

[oosik]

I'm really hoping this unseasonable cold snap has ended most of the flies. It dropped to 28F overnight here. Have to check the south side of the house later for any flies.

 

[drssg]

We put in a Pyranha system when we built our Morton stables 10 years ago and could not be happier. I would not have stables without one now. I go through 2 jugs of solution a year, about $400. Occasionally have to change out a nozzle that clogs up. We have used Fly Predators occasionally but I was not sold on them. I also use the fly traps outside, never inside, or they will attract the flies inside. My local feed store gives me a good price on the jugs of concentrate. I buy my parts from Huberth.

Huberth Farm Services

Here is the pump and tank system installed.

View attachment 623223

Here you can see the nozzles and tubing. There is one above each stall and three in the aisle. They run for 30 seconds 6 times a day from 8 am to 6 pm. That way they don't run at night when everyone is indoors. The nozzles are spring loaded so they only open when the system pressurizes. There are no drip issues.

View attachment 623225

Beautiful barn! I need to revisit getting a Pyranha system. That seems to be the standard for Morton buildings.

I store a year’s supply of hay at ground level across the aisle from the stalls, and I’ve been concerned about the drift accumulation onto their food supply.

 

[fishheadbob]

As you already know: livestock = flies. I never found a one shot and done fly repellent/killer. To keep them down to reasonable numbers you just have to work at it. Sprays, dragging through the outside horseballs, and great manure management all help ,but we basically got used to the critters. It wasn't until all the livestock was gone that we learned what was the cause. I guess it's part of the price for big animals.

 

[jaxs]

I'm not a fan of misters and prefer going after the source,horse and cow manure in this case. Feed supplement that prevent fly eggs hatching in manure work's well. Eddie Walkers chicken patrol:chicken::chicken::chicken::chicken: is also a good strategy that doen't harm non-target creatures.

 

[5030]

We just use cheap old glue fly strips and when loaded, in the trash can they go.

 

[5030]

Remember, a fly by day turns into a maggot by night.:laughing: