Horse fly problem

[PaulieD]

One of my neighbors mentioned that biting flies (looked like house flys, but maybe a little smaller) were giving her horses a terrible time. She has tried a few methods to reduce the population, but to date has had no luck. I thought I'd post the question here and see if anyone had any suggestions I might take back to her.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[riptides]

Waste control, if indoors (stalls, barns) cleaning helps. There were some bugs one could introduce into wate piles that could keep the fly population down. I'll see if I can reseach that, and post the link.

-Mike Z.

 

[MikeD74T]

Take a look at Ectoban, I've found it effective against face flies used indoors & out. Appears suitable for livestock as well. MikeD74T

 

[drssg]

They sound like stable flies. If I knew of a quick and easy way to eliminate them as a problem, I'd probably be a millionaire. Mother nature provides a seemingly infinite supply, and the best I can do is deal with them on a daily basis.

Like riptides suggests, regular stall cleaning helps. We clean ours twice a day. Regular application of insecticide helps. I kill off the flies in the stalls at least once per day (avoid their food and water supply). Regular application of fly repellent on the horses helps, especially on their legs.

I know people who have fly spray systems installed in their barn. There is a nozzle above each stall and it runs on a timer to dispense a small amount of spray periodically. Lines run to a central tank and pump system. I want to look into these things one day, but it hasn't made its way to the top of the list yet.

 

[schmism]

My neighbor has been battleing the flys.....

he put up a HUGE bug zapper (dont know how effeictive it is) and some sort of fly trap... bait in a 2 litter looking bottle. and the thing was half full of flys they use a spray also but dont know what it is.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Google "Fly Predators" and associated key words. My wife buys some tiny sterile stingless wasps that feed on fly larvae. She sprinkles them on the dung. If youre even a little isolated from other fly sources this works noticeably. Shes not here right now or Id give you the name of our supplier.
larry

 

[Soundguy]

Here's what we do.. works great:

Install a time/metered fly spray system. The small units cost about 20$, and hold 2-d-cell batteries and a can of fly spray.. fly spray costs? 6-7$ a can here in florida. 1 can lasts about a month.. batteries last about 6 months.
Install above the stall.. if you have 2 stalls side by side.. 1 will cover both stalls.. set it on top o fthe partition wall.

Fly spray in a hand pump bottle. I buy the 4.97/qt 'bronco' fly spray in the white bottle at tsc. Has some permethrin in it plus citronella. I spray it on the horses before stalling them. just a squirt ont he rump and legs and they are good to go.

Roll on. Looks like a deoderant roll on.. put a strip down the face and a swip around the eyes. If you have an open would, put a roll around it.. or use 'SWAT' paste to keep flies out of the wound.

U-Mix fly spray. i buy the permethrin oil / water emulsion concentrate.. about 9$ per pint... Makes a WHOLE LOT of water mix. I lightly spray the bedding after I muck the stalls ( Keeping the stalls clean is about the best thing you can do to controll flies ). Also.. 1@week I climb on a ladder and mist the rafters in thehorse barn above the stalls. Flies are not much active under 74 degrees and will land on rafters above the stalls.. if you treat the rafters, you kill hundreds of flies per night.

Fly traps. Usually a hanging water bottle with a small opening in the top. Comercial ones are available for about 4-8$.. traps wasps too. You can add fly attractant as well.. or build your own from a milk jug.. drill a couple 3/8 holes in it.. half fill it with water.. add a few drops of dish detergent to break surface tention.. add some honey to the water to make it sweet... empty when it starts geting full.. hang near stalls.

FEED thru fly measures. I buy horse blocks with RAYBON.. it's a mineral supplement the horses chew/lick on like it is candy. The raybon breaks the flys egg-larve-fly life cycle.. this treats the maneuer.. etc.

Using a few of these together has 99% eliminated the flies around our barn..

soundguy

One of my neighbors mentioned that biting flies (looked like house flys, but maybe a little smaller) were giving her horses a terrible time. She has tried a few methods to reduce the population, but to date has had no luck. I thought I'd post the question here and see if anyone had any suggestions I might take back to her.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[ToadHill]

"BIG STINKY" It is a fly trap you bate with a bit of rotten meat. They climb in and can't get out. I filled one up in a few days in the middle of fly season. I believe they come with other names as well, but I like that one.

 

[riptides]

"BIG STINKY" It is a fly trap you bate with a bit of rotten meat. They climb in and can't get out. I filled one up in a few days in the middle of fly season. I believe they come with other names as well, but I like that one.

In my neck of the woods these "rotten meat" traps seem to attract lots of yellow jackets. How are they in your application?

-Mike Z.

 

[riptides]

Here's what we do.. works great:

This is a really good post, Soundguy addresses the whole life cycle.
Flys are not a point solution.

You may also consider fly masks for the horses, removing yet another source of moisture.

-Mike Z.