Flies and fly eating wasps

[eggcited2]

We have so many flies in the summer cause of all my animals. (not just 50+ chickens, but three goats, one horse, one mini donkey, and my gp dog). The flies are so thick and terrible.

There are fly eating wasps that you can get and people swear by them. However that is horse people and I have never talked to anyone who also has chickens.

They are a tiny wasp that lives in and mostly on the ground. They are more likely to crawl around than fly. They lay their eggs in fly pupa, when they hatch they then eat the fly larvae from the inside (parasite kind of thing).

Here are my questions: since chickens eat bugs crawling on the ground and the flies are mostly crawlers would they eat up the wasps and have none left to kill off the flies? The wasps only live about 28-30 days and you have continually put out new wasp eggs monthly. I would hate to waist the money if they are only going to be eaten and not do any good to get rid of flies. Also, would they hurt the chickens when the chickens eat them? They are supposed to be very tiny things, but what if a chicken eats them?

 

[Lollipop]

We have so many flies in the summer cause of all my animals. (not just 50+ chickens, but three goats, one horse, one mini donkey, and my gp dog). The flies are so thick and terrible.

There are fly eating wasps that you can get and people swear by them. However that is horse people and I have never talked to anyone who also has chickens.

They are a tiny wasp that lives in and mostly on the ground. They are more likely to crawl around than fly. They lay their eggs in fly pupa, when they hatch they then eat the fly larvae from the inside (parasite kind of thing).

Here are my questions: since chickens eat bugs crawling on the ground and the flies are mostly crawlers would they eat up the wasps and have none left to kill off the flies? The wasps only live about 28-30 days and you have continually put out new wasp eggs monthly. I would hate to waist the money if they are only going to be eaten and not do any good to get rid of flies. Also, would they hurt the chickens when the chickens eat them? They are supposed to be very tiny things, but what if a chicken eats them?

Sounds like a perfect situation for guineas. The main drawback to guineas is that they are noisey, especially when they are young. Guineas will decrease your fly population, but they will also eat anything that moves in the insect realm, as well as mice and baby rats and snakes. The wasps would not be needed as guineas are quite efficient. In 2 years time you will see a marked reduction in insect populations in your yard/stable.

Yes chickens will eat the wasps that they can catch and no, it won't hurt the chickens. However, if your chickens don't free range, you can use a fly bait, like Golden Malrin. Flies drop dead immediately. Probably would harm the chickens if they ate the dead flies. I have sprinkled Malrin on top of stinky garbage and killed hundreds of flies, on the spot.

I would go with the guineas. They are the clowns of the barnyard. Always entertaining. But that's just me.........Pop

 

[eggcited2]

Yup, the chickens free range so couldn't use the Gold Malrin.

Since we are going to be moving from Missouri to Illinois later in the summer or early autumn, I can't get guineas till after moving. Of course will take all my animals when we move, but everyone says Guineas have to grow up where they are going to live, they are not movable.

 

[Lollipop]

Actually guineas are moveable. Ya just gotta pen them for a month or so to impress on them just where home is. I would also let just a few out at a time. But with a big move comming up, probably best to wait til later.........Pop