HELP! Flies have me at wit's end

[aisle22]

Hi!
I am a desperate chicken owner. This is my second summer with the "girls". Last summer when we first had them, we had a horrible fly problem, beneath our back covered patio. Flies swarming around, especially in the hottest part of the day. These flies don't land often, and sort of hang near the center of the "room". We hung fly tape, and those stinky fly bags, and there were tons of flies captured, but still tons swarming. I was hoping that after a winter freeze, the problem would not be back. Well, it is.

I've done some research, and these flies are the "lesser house fly", and are a problem in poultry houses. The first suggestion for management is to maintain hygiene. And I have a compost tumbler, next to my coop, and I scoop and add it to the compost tumbler daily. I honestly don't see how I can put any more effort into better hygiene.

We also have a wood deck, that is constructed above the dirt- so there's about a 1' inaccessible space between the wood planks and the dirt, and who knows what else is under there. I do feel like this could be an ideal place for them to be laying eggs.

I've put up a box fan, to generate some strong air movement. That didn't fix it. Maybe it helped? Hard to say.

I've hung vanilla scented air fresheners, that didn't seem to do anything.

I am so frustrated, and sad that I cannot use my covered patio, which we love. There are always swarms of flies circling our heads. It's gotten to the point that the huz and I are contemplating tearing out the deck and having concrete installed, to get rid of the void space- but I'm not sure it that will help. I've also started to research insecticides, but I have kids and dogs and well- chickens, so I don't know that it is in my best interest, either.

I've attached a picture, and of course- the flies are not visible. But when I took this there were 10-20 flies zig-zagging around. You can also see the placement of my coop (which I cannot move) and the compost tumbler to the right of the coop (which I can move- if needed). You can barely see the deck, but you get the idea. And yes- there's a tv. With an old school N64. We get some pretty serious mario kart games going back here. And jenga. As you can see- we love to use this space, and I'm so mad that we can't enjoy it as much as we'd like.

Any suggestions or words of wisdom would be appreciated. I'm so frustrated that I"m wishing I never would have gotten my chicks.

 

[wanabefarmhouse]

SAME here!!! I'm so fed up!! I hope to learn something here!!

 

[snow5164]

I don't want to start a war about its value but just state what worked for us.....
Diatomaceous earth on the window sill that was full of flys cleared them out of our coop. We also sprinkle it on the roost and in the straw bedding. We have had great success keeping ants and crickets out of buildings by sprinkling the perimeter.got it at the feed store.good luck ( I hate fly strips)

You could sprinkle it on your compost as it is food grade .

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, I've used fly strips for years and they're pretty well worthless.

2 things that work.
Fly bait but be very careful where you put it or how you handle it, very poisonous but it will kill all the flies in short order. It lures them and they die almost immediately.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/starbar-golden-malrin-fly-bait-1-lb

For the bedding, compost, or anywhere that may be moist and attracting them, Farm 360. It's all natural, eliminates odors and helps break down waste.
http://www.gro2max.com/#!farm360

 

[Nupe]

The flies are not likely laying eggs under your wood deck. Flies lay eggs in right the larvae's food source. That would be in the chicken poop. In order to break this life cycle you need to make your run dry.

How many chickens are you keeping and in how many square feet in both coop and run? What kind of bedding are you using in both?

Pine shavings work well in the coop and I like mulch for the run (mostly because I can get it for free.) I also put a little DE in the chicken feed. It doesn't do anything to the chicken but in the poop, it will help kill the fly larvae as the poop dries.

 

[aisle22]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. In response to the last post- I have five hens, and my coop is 5x5, and my run is 5x12. I have sand in both the coop and run, although I could stand to add more to both. When we let the birds free range, they will poop on the deck, which we wash down below. Not sure how else to handle that situation.

Any advice for the compost tumbler? Should I move it further from the patio? Should I treat it with something? There have been a few recommendations for products- although I don't want to "kill" the compost.

Thank you again.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The Farm 360 will make the compost better not kill it.

 

[snow5164]

People and animals can eat de, we sprinkle it in our trough feeders after cleaning.it is a natural product that won't harm you or your compost

Ps I don't sell it, I just struggle with cleaners and pesticides because of the dog kennel business and safety for creatures!!!

By the way what do you clean the coop with?? Vircon is an excellent product available at feed stores, it's used in hog operations so you know it handles the smell

 

[Stuffedcritter]

Even without chickens you have fly's, trust me I clean houses for a living. Great results using fresh, dried, oils (window cleaner and dusting polish) lavender, basil, mint, rosemary, tansy, sweet woodruff. Sandwich bag, water and pennies hung up to reflect the sun. DE and lime has always helped in the dairy barn along with fly traps, tapes placed out of the way (spent hours getting them out of my hair. I attack flys, spiders, mice with multi approach even burning candle with above mentioned herbs scents works.

 

[aisle22]

Okay, so stupid question here- but I have yet to clean my coop. I have only had my coop for a year and a half. It really doesn't seem to be all that "dirty". The sand at the floor keeps things dry, and I use a kitty litter scoop to clean it out daily. It doesn't seem to be all that damp- and there aren't any flies ever in the coop, or even in the run. We do have a ton of flies in the compost bin- but I though that's where they should be.

So I am continuing to learn. Looking at the Farm 360 for the compost, and also at DE for the chicken coop and run. Perhaps a fly trap with the fly bait to treat the flies. Thoughts? What else am I missing?