More flies Due to Compost?

[ninnymary]

Last year was my first year to have chickens. We have 5 and I did not notice that many flies. I use DE in the coop.

This spring, I added organic compost that I purchased from the County. We have tons (well..o.k. alot) of flies. Most of them seem to be in the brick patio and plants. I assuming they are on the patio because it's warm there. There do not seem to be alot in the coop or the chicken run.

Do you think it was the compost?

We bought 2 fly traps but they didn't work that great. What else can I try?

I have an opening in my daycare/preschool so I'm hoping to do some interviews. I'm alittle embarrased about the flies and I don't want this to turn parents off.

Please help!

Mary

 

[boggybranch]

I've NEVER had flies around my compost piles. When I used to raise Bobwhite quail we had quite a large problem with them in the breeder shed.

 

[bid]

What kind of flies are they? Common houseflies?

I would say it is possible they could have come from the compost, but not very likely. If there were eggs laid in the compost prior to you purchasing it... maybe they hatched out at your house. I would think the county compost is mostly yard waste? Grass clippings, tree and shrub trimmings, stuff like that. Typically not what flies are attracted to.

How to get rid of them....hmmmm. How about a bug zapper? or 2? Or you could buy some cheap flyswatters and tell the parents its part of the kids hand-eye coordination development program!

 

[ninnymary]

What kind of flies are they? Common houseflies?

I would say it is possible they could have come from the compost, but not very likely. If there were eggs laid in the compost prior to you purchasing it... maybe they hatched out at your house. I would think the county compost is mostly yard waste? Grass clippings, tree and shrub trimmings, stuff like that. Typically not what flies are attracted to.

How to get rid of them....hmmmm. How about a bug zapper? or 2? Or you could buy some cheap flyswatters and tell the parents its part of the kids hand-eye coordination development program!

They are common house flies. They are not in/around my compost bin just in the yard. That's why I thought it was from the compost that I bought and put throughout the yard. This is the only thing that I've done differently.

I lovvvvveeeee the fly swattters to practice our hand-eye coordination!

 

[lesa]

The presence of flies, is very dependent on the weather. Hot, dry weather is their favorite! The Vet told me on years like that- he can't stand going into barns, because there are so many flies! What about those glass jar traps- you bait them with something sweet and then they can't get out? Good luck!

 

[hoodat]

I doubt they are hatching out of it unless it's really raw but they might be attracted to an odor from it.

 

[journey11]

I have had a lot more flies around here since my new neighbors brought in horses and cattle. But I really enjoy seeing the livestock on the pasture out my kitchen window, so I can deal....just have to break out the fly swatter often and shut the door quickly when I come in and out!

I can see how that would be a problem for you in your business though!

 

[elf]

How to get rid of them....hmmmm. How about a bug zapper? or 2? Or you could buy some cheap flyswatters and tell the parents its part of the kids hand-eye coordination development program!

That could look bad, as that's how all my childhood spankings were applied. No, I guess they wouldn't think that's what they were for. It's been a bad fly week here, too... The neighboring broiler houses aren't cleaned out near enough - phew! I'm trying all types of traps and the glass ones with large tops (Tractor Supply) are helping a lot, as are the disposable plastic bag type from Lowe's. The milk jug type aren't doing much, nor those big disposable plastic ones with inverted bottoms. However, all of them stink, so you'll want to locate a bit from the house and dump frequently. I don't, though, because the stinkier, the better they work. I'm resorting to sticky fly strips inside, but I yank them down if company's coming, as a strip of dead flies just doesn't work with the decor. So, in a Day Care, they won't go over. When the kids are gone home, you might regularly spray outside around the house with a lawn type fog spray. I don't cause I have chickens everywhere.

 

[wifezilla]

Someone on BYC posted a thread about how many fewer flies they have since hanging a lot of vanilla scented car fresheners in their coop. Others are also experimenting. Sounds like a cheap fix if it works.

 

[hoodat]

Someone on BYC posted a thread about how many fewer flies they have since hanging a lot of vanilla scented car fresheners in their coop. Others are also experimenting. Sounds like a cheap fix if it works.

That conjurs up images of chickens runing around wearing air fresheners around their necks. Poultry jewelry?