How to Reduce The Flies in Your Backyard Chicken Coop and Run
Keeping chickens in a backyard coop is beneficial, yet not without its shortcomings. Chickens require more maintenance than the average pet, and it can become a major nuisance when your otherwise clear property is infested with flies. What's more, this infestation isn't just annoying to people, it's also unhealthy for the chickens. Take the appropriate steps to prevent such a plague and reduce any amount of flies from the coop and run.
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Instructions
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Preventing Fly Infestations
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Confirm that the coop is well built to prevent becoming a haven for flies. It should be well ventilated, the walls properly insulated and the entire coop lifted off the ground, even if only a couple of inches. The floor must be flat with no holes. Keeping the coop door shut at night will also discourage flies from entering.
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Clean the chicken litter as often as necessary to prevent it from becoming too wet and moist, as these conditions create an optimum breeding ground for flies. If you replace the litter every month and it still appears very wet, you may need to clean it more often. Make sure the food and water are contained and the immediate area is kept as clean as possible.
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Introduce your chickens to eating bugs early on. They naturally love to eat bugs and are able to eat them in all three stages -- adult, larval, and egg.
Reducing Fly Populations
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Locate where any fly nests might be in the coop and run. Look in every nook and cranny of the nest boxes, perches and food areas. Check over the base of the run, especially if the grass has grown over the fencing.
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Place sticky fly traps around the coop where the chickens will not interfere with them. Hanging traps act as a place for the flies to land mid-air. Sticky fly cards need to be placed where the chickens will not accidentally step on or bump into them. Though not recommended for a large-scale infestation, the Venus fly trap plant is a natural predator to the flies.
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Feed the chickens an insect growth regulator mixed with their normal food. This will control any manure-breeding flies. Read all labels and instructions before purchasing or feeding it to your chickens.
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Tips & Warnings
Even after the fly population has decreased, keep up preventative measures by cleaning regularly and continuing to place a fly trap in or around the coop.
Consider any chemical insecticides last. Start with the most cost-effective residual spray in the spring, which is the start of fly season. Avoid spraying in or near the food and water. Read all labels and directions before purchasing to prevent harm to the chickens.
You may need to house your chickens elsewhere while certain sprays take effect.
References
Resources
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