Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

A sure fire way to reduce fly infestations? HELP ME!

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Rural/Farm Donate to DU
 
Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-13-07 12:27 PM
Original message
A sure fire way to reduce fly infestations? HELP ME!
I love living in a rural area but the flies are driving me nuts. I have tried fly traps, fly poison, and even fly predators.
I don't mind them outside but they tend to come in the house. I do have cats and they seem to be drawn to the litter boxes despite my daily cleaning. My dogs don't always poop far enough away from the house either. The guy who hays the field next door fertilizes with chicken poop which draws them close to.

Anyone have an idea on how to control them?
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
tabasco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-13-07 12:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. Only way is to close off their ways to get in.
Fix the screens, caulk up the cracks, make it so they can't get in from outside. Don't forget the basement or crawlspace.
Not easy and it takes a lot of time but it's the only way.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-13-07 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
2. Window and door screens. Flypaper. Oh, and talk the guy with the
Edited on Thu Sep-13-07 12:51 PM by kestrel91316
hayfield into putting a chicken tractor or two onto the land to fertilize it. They scratch everything in, and flies are not a problem.

Properly composted chicken manure shouldn't attract flies anyway. Maybe he needs to be composting it before he spreads it. He doesn't sould like a real farmer to me, or he would know this.

Pastured poultry can be quite profitable, especially if it's combined with other pastured livestock in rotation. No mowing and baling necessary.
http://www.apppa.org/
http://www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/grazing/pastpoul/resource.htm
http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/2001/10/01/raising_poultry_on_pasture/index.php

Polyface Farm has elevated it to high art:
http://www.polyfacefarms.com/
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
ladjf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-13-07 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
3. You are going to think that I'm joking, but, I'm not.
A couple of months ago, two green aquatic frogs took up residence to some large water pots on our patio and we have no mosquitoes, fly, or spiders in that area since. It could be a coincidence or it could be that the frogs are eating those insects. I do know that ours appreciate a cricket when offered. And even if they are the reason the insects aren't present, they are lots of fun to watch.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Sep-15-07 04:35 AM
Response to Original message
4. Thanks for the ideas!
I need to see where they are getting in, my bet is they fly in when the cats make their decision whether or not to actually go outside. You know how they are, stand in the door and ponder the merits of going out.
I don't know if the guy next door would bother composting, he buys the poop from a tyson chicken barn and spreads it. He doesn't live nearby so there is no incentive to compost it. I doubt he would want a poop compost pile at his home.
Maybe a couple of frogs would help? Only way to find out is try!
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Sep-15-07 03:58 PM
Response to Original message
5. My thoughts:
You will never get rid of ALL the flies in a rural area, but you can reduce them. It all depends on your priorities.

Check your screens, doggy door, etc..

Use "all of the above:"

Set stinky fly traps away from traffic areas to draw them away from where you spend the most time, and away from possible entry points. Set sticky traps closer to areas like doorways, etc., that can be entry points.

I don't have any suggestions for poison; I don't use it, because I don't want to poison my good bugs and other living things. If it fits your scenario, though, look into some of the automatic barn systems; this is one of many:

http://www.greenwoodsporthorses.com/Fly%20Spray%20Systems.htm

I know that there are also electronic killers, which I've never used, so I can't offer an opinion.

Move the cat litter to the garage or some area outside the house, and place a hanging sticky trap above it (out of kitty's reach, of course!)
Scoop twice a day.

Do a dog-poop scoop for the yard around the house at least twice a day.

Use fly predators. When I didn't have pastures, I used them in my manure pile to great effect. With the horses spread over really large areas, you never get all the poop up efficiently enough for predators to be that effective.

Get chickens or guinea hens, and let them free range. They love nothing better than to scratch through any areas flies would be laying eggs.

Use flywipes on your dog/cat if they seem to be attracting flies. I've never actually done this, but it works for my horses, and thus the barn.

Good luck!




Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-18-07 10:58 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Do you know how to introduce chickens to the dogs?
My dogs would kill them if they free ranged. If I knew how to prevent them from killing them I would do it in a heartbeat.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
bvar22 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-18-07 07:20 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. I have the same question.
I'm going to post it as an individual question thread.
We don't have the dog yet, and are wondering if certain breeds do better with chickens.

Here is a site you may want to read:
http://www.kountrylife.com/cgi-bin/topic.cgi?bd=forum&th=7217
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Jolly Sapper Donating Member (16 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-21-07 11:05 PM
Response to Original message
8. Are your cats well behaved?
Edited on Sun Oct-21-07 11:05 PM by Jolly Sapper
If they don't jump up on counters and eat plants, you could try some pitcher plants.

I had a venus fly trap but it didn't last through one winter and I couldn't keep the sun dew I tried watered enough and it finally wilted and died. The pitcher plant I picked up at a local Lowe's is a trooper. Its been eaten by cats (which makes it useless as a fly catcher until to grows more pitchers) and even though the instructions say to keep it constantly watered I only water it once every week or two. It won't completely or quickly get rid of the flies but it should help.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-23-07 08:45 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Do these plants attract cats?
I have twin 3 y/o male cats, and they can get wild. I would love to try natural abatement.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 04:12 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Rural/Farm Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC