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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
 
Location: Seward, Nebraska | Brought in the horses from pasture tonight and our poor gelding was covered in mosquito bites, so the war is on! I have already put out the dunks everywhere I know puddles develope even our driveway and I have thrown them in the 2 ponds that develope a block over. I soak the horses in fly spray and planted catnip in pasture fence line as it is supposed to help repel, what else can I do? |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
  
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | I live in Mosquito Central. I have really nice stable fans in the stalls and during mosquito season the horses can get to the fans 24/7. I also have auto-sprayers in the barn. And, of course, I spray the horses with fly/mosquito spray. The fans, however, are the one thing that really gives them relief during evenings / night. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | Yep got a fan in leantoo it's mainly when I let them out in pasture I waited till the wind picked up today before I let them out but still poor boy came back covered in bites yet my mare had none, he's never had bites like this before, I'm debating on buying fly sheets but pretty sure both horses would have them shredded the first day. Is their any safe spray to put on pasture or fly preditors for Mosquitos?
Edited by goldy8988 2015-05-30 9:36 PM
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 Veteran
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| Yes the fans really do help a lot . I have one out side our barn under the leantoo.
When the heat and bugs get real bad my one gelding will run to it when he get anoyed |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | How big is your place? My dad has a hand held fogger that he walks his property line with, and that works really well, but we are talking smaller acreage. And it has to be done every day.
I will spray around the barn with a can of yard guard when they get bad and it does last for a while. I also have the auto sprayers in the barn and lean-to, but I do still need to use something else every now and then.
The problem I'm having right now is horse flies!! Dang things are out of control right now. Anybody have any suggestions for that, too? |
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 Night Chat Leader
Posts: 13150
Location: Home....Smiling M Farms | Do you put the dunks in your water troughs? Just curious. I am having world war III on the mosquitos myself and quite frankly, they are winning right now. I bought some 'mosquito bait' stuff. They are supposed to eat it and die, but it hasn't made a difference at all. It doesn't help that we live in the woods. It's almost unbearable just to sit on the front porch. I bought a ton of good stuff to put in the tiki torches and then found out that mom gave them to my sister. Ugh
At this point I'm willing to try about anything. Every time I feed I nearly get eaten alive. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | We have 2.5 acres 1/2 acre dry lot 1 acre Pasteur 1/2 acre non grazed for hay, I have dunks everywhere but tank as I only fill half way at a time and clean once a week I can't stand dirty water tanks and we live next to grain elevator. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | I'm a believer in fly predators iv seen a difference in our fly population since we started using them but we have a goat farm behind us and a nasty smelly rotting grain pile from grain elevator to our north, so we will never fully be rid of them. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Oh, I almost forgot. Thermacell for smaller areas. Works GREAT! Like for when you're sitting on the porch, or just inside the barn cleaning. I don't see how you could make it work for pasture areas or for the horses very much. It would be expensive if you could even set it up in an area. But, I LOVE mine. We used it once in the deer stand and the mosquitoes were so thick, you couldn't breathe without sucking in a couple at least. Fired up the Thermacell and it was like a mosquito proof force field popped up around us. I could still see them swarming a few feet away, but none were near us. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | goldy8988 - 2015-05-30 9:57 PM
I'm a believer in fly predators iv seen a difference in our fly population since we started using them but we have a goat farm behind us and a nasty smelly rotting grain pile from grain elevator to our north, so we will never fully be rid of them.
I used the fly preds last year and definitely saw a difference in the fly population. Problem I had was that I still had problems with other bugs that I needed to spray for. Well, the sprays kill the little predators, too. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Seward, Nebraska | Nita - 2015-05-30 10:09 PM
goldy8988 - 2015-05-30 9:57 PM
I'm a believer in fly predators iv seen a difference in our fly population since we started using them but we have a goat farm behind us and a nasty smelly rotting grain pile from grain elevator to our north, so we will never fully be rid of them.
I used the fly preds last year and definitely saw a difference in the fly population. Problem I had was that I still had problems with other bugs that I needed to spray for. Well, the sprays kill the little predators, too.
Yes I try to keep predators on manure pile back fence line and I put them on grain pile since elevator does nothing but add to it and use chemical sprays around barn house and yard I'm sure a few wander up their but I think most survive I like to use every form of bug death possible chemical bio and traps also spray barn with pinesol and stall dry with extra DE mix in on leantoo floor |
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Keeping your pasture mowed helps, too. We keep our pretty short -- it helps reduce weeds, too. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Delta Cowgirl - 2015-05-31 8:11 AM Keeping your pasture mowed helps, too. We keep our pretty short -- it helps reduce weeds, too.
I haven't been able to keep anything mowed this year because of the rain. Got it done once and I don't have enough horses to keep it grazed down either with all the moisture we've had. Luckily, the mosquito population hasn't fired up yet. Yet.
To to answer the question about spraying, you can have malathion sprayed on your property and that helps some for a few days. The towns here have it done weekly by airplane and a fogger truck. |
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Three 4 Luck - 2015-05-31 8:53 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-05-31 8:11 AM Keeping your pasture mowed helps, too. We keep our pretty short -- it helps reduce weeds, too.
I haven't been able to keep anything mowed this year because of the rain. Got it done once and I don't have enough horses to keep it grazed down either with all the moisture we've had. Luckily, the mosquito population hasn't fired up yet. Yet.
To to answer the question about spraying, you can have malathion sprayed on your property and that helps some for a few days. The towns here have it done weekly by airplane and a fogger truck.
Three For Luck and I live in the same area -- just miles away from one another -- and yes, it has been tough to keep pastures mowed this year in our area. We have managed to mow ours somewhat regularly, but right now I need to hit it -- and it's much too wet and has been sprinkling rain this morning. We have two small pastures next to our barn and we keep those two mowed as short as our lawn -- and mow those whenever we mow the lawn with our zero-turn. The big pastures are mowed higher. But - on a positive note due to all the rain, the pastures look absolutely beautifully green and my landscaping does, too.
I will also say that I have found Absorbine Ultra spray to be the best with Gordon's second as far as lasting a long time and keeping the bugs off the horses -- plus I love the fact they contain sunscreen. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Without a huge explanation, I have had to go to fly sheets. Seriously my horses can tear them up in less than 24 hours.
I bought one out of desperation for my broodmare. I bought an AMIGO MIO FLY RUG. It stays centered and does not slide off to the side. It comes with an attached neck cover that stays up to her ears. The horse is out in a 2:5 acre field the has trees with low branches. It is holding up better than anything else I have used. It is way better than spray however, I do spray her belly. This sheet does not have a belly band. Those do not hold up well on my horses. SS Tack has them for about $70. It has saved me that much in vet bills. |
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | streakysox - 2015-05-31 11:03 AM
Without a huge explanation, I have had to go to fly sheets. Seriously my horses can tear them up in less than 24 hours.
I bought one out of desperation for my broodmare. I bought an AMIGO MIO FLY RUG. It stays centered and does not slide off to the side. It comes with an attached neck cover that stays up to her ears. The horse is out in a 2:5 acre field the has trees with low branches. It is holding up better than anything else I have used. It is way better than spray however, I do spray her belly. This sheet does not have a belly band. Those do not hold up well on my horses. SS Tack has them for about $70. It has saved me that much in vet bills.
These Amigo fly sheets ARE good -- I have several with the neck covers that are many years old. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | I'll have to look in to amigo fly sheet |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | Leo - 2015-05-30 9:38 PM
Do you put the dunks in your water troughs? Just curious. I am having world war III on the mosquitos myself and quite frankly, they are winning right now. I bought some 'mosquito bait' stuff. They are supposed to eat it and die, but it hasn't made a difference at all. It doesn't help that we live in the woods. It's almost unbearable just to sit on the front porch. I bought a ton of good stuff to put in the tiki torches and then found out that mom gave them to my sister. Ugh
At this point I'm willing to try about anything. Every time I feed I nearly get eaten alive.
I live in the woods too and close to a swamp. and it's rediculious. I tried to sit outside last night and couldn't because of Mosquitos. What are dunks? And we tried the stuff for tiki torches a few times but that didn't work at all.
Edited by TessBelle 2015-05-31 12:10 PM
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| goldy8988 - 2015-05-31 11:44 AM
I'll have to look in to amigo fly sheet
SSTack has 25% off your total order right now. I just ordered 2more. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | The ones I buy from farm store are like little beads compressed in a donut shape, spalding labs has mosquito torpedoes, and iv also seen a brand with the little beads loose in plastic packets. Iv also heard people using fish in water tanks to eat larva. I really thaught I got ahead of them this year but with all the rain we had I don't know if their is anything that will stop them. Wish they made mosquito traps that work like fly traps attract them in but won't let them out. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | Another question I was told way back when not to fly spray where your saddle gos before you saddle up as it can cause it to "burn" but is this still the case? Wondering if I should hose them off before I ride tonight as I soaked them in fly spray this morning |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | goldy8988 - 2015-05-31 1:54 PM
Another question I was told way back when not to fly spray where your saddle gos before you saddle up as it can cause it to "burn" but is this still the case? Wondering if I should hose them off before I ride tonight as I soaked them in fly spray this morning
I've heard this too. I don't know if it's true so I always spray after saddling. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I spray mine with Pyranha and ride. Never had a problem. Tip for keeping deer flies off while riding.,......... Put a couple of small tree limbs in your bridle. The hose will look like it has antlers. Pine seems to work best but anytning will do. You can stick some in your breast collar too for lower protection. This actually works. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | streakysox - 2015-05-31 2:29 PM I spray mine with Pyranha and ride. Never had a problem. Tip for keeping deer flies off while riding.,......... Put a couple of small tree limbs in your bridle. The hose will look like it has antlers. Pine seems to work best but anytning will do. You can stick some in your breast collar too for lower protection. This actually works.
I ride in fly masks when the deer flies are bad. |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Look to see if you have a Vector Control where you live. Most places do and your tax dollars is what funds vector control. Their job is mosquito abatement!! Call them and have them come out and spray your property. It is no cost to you as again, it is funded by tax dollars. They can also treat your ponds, and or supply you with small fish that eat/live on the mosquito larvae. Also make sure you are dumping and changing out the water in your water troughs every 3 days and police your property for any other sources of stagnant standing water, ie; old tires, old buckets behind the barn, old flower pots, ect. Those little squigleys you see in your water troughs are mosquito larvae and they only take 3 days to hatch. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Seward, Nebraska | Great tip did not know that thank you |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | Our Vector Control says the only "small area" sprayings theydo Iis recreational areas and special events :(
Whats the name of the mosquito dunks you put in the ponds? Do they hurt the horses? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | My guys all live in fly sheets when the mosquitos come out. I by the ones that are made with the super fine holes sstack sells a mosquito mesh one. THis year I opted for their ripstop type of fly sheet when I needed to replace some and so far these are holding up well and much cheaper. I also do the neck covers don;t do any with belly bands the buckles are too heavy and it will slip to one side all the time and then I simply spray their bellys and even over the sheets across their backs a bit with off before they go back out after evening feedings. I have spraying with Off for years and never had any problems with it and it gives them relief for several hours. WAY better then any flyspray out there.
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Veteran
Posts: 196
| For standing water we use common cooking oil. As long as the pond, puddle has as slick on top they dont hatch. It helps around the yard and is safe to use. Not practical for large areas but works great in the yard.
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| We spray malathion around the WET areas (though not in the horse pasture) of our property, along the creek banks, anywhere there is standing water around our property. It seems to keep the mosquitoes at bay pretty well. :) |
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Going to war with Mosquitos