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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
   
| I am needing some suggestions for fly control. It looks like this year is going to be bad. We never really got a good freeze this past winter, so we've been dealing with flies earlier than normal. I was discussing using fly predators with someone, and they felt like it wouldn't be a good option for us because we live close to a feed yard. We've used the chemicals in jugs in the past, but last year they were pretty much useless. We clean our stalls and spread the manure in a field. But if it rains a lot it gets sloppy and we have a low spot that holds water. I'm not worried about the horses on pasture because we treat our cattle with an injectible that helps control the flies. But the horses that are stalled get miserable. Fly spray does very little. We have young kids, cats, dogs, and chickens in the barn, so I'm very cautious of what type of chemicals and treatments I can use.
So what are you all using for fly control, and how effective is it? |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Fly predators are AWESOME!! |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Gunner11 - 2016-04-25 2:52 PM Fly predators are AWESOME!!
second! |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I've heard good things about them, but with the feed yards being as close as they are, I'm not sure that they would be effective. If it were just our animals I think we'd definitely give them a try, but we have one small yard a half a mile away, and a larger yard about 3 miles away. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | I am doing the fly predators this year for the first time. I had awful flies last year and wanted to get a jump on it this year. So far my population has been cut easily in half. We are in the 80's here already so they are out and about. I would try that route. I have a pretty decent sized cattle operation about a quarter mile down the road from me and I don't think their flies mingle with mine... |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | The fly predators didnt really make a difference for us. However, last year we used the feed through fly control and we virtually had NO flys!! |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I'll take a look at the fly predators again. Our weather has been up and down, but we've been seeing 70's and 80's and the flies are bad.
ThreeCorners, what do you use as a feed through?
I've heard of a spray chemical, can't remember the name right now, that is safe once it dries. But I think that it has to be applied on a regular basis. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I've tried Predators several times and they never worked for me. This is going to sound crazy but I tried it last year and it helped. I put 10 shiny pennies in zip lock bags and hung them in every barn entrance. I have NO idea why it works but it DOES seem to help - (and you have nothing but pennies to lose to try it). That said, I also use a fly sheet, fly mask and Shoo Fly leg wraps.
http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/content/pennies-bags-water-make-flies-f...
Edited by Griz 2016-04-26 5:21 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1392
Location: Central Texas | Has anyone heard of using the vanilla scented car freshener things...the ones that look like Christmas trees that you hang in your car? I branched out into breeding chickens and all the people on the chicken forums swear by this method to keep flies away. I don't know yet if it works but I'm trying it this year. I've tried everything else so I figure I'll try this too... if nothing else the barn will smell good. LOL |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| Has anyone tried Diatomaceous Earth? I use it for the ant mounds. You have to make sure you get the "Food Grade". Does not harm pets, livestock, chickens, etc. You can read the benefits at www.earthworkshealth.com. I get it in the 50 lb bag. You can also take it internally. I tried but didn't see much benefit. I sprinkle it around my grain cans where I keep the horse feed in the barn. I also sprinkle it on my bushes around the house, keeps the spiders away. I sprinkle it in the doorways of house, keeps scorpions away. Just make sure you get the "Food Grade". |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| I use Equicare Flysect from horse.com in the gallon. It is expensive but it works better than any fly spray you can buy and you can spray it on shavings, and doorways too. |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Thanks for the suggestions! I'm willing to try anything at this point, so there will be pennies in bags of water and vanilla car fresheners hanging in the barn. And I think I've seen the DE at the feed store, so I'll get some of that and give it a try. I do have some fly sheets, but it's just not feasible to cover that many horses in fly gear. My crew is hard on stuff and are constantly shredding those things. I have one horse that thinks it's a game to rip fly masks off of other horses. We'll do the jugs again and maybe they'll work better this year. And I'll be looking into different sprays and chemicals. My goal is to get this situation under control! |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Jenbabe - 2016-04-25 6:22 PM I'll take a look at the fly predators again. Our weather has been up and down, but we've been seeing 70's and 80's and the flies are bad. ThreeCorners, what do you use as a feed through? I've heard of a spray chemical, can't remember the name right now, that is safe once it dries. But I think that it has to be applied on a regular basis.
http://www.scahealth.com/solitude-igr.html |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Apple cider vinegar is what I use in the summer. Feed it to them with their daily grain, or you can put it in the water. |
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