[Tensing]

Just been out to check the ducks and Bantams and saw something shinny and colourful in run, on closer inspection I realised it was blue bottles feasting on duck poo, wouldn't mind but I only cleaned the entire area yesterday.

Any way I hate flies, especially blue bottles, i need some advice on traps or deterrents other than the obvious cleaning up poo, which I do every day any way.

I have looked at these two products and wondered if any of you use them, are the effective with blue bottles.

 http://www.pestcontrolshop.co.uk/acatalog/FLITRAP_FLY_TRAP__2-PACK_flies.html

 Ebay Link

[John]

Not sure on either, we use traditional fly papers in the house but I'd have thought that outdoors it's like holding back the sea. My comfrey barrel gets full of drowning flies - attracted to the smell of the comfrey, which is like an open sewer! Maybe not the solution you're looking for,

[Tensing]

Thanks anyway, I don't mind some flies, its just Blue and green bottles that I really hate.

[hermon]

careful the fly paper is high enough away from the birds!

[rugbymad40]

My boss has purchased an electric bug killer - like the ones you see in food shops - blue light to attract the flys and electrified bars to ZAP THEM!!!.  It works extremely well and if you empty the tray every day provides some fresh food for the chickens!!
They are not cheap, but I can assure you they work very well.
Rugbymad40

[kooringa]

I put garlic powder in with my chicken food, and don't seem to have had problems with flies - the poo doesn't smell either - maybe that has something to do with it.

Or maybe we just aren't getting many flies in the countryside where I live

[Aunt Sally]

I add garlic powder to my hens food too.  It really does stop their poo smelling to badly even in the hot weather     I use the type you can buy at the horse feed suppliers.

[Tensing]

Mine love Garlic, they'll happily eat whole cloves of it at a time, I also add it (the horse powder one) to their food.

[muntjac]

hang some road kill up on fences near to the sheds and they will attract the flies and your chucks can eat the maggots as a treat

[Tensing]

hang some road kill up on fences near to the sheds and they will attract the flies and your chucks can eat the maggots as a treat

Not sure how the neighbours would feel about that.

[John]

When your neighbours sell out cheap you can buy up their houses and resell at enormous profit! (If you stop hanging road kill, of course)

[muntjac]

ok i will explain in more detail , take a 5 gallon plastic bucket ,old oil ones work great . remove the bottom . push a lenght of string through and secure with a t bar ( a stick to stop the rope pulling all the way out , leave a loop to hang the dead rabbit on and hang the lot up . they do not stink as yopu think they would , old keepers trick for feeding wild poults

[kizza]

Ive heard that feeding your hens garlic, there is a risk that the eggs will smell and taste of garlic.

[muntjac]

would have thought they wouldnt touch it  ... but chucks is strange creatures  :roll:

[Tensing]

Mine love garlic, and eat loads of it. They have Garlic powder in their food, and will happily eat whole garlic cloves.

They eggs however are not affected.