[Rubellite]

The VAPE trap in my picture is chemical free! the liquid is just water with what smells like gravey and sugar! 

Do you make fly pies with your trapped flies then? 

[poultrygeist]

Currant buns. Mmmmmm 

[chickenlady]

  eewwwww!!! if you look closely at the picture you can see it is full of yukky flies! it has been up a year and it still attracting them!

[Kate and her Ducks]

I used the red top flytrap last year and it certainly caught loads of flies but I have to say that particularly with a small garden the smell of the trap was pretty rancid. I'm doing all I can to keep things as clean as poss to prevent attracting them in the first place.

[Rubellite]

I used the red top flytrap last year and it certainly caught loads of flies but I have to say that particularly with a small garden the smell of the trap was pretty rancid. I'm doing all I can to keep things as clean as poss to prevent attracting them in the first place.

My girls are a way up the field so the smell is not a problem, but yes, we all know what flies like so keeping the coop and pen clean is priority, especially in a confined area.

[Lady Lottie]

I have never heard/seen/read??  doh!! anyone mention Aubiose when reading any of the chickeny chat posts - I used to use it in my Eglu...before I HAD to get rid  ...*sniff...sob*...I found it very pong reducing and hygienic....how come I never see it mentioned?  Too costly...other reasons?  Just curious - as maybe it could help in an area with smell/fly probs?  I'm a TOTAL novice.  It was just a little thought.   Mind you.....I was a bit fanatical about cleaning it out so maybe my experience isn't an accurate example of how good it is/isn't..?

waffle...waffle...waffle....sorreee..... I'm going!  I'm going!

[Lady Lottie]

Currant buns. Mmmmmm 

....but ewwwwwwwwwww......

[poultrygeist]

Aubiose does get the odd mention LL 

It's meant to be good but I know for me, cost is the problem. Like you, I poo pick every day which certainly keeps flies away from the coop. I would imagine if there's a lot fo them, that's the main attraction. 

Ducks are even dirtier. 

Rob

[Kate and her Ducks]

aubiose is great, like the hemcore too as it is citronella treated so tend to go for that. Bit pricy but lasts me ages (and they're worth it - cue hair flicking smily).

[Lady Lottie]

aubiose is great, like the hemcore too as it is citronella treated so tend to go for that. Bit pricy but lasts me ages (and they're worth it - cue hair flicking smily).

pmp @ "hair flicking smiley" lol lol  ahhh dear....

Yes, I really used to like the smell of it - vee fresh and pleasant indeed - def made poo patrol a less noxious experience.

lol @ your "dirty ducks" PG.  I do love ducks but have heard that if you handle them you must make sure their mucky little butts are facing away from you.....juuuuuuust in case.......ick!

When my chickens (that I no longer have.........feeling very nostalgic tonight...*sniff*... ) first arrived, one of them pooed on me to say hello. ..on my hand...my sleeve...down my leg...   But I've heard duck poo is MUCH worse.

[poultrygeist]

Oh yes. It has a smell that lingers for days on clothing or skin. Soap, scrubbing brush, aftershave. Can still smell it. 

Rob

on that note. Night. 

[Lady Lottie]

   

[compostqueen]

I use Hemcore and Aubiose and they are very good at absorbing wee and its smell.  You have to be pooh picking every day, or every other day bare minimum.  I'm doing it daily since the hot weather has arrived.  Adding a little garlic powder to the food is said to help with the fly problem but hygiene is the key thing.  I go up and down the lawn with my trowel every other day but looks like daily now we're having this hot spell.   

[Aunt Sally]

I have never heard/seen/read??  doh!! anyone mention Aubiose when reading any of the chickeny chat posts -

I use it in my eglu all the time and it is wonderful stuff.

A big bag costs about £7 and lasts me well over a year !

[Blarney]

When I last looked there were only two replies.  Thank you for the advice.
I got the measurements on my run wrong and my girls do have just over a square metre each.  They also spend much of the day free ranging in the garden. 

My new question therefore, is how do I clear up the poo?  I have wood chips in my run and when they poo it's water and a bit of poo.  It's not like it's a pile of dog or cat poo that is easy to pick up.  Ours just sinks into the ground.  Do I dig out the ground?  If so how often?

I clean the coup out completely once a week and change the bedding daily.