[Mrs Bee]

Does anyone have any tips for keeping flies away from the chickens when the weather is really hot apart from the  really gross stinky fly bags?

Thanks

[splash101]

I sprinkle a few drops of undiluted citronella oil around the roof of the coop and the fence posts around the run (where the chickens cant reach).
I also put a couple of drops on the underside of the perches as it is great for detering red mites (although knowing the pesky blighters, they will find somewhere else to hide)
Whether it's an effect fly repellant or not, who knows. I looked at the jar traps but was put off as you had to put some meat or similar to bait them
During the hotter days where flies are more abundant, i scoop the poop more often 2-3 times a day (this is because i can and i only have a few birds and because im in the garden more - i appreciate not everyone can do this)
As for the birds themselves, we've never had a problem of flies pestering them, the birds go racing around the pen trying to catch the flies.
We used to get a spray of diluted tea-tree oil for the dog, as an insect repellant, not sure if it really worked but she smelt a lot better. not sure if it would be safe for chickens especially if they feather pluck.
Also, i use garlic in the water as i read that it deters biting insects. I

[viettaclark]

I find flies tend to go for the runny, smelly caecal poos. There aren't so many so maybe easier to clean up quickly?
Fly strike is the only real problem for chooks so make sure their bums are clean. They enjoy a fly/maggot snack!
I give my girls garlic powder all the time and they really don't smell much and we have very few fly problems. Maybe I've just got used to the smell....

[Tony H]

Hi i use garlic aswell and there isnt much smell but its mostley down to how you look after them, i dont suffer from fly's but i also grow honysukle close to the girls run i dont know if that helps 

[joyfull]

I have a half acre garden with the hens all free ranging so pooh picking every pooh is not an option really. In summer I hang up redtop fly catchers and these work a treat (but dont hold one to your nose and sniff them - they smell nasty).

[Beano]

Our chickens have a large area to free range in the Summer, so have not noticed excess flies.
However, a pair of spotted flycatchers have nested in our garden every Summer since we have had the chickens, so there must be some extra flies. I'm not complaining though if it means that they have encouraged the lovely little visitors.

[Mrs Bee]

Thanks for all the tips guys.

Will try the citronella. We do clear up regularly but having upped the flock from 6 to 10 there is more poo. And we keep them in just one part of the garden behind an electric fence 'cos of the ...........ing foxes. We put down lots of straw to soak up the poo, which we bag up for the lottie.

Will be more regular with the garlic too.

It wasn't too bad last year but we didn't have too much hot sunny weather.
 The year before there were a lot of flies and we used a red top fly catcher which stank so much I want to try a less smelly option.

Not a lot of fun sitting in the garden with that pong going on

actually don't do a lot of sitting in the garden, nearly always working in the garden

[viettaclark]

Snap!