Flies in the chicken coop can turn the joy of poultry keeping into a nuisance, but fear not! Our essential guide on ‘How to Keep Flies Away from Chicken Coop‘ is here to transform your struggle into success.
Discover simple, effective methods to maintain a clean and peaceful home for your chickens, ensuring their health and your peace of mind.
1. How to Keep Flies Out of Chicken Coop (11 Ways)
Best way to get rid of flies in chicken coop
Regularly Tidy Up the Coop
Regularly clean your chicken coop with Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s a natural cleaner without strong chemicals. It kills germs, smells nice, and flies don’t like it.
Avoid The Accumulation of Droppings
Flies love chicken waste. Clean out waste trays often, change the bedding, and keep an eye out for any waste buildup. If you turn waste into compost, use a bin with a lid or keep the bin far from your home and chicken area.
Remove Leftover Food Scraps
Don’t let food sit around as it goes bad and attracts flies. Give your chickens only as much as they can eat in 20 minutes. Remove any food they don’t eat and give them less next time.
Utilize Fruits and Vegetables
Feeding your chickens fruits and veggies is not only healthier but also less attractive to flies than cooked food, dairy, or meat.
Use Diatomaceous Earth for Flies in Chicken Coop
Spread Diatomaceous Earth around where your chickens sleep and bathe in dust. This powder dries out bugs and stops baby flies from growing.
Maintain A Dry Coop
A dry coop doesn’t attract flies. Think about putting a roof over part of the chicken run and fixing any wet, muddy places.
Implement Fly Traps
Place reusable fly traps near the coop and compost. They might smell a bit, but they work well. Clean and refill them every few weeks.
Use Sticky Fly Paper
Fly paper might not look nice, but it’s good at catching flies. Hang it near the coop and replace it when it gets full of flies or dirty.
Employ Electric Zappers
These machines draw flies with a special light and then zap them. You can use them inside or outside.
Ensure Proper Air Circulation
Keeping the air moving in the coop keeps it cool, dry, and less inviting for flies. Open windows and doors during the day. If you have a lot of flies, use a fan, but don’t leave it on when you’re not there.
2. What Attracts Flies to the Chicken Coop?
During the warmer seasons, a chicken coop becomes an ideal spot for flies. It’s often warm, might be a bit damp, and offers plenty of food options for them. Here’s a rundown of what mainly attracts flies to a chicken coop or run:
- Chicken Droppings: This is a big draw for flies. They’re attracted to the nutrients and moisture in the droppings.
- Food Scraps: Leftover chicken feed or any scraps you might feed your chickens can quickly attract flies.
- Wet Feed: If the chicken feed gets wet, it becomes even more appealing to flies.
- Muddy Puddles: These can form in the coop or run, especially after rain, and flies are drawn to these moist areas.
- Damp Areas from Droppings: Any damp patches caused by chicken droppings can be a hot spot for fly activity.
- Puddles Around the Water Source: The area around the chickens’ drinker can often have puddles, which attract flies.
While the amount of flies in a coop can be influenced by the weather, managing these factors effectively can greatly reduce their presence.
3. The Top 4 Reasons You Wouldn’t Want Flies in the Coop
Top 4 Reasons to Keep Flies Out of Your Chicken Coop
- Disease Transmission: Flies can bring harmful diseases like Salmonella and Campylobacter into the coop. These diseases can infect chickens and potentially humans too. Keeping flies away is crucial to prevent the spread of these illnesses.
- Risk of Botulism: Flies and their larvae (maggots) can carry Clostridium Botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism. When flies land on wet or decaying chicken food, they can spread this bacteria. The issue becomes serious when maggots grow in this environment, as they increase the toxin’s potency. Chickens often eat these maggots, leading to ingestion of highly concentrated doses of the botulism toxin. This can cause paralysis and even death in chickens. If you suspect botulism poisoning, it’s vital to treat it immediately (see additional resources at the end of this article).
- Risk of Flystrike: Flystrike is a disturbing condition where flies lay eggs on chickens, and the hatching maggots start eating the bird alive. Early signs include sores and infections. If you notice these, isolate the chicken, treat the wounds, and wait for recovery before returning it to the flock. Healthy chickens are less likely to suffer from flystrike, but those with dirty vents or open wounds are at high risk.
- Flies Spreading Beyond the Coop: If not controlled, flies won’t just stay in the coop; they’ll also invade your house and yard. This can lead to a larger infestation problem that’s harder to manage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the art of how to keep flies away from your chicken coop is simpler than you might think. Implementing the methods covered in “How to Keep Flies Away from Chicken Coop” is crucial.
With these strategies, you can create a healthier, more comfortable environment for your chickens, free from the annoyance of flies. Remember, consistency is key in pest control.
For more insightful tips and effective solutions for all your pest-related challenges, don’t forget to explore more blogs from Pestweek.Â
Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.
All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.