DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

[rossleachick]

Hi,
Some advised please, due to the weather we been having lately, we are having problems with flies they are everywhere!!:evil:
I heard that I can used diatomaceous earth to help with the flies problems in the chicken shed.
I have searching on the internet, prices various from one company to another, are they all the same stuff?
How much would you used to put on the shed floor etc?

Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Rossleachick. We don't use it but I know it works by the sharp edges of the ground seashell cutting the skin of red mite and lice and killing them. Should do the same with fly grubs but I doubt it will affect the flies themselves.

We found it rather expensive, so didn't use it. I think they are all the same stuff with slightly different names but check the contents as some may add extra chemicals.

You only need a light dusting under the bedding and along edges and corners. All the places where the mite would crawl. Some people actually dust their birds with it -perhaps it works?

 

[Chuck]

Unproven in my book for lice and mites and I can't see how it would work with flies.

 

[Marigold]

Why are the flies there in the first place?
Is it perhaps because the floor needs to be cleaned out and the bedding changed? Then you might use ground sanitising powder before replacing it. I expect this would be more effective than diatom in any case.
Or are the flies multiplying somewhere else and then invading your shed, eg nearby pig farm, dead animals, or other problems?
It's not really due to the weather, though of course this helps them to multiply. You need to find where they are laying their eggs in and deal with it.

 

[tygrysek75]

Cleaning it would be best solution and burn all bedding with flies eggs to reduce future broblem and replace all bedding.Regular poo picking will help to.You do not say how many birds you have,they may be overcrowded.Some people using also this sticky tapes you hung from the ciling just make sure hens cant get to it.I have more flies in my garden than chicken cop(none)or the chicken run(few and far beetween)I had noticed that preffer sunny spots in the garden and finding them everywere when is hot and sunny.

 

[rossleachick]

Hi all
Thanks for the replies, I do clean out the chicken shed out on a daily bases and defected weekly just done it on sat and there were flies in on sun , I didn't have this problem last year, I thought if I sprinkle some DE to help as some people on the internet says its help to reduce the numbers by killing the larvae, the more I read about the stuff not many people rate this stuff, I think I will try out the ground sanitising powder, But now you mention it Marigold I do live near a pig farm and also living near coastline may not help, as was walking down to the shore yesterday with the dogs and I was cover with them.

 

[Marigold]

There's a village near where I live that has had repeated outbreaks of flies in all the houses for several years in the summer, due to slurry from a local pig farm. Many complaints to the health authorities seem to have had little effect. Have you had problems in your house as well?
As far as the chicken shed goes, keeping it as clean as you do is really all you can hope for if the flies are breeding in large numbers nearby. But the ground sanitising powder is a good idea anyway to help keep everything fresh.

 

[foxy]

Have you tried a redtop flycatcher? We have found them very effective.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flys-Away-Red-Top-Trap/dp/B000UE07TU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[karminski]

i would recommend them 1000% but be carefull they stink :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: mine needs renewing badly and its kept them flies down no end even tempted to get 2 more and use them at the stables but mine did take quicker to fill then the 12 weeks its meant to last for but for £10 a time its money well worth spending .

 

[rossleachick]

Hi

I never heard off the redtop fly away so just checked it out and i like the idea off that just been on the web site
http://www.redtopflycatcher.co.uk/buy-now.html
9.99 inc p&p alittle bit cheaper but u can buy its in bulk aswell so may go and see if any one else like on in the area,
So cheers for that