Small black flies...

[mollteaser]

I was cleaning the Eglu out today, I usually do it Saturday mornings but missed it, due to family coming over...so was a few days over due. Under the removable tray I found some black winged flies, a bit like fruit flies. Is this anything to.worry about. I know they're not lice, but they are too big for mites aren't they? Any advice welcome Ta x x

I gave an extra dust with the DE to be sure...:grin:

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

No need to worry. they eat the poo and fungi. harmless

 

[mollteaser]

Thank you! They didn't seem to be doing much...cheers x :grin:

 

[bushman]

The flies could be horse flies ( stable flies) these flies land then suck for blood stinging as they do it , annoys the hell out of horses.
they breed in droppings , dogs, horses, chooks, etc , so if the flies start to sting you you have horse flies. Remove your droppings to break there cycle .

 

[mollteaser]

Not horse flies, far too small. I got bitten by a horse fly last year, still have the scar to prove it. This are tiny....like the ones that like soggy bananas......and, I have removed the droppings.Thats how I discovered them!

 

[Marigold]

Is your eglu a Cube or a Classic?When I had an Eglu Classic I used to line the base tray with newspaper and I found it only took a couple of minutes every day to remove the top sheet and bundle up the overnight poo into a parcel for the compost heap. My friend with a Cube does the same. Then when you do a thorough weekly cleanup, you might sprinkle redmite powder under the removeable base, which should see off most insects. I would imagine that, if the flies had got to the hatching stage, they might have been there for a while. Surprising, though, at this time of year, even though it's been so warm for December.

 

[mollteaser]

It's a classic. I'll do the newspaper thing, thanks for the tip. It amazes me the amount of poo they do in there!