Fly Control

[bbm4ever]

Today the temp reached 85 today in Georgia, so take a guess what is zooming all over again....FLIES.
This will be my first summer having my horse at home, so I am interested in finding out what everyone uses for flies and how to reduce the number of them. Particularly the big horse flies.
Thanks so much for your responses.

Bernice

[charlotsmom]

I was told about fly predators the other day and they said they worked. I just purchased them yesterday will be a few days before I get them. They are little bugs that will eat the pupa stage of a fly. Will be neat to see since we always have such a bad time with flies. Btw I live in AR and them little buggers ahve been around now for over a week.ICK

[bbm4ever]

I just read about them online today too. How many horses do you have and did you buy them direct from spalding labs? I only have one horse but my neighbor on one side has 6 horses and on the other side they are backyard breeders of bull mastifs (bigger them most minis) so I wasn't sure how much to even consider to purchase if I was to go that route.

[wisteriafarms]

charlotsmom, let us know how they work, I am interested to know.

The last couple days they have been all over here as well (SE Michigan). They cover the siding of houses, the trucks, anything light colored. Almost looks like Amityville Horror lol.

What do you guys use on skin/horses to keep the bugs off? I love Skin-So-Soft...works great

[Heather T]

We feed our horses garlic supplements to help keep the bugs away. They like them

[beccaussie]

Flies! I HATE flies! over here in Australia you cant seem to get away from them!!! I use fly traps... you can buy them, or make your own.

1. Ready to go fly traps.
These for me are available from hardware stores, garden nurseries, saddleries, online, the list goes on and on. They work by attracting the flies by using the natural chemical flies use for mating (not sure what it is called). Then, the fly flies (lol) into the holding chamber thru a "funnel" shaped thingo, which they are too stupid to get out of!!! They fly around and wear themselves out so they have no energy left at all and fall to the bottom of the chamber, which is filled with water, and drown!! It works really well. www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/fly_prod.html

2. Home Made Fly Traps
Will try to explain to the best of my ability how to construct said traps, may even go take pphotos in a sec to post here!
step 1- make up the bait for your finished trap 2-4 days before you need it. Anything stinky will work, best results so far have been from "fish guts" or some fresh horse manure. To make bait place a small amout of desired stinky and some water in a jar(or sealed container) out into the sun(Yeah not the most appealing part of the trap I know)
step 2- find an empty coke bottle(any size)
step 3- using a nice sharp knife cut the spout(pouring hole), or top of the bottle off about 2/3 of the way up from the bottom.
step 4- invert the spout so that it sits into the remaining portion of the bottle(so it looks like a funnel), and punch 3 or 4 holes through BOTH layers of bottle. These holes will enable you to hang up the trap when it is finished.
step 5- remove funnel and pour in your beautiful stinky mixture(it doesn't have to be putrid, just enough to attract flies)
step 6- replace the funnel and line up the holes you punched earlier. Thread string(cooking, baling twine, etc) or wire, thru holes make each piece the same length and tie together @ top to make a loop to hang it from.
step 7- put 1-2 inches of water in the now finished trap and hang trap where it is likely to attract the most flies. Remember to check trap and refill with water as if there is no water the flies wont drown!

I have had good results with both of these methods, however the store bought ones are easier and less time consuming to maintain.

I also use Robocan these are the best fly "sprays" I have found for outside areas. innovair.net/

[Linda]

bbm4ever said:

Today the temp reached 85 today in Georgia, so take a guess what is zooming all over again....FLIES.
This will be my first summer having my horse at home, so I am interested in finding out what everyone uses for flies and how to reduce the number of them. Particularly the big horse flies.
Thanks so much for your responses. Bernice


Bernice, I'm also from Arkansas and it was hot here again today. One thing I like to use is the good old plastic yellow and clear bags, fly traps, that you put water in and break the little vile of stinky stuff in it. It gets so full of flies it's unbelievable.!! You can't keep in close to your doors tho, it really does stink bad. Sure attracts those flies tho.
The other thing that's out now is mosquitoes. I was out grooming on my Minis tonight in the field and got bites on my butt, yep right on each side. . I had jeans on too. I'm from out west and the bugs have really gave me problems now that I'm living here.
What do you all suggest I use for those little critters?
Not to mention the chiggers. Got them figured out now thanks to some neighbors that have been here all their lives. The're in their 80s and so I figured they knew what they were talking about. Straight bleach or sometimes I use a spray bottle with water and bleach so I can spray before I go out. You'd be surprised how fast the itching stops.

[/color]

[Linda]

Great idea Heather. Thanks.


Beccaussie, love your idea of making the fly traps too.

[bbm4ever]

Linda....for mosquitos go to Walmart and get a ThermaCell, they make them in lanterns and also a smaller size that you can attach to your belt, so you can take it with you as you move around outside. They repell mosquitos up to a 15ft diameter and work wonderful. My husband found out about them from some of his hunting buddies and bought me a lantern for Christmas, because when I get bit, I get welts and they come at me just like you said, right through my clothes.
As far as chiggers, my fingers are crossed, I haven't been plagued with them on many occasions but when I did, I put clear nail polish on the bites to stop the itching.

Heather, what type of garlic supplements do you use and how much do you give?

I've tried Skin So soft and Ultra Shield, both seem to work ok, but not for the big horse flies. The only thing I have found to kill those pests is a good ole swat which my horse got used to last fall, he would actually run up to us for us to swat them off him. If we weren't out in the pasture with him, he would just buck and buck, trying to get them off.

[Linda]

bbm4ever said:

Linda....for mosquitos go to Walmart and get a ThermaCell, they make them in lanterns and also a smaller size that you can attach to your belt, so you can take it with you as you move around outside. They repell mosquitos up to a 15ft diameter and work wonderful. My husband found out about them from some of his hunting buddies and bought me a lantern for Christmas, because when I get bit, I get welts and they come at me just like you said, right through my clothes.
As far as chiggers, my fingers are crossed, I haven't been plagued with them on many occasions but when I did, I put clear nail polish on the bites to stop the itching.

Thank you so much for the information. I'll go there tomorrow and get some. It sounds great. It should take care of my problem.