Flies

DecantersKingHenry

DecantersKingHenry

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Is there anything that stops the ordinary black flies landing? I've been bringing in during the day as the horse flies have been horrendous even with full fly rugs and masks, but little black flies are driving them crazy in the stables, constant stamping/swishing/biting. Have fly papers hanging up, tried Citronella spray, Deet and Carr Day and Martin Extra but nothing stop the little feckers!
 
Yes, black flies just dreadful here, have tried all my various sprays, nothing works long. I have a youngster who's covered , but I don't want to put a fly mask on him, I just know he'll get caught on something 🙄

Any ideas on something to feed to keep flies off, (not garlic)
 
tda said:
Yes, black flies just dreadful here, have tried all my various sprays, nothing works long. I have a youngster who's covered , but I don't want to put a fly mask on him, I just know he'll get caught on something 🙄

Any ideas on something to feed to keep flies off, (not garlic)
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Having done pretty extensive reading for sweet itch purposes, the only supplements that are touted are intended to reduce reactions to fly bites, I don't think there is anything that will make flies not land.

The best topical I've used is the Nettex summer freedom cream on the face. It doesn't eliminate but it does reduce them. Costs too much to put that all over tho!

I like the cheap-ish shires fly masks, the velcro keeps them on rolling and rubbing their faces but is no where near strong enough not to pop off if they are caught on something and pull away.
 
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They are horrific!!! We are at a farm with cattle and chickens so you can imagine the amount of flies with the poop!

Premier Equine fly masks with the nose nets are my go to, I have 3 that I wash and reuse thoughout the week, they are super flexible and wash very well and I’ve only had one come off over summer with every day use! Power Phazer is the only fly spray that is effective for a bit here…but not totally effective.

I don’t use a fly rug when it’s this hot (25C or above) as mine gets too hot and sweats. We are lucky as they have lots of trees for shade in their field. Her stable is very hot so can’t keep her in during the day either as she literally sweats after being in there for 15 mins. I do feel for them with the constant flies buzzing around them x
 
Flies are currently the bane of my life.

I spend the morning at work, mucking out east facing stables getting bitten to death* by black flies, and the afternoon working on my laptop outside my stables getting bitten to death* by black flies, whilst googling how to protect my ponies from black flies.

Fly repellents haven't worked this summer, fly killer sprays haven't worked this summer, deosect has been as effective at reducing them as plain water is: the flies this year must be super-mutants.

I even resorted to buying a zero-in fly trap the other day, and I am currently watching about 20 flies try to get out of the trap whilst flying above an inch deep mass of their deceased friends, and I DON'T EVEN FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT**

*not literally
** well, not much

IMG_3046.jpg
 
The June/July horse fly season has ended here west Ireland, but the bot-egg laying flies have now started. The midges are sporadically all spring/summer/autumn long.

I realised the other other day I spend the winter wishing for summer warmth and dryness, and spend the summer wishing for winter fly-free weather! 🤨

ETA - April and September are the only 2 months that are fairly mild, and fairly fly-free.
 
We use these at home (in a seating area in the garden and by the front door) and we’ve seen a noticeable decrease in flies in the house, you can buy refills cheaply too. Only word of warning is that they smell like poo when they need emptying, I thought our drains were blocked the first time 🤣

Zero In Outdoor Fly Trap -... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C65YHB4D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 
We have something similar. Caught mostly wasps at first but now catching flies. Had one last year and it was full to the brim with dead flies. Do wonder though if they attract more flies to the area though 🤔
 

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I have a couple of fly traps by the chooks and the guinea pigs. They have stopped them really well though they do smell and are revolting to look at. I use the red top fly trap from amazon. They fill up fast! My chicken run and the earth area (was grass) are fly free even on fresh poop. The guinea pigs are fly free too. They'd help around a stable/yard area not sure in a very open area.
 
HaffiesRock said:
Today I removed my first small batch of bot eggs!
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I had to remove a load about a week ago too! I don’t remember having to deal with bots for years.

I mix up my own fly spray and it’s usually pretty good, but on the days where there’s just too many of them it doesn’t feel very long lasting.
 
I've recently used Tri Tech 14 and its brilliant stuff. I used for 3 days consecutively, then applied once a week. The flies hovered but didn't land.
 
tda said:
Yes, black flies just dreadful here, have tried all my various sprays, nothing works long. I have a youngster who's covered , but I don't want to put a fly mask on him, I just know he'll get caught on something 🙄

Any ideas on something to feed to keep flies off, (not garlic)
Click to expand...
Have you tried neem oil diluted 1 to 7 with water and then sprayed or sponged on? I read about that recently. I don't have a problem with flies at the moment, but will perhaps give it a try when I do.
pro-equine.com

5 REASONS TO USE NEEM OIL FOR HORSES - Pro-Equine Ltd

Neem oil for horses offers numerous benefits, read our top 5 reasons why this should be in every grooming and first aid kit.
pro-equine.com pro-equine.com
 
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Dust Bunny said:
Have you tried neem oil diluted 1 to 7 with water and then sprayed or sponged on? I read about that recently. I don't have a problem with flies at the moment, but will perhaps give it a try when I do.
pro-equine.com

5 REASONS TO USE NEEM OIL FOR HORSES - Pro-Equine Ltd

Neem oil for horses offers numerous benefits, read our top 5 reasons why this should be in every grooming and first aid kit.
pro-equine.com pro-equine.com
Click to expand...
I just dug out an old bottle of neem oil! Works well in this weather 😀 putting it on with a cloth, pony just tried to eat the cloth 🙄 see how they are tomorrow
 
I've given up with fly sprays, and buy Old Dobbin a new fly rug every spring. The cheapest on line, zebra print, belly cover, full neck and head mask with ears. He is comfortable, grazing happily and does not get sweaty. It only lasts a summer, because once the weather starts to cool, he feels like a spring chicken and goes off teaching the yearlings how to play, and the rug gets shredded.
 
I have has success with Leovet Phaser, i use the roll on on her face and it does noticeably keep them away. Same with the spray, she has a rug on but i spray it on the bits it doesnt cover, especially her legs. It doesnt last 24 hours so i put it on morning and evening but so far its doing ok. Like everyone else, i've not known them this bad, i'm on my 3rd bottle this summer and will probably need another!
 
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Had to find this thread again to have a rant about FLIES. Out for a hack and someone goes to pass in a little front loader, so I park up in a field gateway to give them plenty of space. They stop and ask specifically if pony is fine and she is! She loves machinery! So they start up and come past and as soon as they move Sadie gets bitten by something or several somethings and starts dancing and trying to get away from it so I look like an absolute idiot saying my horse is fine when she looks like she's about to bolt to the next county and now there isn't room to go anywhere 🙃

We passed them on the way back 5 mins later and she tootled past barely looking at it so I was able to explain at least. Bloody flies!!!!!
 
i bought a neem oil based fly spray and it sems to kill them on contact. spray it onto their legs and no more flies for a while.(This is the ordinary looking small house flies which I discvoered can bite, ouch.)
 
We have awful persistent black flies too, never known anything like it!
Zero midges, horrendous horseflies for 1 week only mid June when the hay was cut & not seen them since.
Botts daily for the last 2 months though :rolleyes:
Brinicombe Equine Think Fly in their feed stops the black flies landing like a forcefield BUT the horse will stink 😄 I used it for ages until he decided one day he didnt want to eat it. Worth a shot!
 
DecantersKingHenry said:
Is there anything that stops the ordinary black flies landing? I've been bringing in during the day as the horse flies have been horrendous even with full fly rugs and masks, but little black flies are driving them crazy in the stables, constant stamping/swishing/biting. Have fly papers hanging up, tried Citronella spray, Deet and Carr Day and Martin Extra but nothing stop the little feckers!
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We have even had them in our kitchen this year when we have the bifolds open. They are awful!!
 
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