Fly Control for barn area

[ToolFanGeoff]

Guys,

It seems that some of us on GJ have barns with animals. I am asking for advice on fly control for my eight horse-stall barn.

We muck twice a day, morning, and night. The manure goes into a dumpster with a closing lid. We keep the stalls as clean and dry as we can. Rubber horse mats with mini-flake shavings.

Our closest barn neighbor keeps their horse stalls as clean or even cleaner than we do.

The other two barns in proximity to us are not quite as clean – mucking once a day.

We are believers in cleanliness helping reduce the fly issues. We are looking for reasonable ways to minimize flies even more, making it healthier for the horses, and nicer for us and our guests.

Because the neighboring barns would not do it, the fly predator system would not work for us.

We have done fly strips and the water bag bug catchers – with limited success.

I believe there is an enzyme(?) spray? I don’t know anyone who has tried this, so I am just not sure how it works, or if it would work.

Has anyone had luck using cinnamon oil (or other food grade oil) sprayed around the barn?

Any luck with fans blowing in the stalls? Blowing down from above, or across the stalls?

Our horses have fly masks and fly sheets that help them but do not seem to reduce the number of flies at the barn.

Is there something obvious I am missing (besides pesticide)?

Thank you, Geoff

 

[Jmonnty]

Flies don't like the moving air, in our show barn we had 3 hanging fans, and a 6ft exhaust fan (out of a renovated industrial kitchen) on one end, all blowing to move air in the same direction.

 

[JohnKal]

What Jmonnty said.

 

[58Yeoman]

Have you tried setting out Golden Malrin? It's a fly bait that is supposed to kill flies.

 

[MFortie]

We use Fly Predators, the wet traps, and garlic powder (fed to the horses) to control our flys.

A friend has uses a service that sprays something on his manure pile - probably the enzyme. I going to an event tomorrow where the guy will have a booth and will find out more.

But we don’t pile ours and use as dumpster as well.

 

[Blk88GT]

Have a look at www.doyourownpestcontrol.com and see what you can find.

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

THANK YOU! to all that responded. I have Golden Malrin on order. I will pick up some fans.
I have also checked out the do your own pest control.
I am looking forward to trying your suggestions, and see what works for my situation.
Greatly appreciated.
MFortie, any chance you will be at the Blenheim EquiSports in San Juan Capistrano?
Geoff

 

[zak77]

The Victor fly traps work very well on household flies, almost too good. I put one up a couple weeks ago and it's more than half full. I've recently tried a different trap for horse and deer flies but i'm having mixed success with it. Basically it's a blue ball that you coat in sticky stuff and the flies are attracted to the color, land on the ball and stick to it. It wasnt working all that great for horse flies so i painted one black then sprayed the sticky stuff on that but i havent seen tremendous results yet however i did just put it up earlier this week. All kinds of bugs are sticking to the ball but not a lot of flies. Bifenthrin and other chemicals will have limited results.

I was going to get some Golden Marlin but after reading the warnings regarding pets, i'm passing on it. Use caution if you have dogs or cats.

 

[MFortie]

Blenheim EquiSports

No. we're just trail riders, not show folks...

The event I mentioned is our club's annual Poker Ride (horseback).

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

MFortie,
We are a family of trail riders also, but the kids do a little bit of friendly competitive cattle sorting.
This morning as I was driving to work, a neighbor was pulling out with a trailer, headed to Blenheim. We have gone to watch competitions there. The training and horsemanship is amazing.
Geoff

 

[cpttuna]

Flies don't like the moving air, in our show barn we had 3 hanging fans, and a 6ft exhaust fan (out of a renovated industrial kitchen) on one end, all blowing to move air in the same direction.

Work in the can plant at Campbell soup. The loading dock had high speed fans. the semi's could back up to the doors but the fans kept the flies out while they were being loaded with cans.

 

[Adaylate]

There is a spray made from chrysanthemums. A friend used it in his horse barns and it was also rated for use around food prep.
It has natural pyrethrins. Do a bit of research using chrysanthemums and pyrethrins and you'll have your answer.
Good luck!

 

[wood02]

Do a search for permethrin insecticide.

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

This is an awesome group. Thank you all for the great suggestions.
I have chrysanthemum based pyrethrin spray on its way. My wife likes that it is natural based, we will see how it compares to the fly spray we currently use.
Geoff

 

[Jmonnty]

This is an awesome group. Thank you all for the great suggestions.
I have chrysanthemum based pyrethrin spray on its way. My wife likes that it is natural based, we will see how it compares to the fly spray we currently use.
Geoff

Did you get any relief?

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

Jmonnty, thank you for asking.
I have not been able to install the fans yet, I just have not had time to get the outlets installed.
I did start a regimen of spaying with pyrethrin spray. I spray every other day. I hope it is not placebo, but it seems(?) to be helping - especially noticeable around the dumpster.
The area with the biggest improvement has been in our barn clubhouse. I have Golden Malrin in cups, and there are piles of dead fly's on the shelves in and around the cups.
My next project will be installing outdoor fly strips.

Once again, I thank everyone that has shared their advice.
Geoff