Protecting Your Chicken Coop: Keep Flies Away

Flies are a common problem for chicken coop owners. Flies can be a nuisance and also transmit diseases to your chickens. There are several ways to keep flies away from your chicken coop, including using fly traps, fly paper, cleaning the coop regularly, and using natural repellents such as herbs and essential oils. Some chicken owners also recommend using diatomaceous earth in the coop, which is a natural fly repellent and helps keep the bedding fresh and dry.

How to keep flies out of a chicken coop

Keep the coop clean and dry

Keeping the chicken coop clean and dry is essential for deterring flies. Flies are attracted to moisture, so it is important to keep the coop as dry as possible. Clean up any water spills immediately, and keep the area around the coop dry to prevent stagnant water.

Regularly cleaning the coop is crucial. Remove chicken droppings daily, especially from under the roosts, to prevent the buildup of manure, which attracts flies. Use a rake, small shovel, or kitty litter scoop to remove manure first thing in the morning. A droppings board can make this task easier, and covering it with a thin layer of Sweet Coop® can help absorb residual moisture, creating an unfavourable environment for flies. Additionally, clean up any leftover food scraps and fruit treats that may attract flies.

To keep the coop dry, ensure proper ventilation and avoid using too much water during cleaning. Whitewashing the coop, roosts, and nest boxes twice a year can also help maintain dryness and cleanliness. Keeping the coop well-ventilated can be supported by hanging fresh herbs like basil, bay, bee balm, chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, and thyme, which flies seem to dislike.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is another useful tool for keeping the coop clean and dry. Sprinkling food-grade DE powder on the coop floor and nesting boxes can help eliminate flies and other pests without harming chickens or humans. However, care should be taken when applying it to avoid irritating breathing passages.

Use a dropping board

Keeping flies out of your chicken coop can be a challenging task, but one effective method is to use a dropping board. Here are some tips and suggestions for implementing this strategy:

Installation and Placement

Install a dropping board under the roost in your chicken coop. This strategic placement allows for easy collection of droppings. Opt for a slanted board over the nesting boxes to prevent chickens from roosting on top of it. You can also attach a "poop hammock" made of a dog food bag taped in a hammock shape or use old feed bags placed on top of the nesting boxes, which can be discarded when soiled.

Maintenance and Cleaning

The key function of a dropping board is to simplify the cleaning process. Each morning, scrape off the droppings from the board and dispose of them in a compost pile. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent the buildup of manure, which attracts flies. If you have a large amount of manure, consider spreading it outside so that chickens can feed on the flies that are drawn to it.

Additional Tips

To enhance the effectiveness of the dropping board, consider using food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE). DE is non-toxic and can be sprinkled on the dropping board to kill flies and pierce their eggshells. Additionally, maintain proper sanitation in the coop by regularly removing food scraps and wet bedding, which can attract flies. You can also try natural repellents such as hanging fresh herbs (basil, lavender, mint, etc.), using essential oils, or placing shiny pennies in a baggie of water near doorways to deter flies.

By implementing these measures and maintaining good hygiene practices, you can effectively use a dropping board to keep flies at bay in your chicken coop.

Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE)

Flies are an expected nuisance when keeping chickens, but there are ways to reduce the overall fly population to limit the risks they pose to your chickens. Flies thrive in warm, wet, and fragrant environments, so the key to eliminating a fly problem is maintaining a dry, clean coop and run.

You can also sprinkle DE in nesting boxes and on top of bedding to discourage parasites in areas where your chickens spend a lot of time. If your chickens have mites or lice, dust a small amount directly on their feathers, focusing on the base of the feathers and near the vent. Be gentle to avoid over-dusting.

Some chicken keepers add small amounts of food-grade DE to their chicken feed, claiming health benefits. To do this, sprinkle about 2% of the total feed amount with DE, mix it well, and add the mixture to your chicken feeder. Light, occasional applications are best, especially around bedding areas and directly on chickens.

When handling diatomaceous earth, wear gloves and a dust mask to avoid inhaling the fine particles, which can be drying to the skin and irritating to the lungs.

Use fly traps

Flies are attracted to chicken coops because of the presence of chicken droppings, leftover food, and moisture. To keep flies out of your chicken coop, you can use fly traps.

One type of fly trap is a sticky trap, which can be hung in the rafters above the roosts. However, sticky traps cannot be placed inside the coop or the run, as chickens may fly into them and get tangled. Another option is to use a disposable fly trap, which should be hung no higher than four feet from the ground. These traps are inexpensive and effective, but they can be stinky and nasty to look at. You can also make your own fly trap by hanging a few gallon-size ziploc bags half-full of water with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and a few pennies inside around your coop.

The Starbar Fly Terminator Pro Fly Trap is a half-gallon plastic jug that uses a non-toxic attractant to lure flies. This trap is highly effective, and the same plastic jug can be reused by purchasing more attractant. The dead flies can be added to your compost as they are advertised as a great garden fertilizer. However, it is important to note that you should not seal dead flies and attractant in an airtight container, as the decomposition may cause the container to explode.

In addition to commercial fly traps, you can also use fly predators, which are widely used in horse and cow barns and have been found to be effective in chicken coops as well. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is another natural option that can be used in conjunction with fly traps. It is non-toxic and safe for chickens, piercing the hard shells of fly eggs and killing adult flies. DE can be sprinkled on the coop floor, in nesting boxes, and around feeders to create an inhospitable environment for flies.

Keep drinkers and feeders out of the coop

Flies are attracted to chicken feed, especially when it gets wet, and food scraps. To keep flies away, pick up or cover any leftovers once the chickens are done eating. You can also use enamelware covered roasting pans for your chicken feed and just put the cover on each evening to keep flies and mice out of the feed.

If you have a dirt floor in your coop, it is best to put down a floor to keep rodents out. A floor will also make it easier to keep the coop clean. Keeping your chicken feed and water outside in the run ensures a cleaner coop, as it encourages chickens to spend more time outside, reducing the amount of poop in the coop.

However, if your chickens are hesitant to leave the coop, feed and water should be kept inside. If you do keep the feeders and drinkers inside the coop, hang them or put them on a platform to prevent spillage. The goal is to get the feed and water at the height of the chickens’ necks. You want it low enough for them to access, but too high for them to easily scratch at it and make a mess.

To prevent feed spillage, you can also use a Grandpa’s Feeder or a nipple waterer, which is less likely to leak or spill.

Frequently asked questions