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11:50 am
August 31, 2009
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monica
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 433 |
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What do you guys use for fly control? All of a sudden there are just swarms of them at the chicken coop and compost pile. I don't really like to use a ton of chemicals if possible, since we have outside cats that help with mice control out there.
Would a glass jar with a piece of fruit work? Should I put some bacon grease near the opening so they can't get out? (I think that may work for mice, not sure). Fly paper works for about a day and then gets tangled by the wind or dried out in the sun.
Thanks in advance!
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12:26 pm
August 31, 2009
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Shells
| | Vancouver Island, British Columbia | |
| Superstar | posts 1184 |
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Whats attracting them to the compost pile?? I don't put anything but organic matter in mine .. so no meat, nothing with oils on it ….. and the flys aren't attracted to it. Same with the mice ….
I would think that to end the flys altogether you would have to remove what is attracting them. JMHO
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12:43 pm
August 31, 2009
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monica
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 433 |
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Well that would probably be the manure. What am i doing wrong? I don't think it is decomposing very fast either. should I add more dirt?
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12:58 pm
August 31, 2009
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Shells
| | Vancouver Island, British Columbia | |
| Superstar | posts 1184 |
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Do you have enough browns in your compost pile? Browns would be dry leaves, straw, woody materials?? The greens would be your manure, kitchen wastes, grass clippings ..
You may have too many greens for it to generate the heat it needs. My understanding is that a well mixed compost pile/bin will generate enough heat that the fly maggots will not survive and that will take care of your fly issue. My guide also says to bury food scraps into the pile where the flies are not attracted to them.
My composter book says that if your pile is attracting rats then leave out meat scraps, fats and cooking oils and recommends putting cayenne pepper around the base of your compost pile/bin to discourage them.
Everyone has thier own ideas on composting those are just a few guidelines that I follow for mine.
Oh, and FYI, you aren't doing anything wrong …. it will compost over time without any intervention.
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2:07 pm
August 31, 2009
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52
| | Stringtown, WV | |
| Moderator
| posts 179 |
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As usual, I'm no expert, but you might try putting some agricultural lime on the coop floor and the compost pile. It's natural and won't hurt anyone. It's the kind of lime you put on a garden to fix the PH. Just sprinkle it around with a jar with holes punched in the lid.
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2:13 pm
August 31, 2009
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monica
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 433 |
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I have tried lime , but as soon as it rains or I add more poo to the pile, they come back. I am getting a pretty big pile. I do not put meat or fats in–ever. I do put the shells from the eggs in, but the flies don't seem interested. They like the poo, fruits and vegetable scraps and avoid much of the rest. There is straw, leaves and grass clippings
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2:19 pm
August 31, 2009
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Shells
| | Vancouver Island, British Columbia | |
| Superstar | posts 1184 |
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Maybe turning it would help, getting a pitchfork into it and mixing it up … just a thought
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