This is the time of year we dread the most: fly season. We don’t mind the desert heat, the monsoon season, the gusty winds, BUT the one thing that makes us cringe is when the fly population explodes on our farm every spring. We have tried everything to get rid of flies every way imaginable and have determined what works the best and what doesn’t.
If you’re like us and you have pets or livestock, there will be flies around your home and property. A peaceful moment sitting on the porch is ruined by annoying flies. Trying to BBQ in the courtyard: Ruined. Sun tanning in a lounge chair: Ruined. Not to mention how much flies bother livestock and chickens!
Recently, we noticed the flies inside our home were getting out of control again. There were HUNDREDS OF THEM! They come in through the doggy door when they feel the cool A/C coming outside. They come in through the door when the kids leave it open longer than they need to. It’s embarrassing and maddening. I’m sure we’re not alone!
Why Get Rid of Flies?
Flies are a pest of the highest order (The worst, if you ask me!) They are drawn to stinky, rotting, decaying, or fecal matter and lay their eggs on it. Hence, if you have livestock, you’re going to have flies. Even an extremely well-managed barn will still have a few flies, although those barns typically have a misting system that sprays liquid fly sprays on a timer and a serious manure removal schedule.
House flies are common around the world and are generally thought to spread bacteria, causing food-borne illnesses. Adult flies only live between 2-4 weeks, but they procreate like crazy and can hibernate over winter.
The first step to getting rid of the flies is cutting down on their breeding ground – manure. I know, you’re probably like me and saying, “It’s a farm. Manure happens.” Yes, but we are trying to be more consistent now about using our skid steer to clean out the corrals and pens.
Here’s the BEST ways to Get Rid of Flies!
The Good Old Fashioned Fly Swatter
Fly swatters have been in existence for as long as people have been bothered by flying insects – the dawn of time! The only problem with modern fly swatters is that the plastic head tends to break over repeated use. This leather fly swatter is the ultimate, heavy duty solution! Check it out here!
Sticky Fly Strips
The tried and true spiral fly strips have always been our fall back for our home fly problems. This is my old faithful strategy in our home- hang these everywhere the flies are gathering, like my kitchen! They are very effective and reasonably cheap! They work indoors or outdoors, just don’t get them stuck in your hair! Check them out here!
We recently tried this giant fly glue trap and it’s much easier to handle than the smaller spiral fly strips! These are easy to position and reposition and can be easily handled. We are hooked on these now! We have 2 in our kitchen currently. Check them out on Amazon!
Outdoor Fly Traps
Outdoor Fly Traps work great to eliminate house flies at the source: the animal pens. I really like them because they work fast, they’re reusable, and they’re made in the USA! The only drawback is the hideous smell the fly bait has (especially after a few days in the heat), but I’m willing to stay upwind if it means getting rid of our fly population. Stock up on Amazon and grab some replacement fly attractant to keep your outdoor traps running all summer.
Since you have different fly species, you need different fly traps. The Bite Free Stable Fly Trap works best for biting fly species around the barn. This one has actually outperformed all other biting fly traps on the market in a study that was done! The Bite Free trap is also reusable, which is great for keeping up with the fly population!
Livestock Feed-Thru Fly Control
After reading reviews and researching Feed-thru Fly Control for horses, I’ve decided not to try them. Some reviewers have stated that their horses had a bad reaction to the supplement in their feed, even though the product claims it is completely safe. That’s not something I’m willing to risk. It pays off to read reviews!
Fly Sprays
Ew! Chemicals! I know! But there are fly sprays made with essential oils that are safe for animals and humans! Check out Bye, Bye Instects by Spalding Laboratories to get rid of those flies!
Fly Predators
Fly Predators® are really neat! Like the name suggests, they naturally reduce the fly population before hatching. While these predators do their work, you also have to set outdoor fly traps to eliminate the adult flies. I recommend getting them from the original and best supplier: Spalding Laboratories
Fly Predators® are tiny, completely biteless and stingless, and never become a pest themselves. Because of their small size and the fact they live their entire life cycle on or near manure (where the pest fly pupa are typically found), Fly Predators® go virtually unnoticed.
Pest flies reproduce nine times faster, adding supplemental Fly Predators® every three to four weeks during warm months keeps the population balance necessary for good fly control. You will also loose some predators to birds and wind, so it is essential to keep them on reorder. Overall, I really like them since they are an all natural, environmentally friendly way to get rid of flies.
In summary, successful fly control comes down to several simple strategies.
Here’s Our Strategy to Get Rid of Flies:
- Kill or capture adult flies EVERYWHERE around your property using the right products! Inside and Outside!
- Remove manure from your animals regularly.
- Use fly predators to kill fly larvae. More animals = more poop = more flies!
- Don’t attract more flies to your property by eliminating strong odors or keep your compost pile turned regularly.
- Use fly repellent sprays responsibly.
Go forth and kill those flies! Good luck and best wishes!
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