Flies
Spring brings with it the unwelcome return of those pesky flies. Flies seem to have become pretty resistant to fly spray over the years, and many yard owners are looking for other methods to keep the fly masses to a minimum. It’s best to plan your fly control in advance, so that flies can be managed as best possible. Not only are flies annoying, but they can also spread disease.
Consider these tips and try this homemade remedy.
A fly's lifecycle
Flies thrive in stable yards, as horse manure is the perfect environment for them to feed and breed. A fly’s life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. It takes approximately two to four weeks for a fly to go from an egg to an adult, and thereafter they live between three and four weeks.
Adult flies like to lay their eggs on fresh manure and any other organic material. Eggs hatch within three days and the new larvae feed on the manure.
Did you know?
Flies taste with their feet! Gross!
Manage your manure
Horse manure is fly heaven, so it’s important to remove manure from the stable as soon as possible in the day. Once the manure has been removed, it’s important that it is stored as far away as possible from the stables and paddocks until it can be disposed of properly. It’s also important that manure bags are not left open and rather tied closed tightly.
Manure in your arenas and paddocks should also be removed on a daily basis. If you want to use manure as a fertiliser, spread it out thinly so that it dries out quicker. The reason for this is because flies prefer to lay their eggs in the top few centimetres of moist manure. Flies cannot develop in dry environments, so spreading it out thinly helps break the initial fly life cycle. It’s easier to prevent breeding than to control adult flies.
Keep your yard tidy
It’s not only the manure in your horse’s stable that might attract flies. Feed rooms and garbage disposal rooms can certainly attract flies as well. Make sure that all bins around the yard are closed and lined with plastic bags that can easily be removed and closed.
Feed rooms should be kept tidy and should be swept on a daily basis. Never leave feed bins open; they should be tightly sealed so that odours can’t get out and lure the flies to the feed room.
Most yards store manure and garbage bags in a disposal room or big bin until the pickup truck arrives to remove them. Ideally, you want to store these bags far away from your yard and in a closed room.
Yard solutions
If finances allow, you can install a spray system that automatically delivers a spray of insecticide at set intervals. These systems can be custom-designed.
Fly tape is effective, but must be regularly removed and reinstalled.
There are several herbs you can plant that naturally repel flies. Basil, bay leaf, lavender, chives, rosemary, mint, wormwood, citronella grass and lemon balm have all proven to repel flies. Plant them in beds around your stable yard – just make sure they are out of the horses’ reach – and you may be scoring yourself some fresh herbs at the same time.
Rubbing vinegar and mint oil on rubbish bins and stable doors has also been shown to help reduce the number of flies.
Make your own homemade fly spray
You’ll need:
1 cup of water
1 cup Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil (available at pharmacies like Dis-Chem and Clicks)
2 cups of vinegar
1 tablespoon of eucalyptus oil
Optional: a few tablespoons of citronella oil
Directions: First mix the oils together, and then add the other ingredients. Shake well before every use and avoid the eye area.
Flies are naturally attracted to the moisture in horses’ eyes so it’s important to wipe your horse’s face every day.
It’s easier to prevent breeding than to control adult flies