04/28/2026
How we Keep the Fly 🪰 Population Down
Anyone with livestock knows there is one negative that comes with it that no one enjoys...the flies. Over the years we have tried countless different options and while some haven't worked so well, others have, and we have found the one thing that is crucial is timing. We have also found that utilizing multiple different strategies together works best. Since we are working on living a natural and chemical free life as much as possible, that especially carries over to the care of our livestock, so all the strategies we utilize are also natural and chemical free.
The first strategy that most people usually think about that we use is fly traps. We purchase RESCUE! Fly traps and attractant packages. We really like these as they are effective, non-toxic and made in the USA. The only word of warning we would give for these is to be careful of where you place them though as they can start to smell like death at some point. But they can be dumped for the chickens and ducks to enjoy, and refilled. We have also utilized the concept of this strategy to made a couple larger barrel style fly traps that provide maggots as a treat for our birds, but that's another post for later.
The second strategy we utilize is fly predators. With that, this spring was a bit hectic and we missed the ideal timing for ordering our fly predators to maximize their effect on the overall population...but, late is better than never. There are multiple different companies out there that sell them, but we have found Natures Good Guys to be a company that we enjoy supporting. They have charts to determine the quantity that you should order based upon the amount of livestock you have. Then we do a subscription service and have them shipped every 3 weeks until warm weather is over, which sometimes goes as late as November. They also provide other beneficial insects for gardens.
The third strategy we implement is keeping two large tubs of CattlActive 20% All-Natural with Garlic Tub from Pro Earth Animal Health on hand all summer for our cattle to lick on. The garlic and molasses work together as a natural, internal fly repellent for cattle by releasing sulfur compounds through the skin, creating an odor that drives away biting flies. The garlic acts as the repellent, while the molasses ensures consistent, voluntary consumption, which anyone with cattle knows how much they love molasses. The tubs also offer elevated protein and mineral support without urea or NPN, making it ideal for cow-calf pairs, lactating cows, and cattle on poor or dormant forage. Added bonus, the cattle love them, so they see it as a treat.
The fourth and final strategy we use that a lot of people don't realize is a strategy for fly control is having our chickens and ducks free range our property. By allowing them to work the same areas of the property as the cattle, they go through and spread their manure, eating any fly larvae and maggots before they become flies.
By utilizing all four of these strategies together it helps to keep our fly population greatly reduced and our animals happy. Hopefully some of this information is helpful for others. If you have other tricks or tips that you use, feel free to add to the comments for others to learn from as well, plus we are always looking for additional strategies to add to our tool belt.
