Biting Flies!
"Pretty but nasty" by jeans_Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Because 2020 doesn’t have enough annoyances, we have had the worst summer ever for small biting flies. I am the favorite snack — I must be delicious — and was really struggling with them until we discovered fly bags. The little bite marks would last, and itch, for weeks.
These stinky things work even better than I expected. And stink far more than we imagined. We hang them in the furthest corners of the chicken runs and I can sit outside again without being eaten.
Scaly Leg Mites (SLM): painful, itchy, and depletes the birds of resources.
Feral Cats become Working Barn Cats
Mouse and rat control for me.
Cozy home for the unloved kitties.
Didn’t have to use poison.
One of my seasonal chores is a comprehensive flock check — I go out and catch and pick up each and every one of my 100+ birds. I check them for bugs, make sure that no-one feels underweight, ensure their leg bands fit properly, take their pictures, and decide which of the grow-outs I will keep and which I will share.
Ouch!
What to do when they are really bugging you.