Hi all,

Love all the interesting topics lately! Great advice and friendly banter (or at least I'm hoping it's friendly ;-)

The neighbor's tenant cut the hay fields Tues. Will bale tomorrow. He said I can let my 2 mares graze them this fall. That will be nice - gain another month off the hay bill. So far - he's staved off the rain. We've been forecasted for a chance every night, but it always just misses us. Hope I didn't just jinx it....

Anyone else have lots of flys this year? Seems we have more than usual. I've tried about every fly spray on the market and finally resorted to making my own with the recipe on the Vet page here. Works great! I'll definitely be stocking up when Avon has a sale!

I had read something, I think somewhere here, about putting vinegar in the water tank. That is supposed to add a little acidity to the horses that the flys don't like - is that right? If so - what's the ratio of vinegar to water? Use regular white vinegar or apple cider vinegar?

Are there any other tricks or methods or ideas to keep the flys at bay? The chickens do a great job of turning over the manure - and eating flys, but there are just a lot of flys this year...

Thanks a bunch for letting me pick your brains!

I think I have been having good results putting sulfur salt blocks out.Seems to help keep the flies off the animals. Not a whole lot, but some.
Fly season is just starting here at 7600ft

when we feed to keep the flies down off horses we mix about 2 table spoons of garlic powder to our feed everytime, it also helps masquitoes as well or so it seems

I mix all my fly spray half and half with vingear. It streches the fly spray.

I have been making fly spray here in southern IN.for about 8years that works well here and would like to see how it works in other parts of the country.I will send anyone a free bottle if you would just let me know how it works in your area,it is a all natural spray that now contains neem oil and it also smells good to.Call and give me shipping info at 502-807-5880 or email All i ask is you let me know how it works.Rob

Seems every summer we have this discussion about fly repellent. Vinager, sulfur, garlic, Avon's skin so soft, and many comercial products. In my opinion the best thing for flies is whiskey. If you drink enough of it you won't give a rip how many flies are on your critters. Beer will work also but it takes a lot more of it. Have a nice day.

for catching flys in and around the barn without spraying i have started using a sticky string i get at tractor supply..it comes on a reel..right this secand i don't have the name in front of me..there is a lot of string on the reel and it is not expensive..it is extremely sticky and flies get on it in enormous numbers..it has helped us lot...it is not at all toxic..

So where did you find the eucalyptus oil?

Regie - I found the eucalyptus oil at GNC. It was about $5 for a 4 oz bottle.

Vince - I'll get some sulphur blocks.

Grady - we already have a bunch of fly traps up.

James - I don't grain them, but I'll try mixing garlic in a handfull or so of something just as a treat.

Rod - this next batch will be a little higher in vinegar content. I'll also step up the eucalyptus and try to find some citronella.

Anybody put vinegar in their water?

Thanks for the input - I know this goes around and around, but perhaps someone tried something new this year and it works/doesn't work, or someone new joined the porch and can give their preferences.

Again - thanks!

We use a thing called trap and toss. It is a container that you put the supplied liquid in and then hang it, not too close to the barn as it really stinks, the flys enter from the bottom and can't get out. When it is full just throw it away. Works really good for us.

I have had great results with the 50lb Rabon block, contains a poison that kills the fly larvae that are in the horse manure. It's the greatest thing(and no, I don't own stock in the company). About $11 at Atwoods(don't work there either).