Flies and More Flies

Warning - If you don't like graphic horse poop photos, don't read.

Horses = Poop = Flies

So how do you combat those pesky insects? There's fly spray . The natural sprays work somewhat and the chemical ones work better but I can't use chemicals on organic farm land. And, besides sprays don't last more than a couple of hours if you're lucky.

You can use a feed through fly control. The organic ones don't work so well and the others also have chemicals. Forget it.

I do use a fly sheet and a fly mask. But Khrysta doesn't appreciate wearing clothes. Before I can get the darn thing buckled, she's off and rolling.

Leaving us to see more than we ever wanted.
Next, she tries shaking off her sheet.Finally, I get her dressed. Doesn't she look like a medieval warrior horse or perhaps a giant pink rabbit?

So to stop flies before they start, I use fly predators.

5,000 of the mighty little bugs arrive in the mail nestled in pine shavings in a plastic bag. I set them aside for a couple of days until they hatch.

After the babies are born, I open the bag and go in search of fresh horse poop (not a problem).

Then, I release some of the tiny fly predators on each fresh manure pile and they go straight to work eating their favorite snack, fly larvae. And no need to worry about tackling every poop, these small beasts can jump 150 feet.
And that's how we combat flies down on the farm.