I am just wondering what you guys are doing to help keep the horse flys and regular flys off the deer to keep the stress levels to a minimum? We are adding garlic powder to our feed and we are starting to notice a small difference but we just started adding it so more time will tell. I know some guys that used to raise raccoons and fox and they would rub Seven Dust in the coats of the animals to keep all the flys and pest away. Never harmed them or caused any problems so would it for deer? Have any of you tried this or the Liquid Seven Dust and spray the deer? Could there be any consequences later on or is it just a great way to protect your deer?? Any other solutions would be great too, Its getting hott and the flys are coming out!! Thanks
T.R.O. you might try permethrin 10% concentration We put some on a rag and wipe down our bottle feds that let us pet them and it keeps the flies and mosquitos away for a week or so. Its a natural insectiside made out of a flower if I remember right and won't adversly effect your deer. You can spray the bedding area of the deer you can't touch and when they lay in it it rubs off on them. Rick
Is there anything to be carefull of when using permethrin. I have been spraying the outer perimeter of my pens and bedding areas. I worry about spraying it on grass or feed. I misted one of my does and she licks on it for a while. What about getting it in there eyes. Also how much permethrin do you use per gallon of water.
For regular flies the easiest way we found to control them is with these http://www.horse.com/Big-Bag-Fly-Trap-BUL25L.html . Tie them up around each feeder or atleast one in each pen. Have to change em about once a month or add water when its hot. If its rainy and you have a shelter best to hang it under the shelter to keep from overflowing. Only works on house flies but it works well in just a few days. Has a smell but the deer prefer the smell over the flies. If your (anyone reading this) not sure about mixing pesticides this may be the simplest and safest way to go for regular house fly problems.
We spray Demand CS in our pens as well, on everything except the feed, deer and water and to date havent had a problem with it yet. When we use permethrin we spray the deer with it with no adverse effects.
We spray Demand CS in our pens as well, on everything except the feed, deer and water and to date havent had a problem with it yet. When we use permethrin we spray the deer with it with no adverse effects.
Permitherin 10% every 10 - 14 days. We use a pull behind sprayer for the mower. We mix 25 gallons (2 oz perm. per gallon) and cover approx. each 3 acre pen with it. When deer come over to bug us on the mower we give them a spray down too. We have done this for the last 4 years with no ill effect. We are spraying the WHOLE pen with it. We use the all natural blend that looks like honey. The "watery" blend is petrolieum based and I do not know if that is safe. We also use the garlic in the feed. To top it all off we get the fly traps, that you can get at most tractor supply stores, that fit on a one gallon jug. We place the baited jugs about 7 1/2 feet up of the ground. One for all 4 sides of each pen. They work great and when you are ready to change them out (we change every month) you just cap of the jug and toss it away. This has worked wonders for us so far for most flys. The only ones we need help with are horse flys.
for real bad fly issues you can also use diatomatious (sp) earth. I have seen alot of farms who use it and swear by it. 50lb bag is $25 or so.
Ive been using diatomatious earth also. Ive been spreading it on bedding areas and on the walls and ceilings of shelters. Ive seen it kill house flies but not to sure if it is working on horse flies or the green flies. Ive also been adding it to deer, dogs and horses feed. When it passes through the animal and the flies land on the poo it will kill them. Ive been told that it also kills intestinal worms.
Alot of the feed and grain farm stores carry it. Our local grainery carries it. It works great for ticks, lice, biting knats, and alot of species of flies. Just doesn't work for the horse flies. The only thing we have on our deer are horse flies. Hopefully someone has found the way to control them by now.
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
I just got a call now from a guy selling Extinct. He said is all natural and has a 30 day residual. Kills most all bugs listening to him. $139 per gallon. Mix it 20 to 1 with water and use a fogger. Anyone heard of this stuff before? I have not done any spraying here ever, but am considering it.
Years ago when I used to drive truck I hauled diatomaceous earth. They actually use it for filtering wine and other liquids. One thing to be careful of is that when it is in the powdered form is is very fine and when breathed in will cause major damage to the lungs. We tried it around the water areas once years ago but I can't say I saw a big difference really. Diatomaceous earth is actually made from the remains of sea life. It is dug out of a old sea bed area.
Years ago when I used to drive truck I hauled diatomaceous earth. They actually use it for filtering wine and other liquids. One thing to be careful of is that when it is in the powdered form is is very fine and when breathed in will cause major damage to the lungs. We tried it around the water areas once years ago but I can't say I saw a big difference really. Diatomaceous earth is actually made from the remains of sea life. It is dug out of a old sea bed area.
Ten years ago when I worked for a local feed company we had a couple customers that would would custom raise veal calves. They would actually use diatomaceous earth at the first sign of scours. They would just mix it in with the milk a feed it to them. They claimed it worked real well.
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
Joined Apr 2009
87 Posts | 0+
Negley, Ohio
I chop up fresh Garlic cloves from the store and put the chunks in their feed every night, I guess they eat it and it comes out in their pores and keeps the horse flies and all flies off of them. I may see a couple deer with 3 flies at the most on them and they do not stay on them long. I hear garlic is good for thier immune systems also. 
Not sure....But it works around here. My deer will eat it right out of my hand.
Not sure....But it works around here. My deer will eat it right out of my hand.
Joined Jul 2009
1,215 Posts | 0+
Deer Park, Alabama
The garlic will work. I started sing maxrax with garlic and the flies left after a week or two. Have not seen a fly in 6 weeks.
