Doing my homework on fly control systems. Which brands to look at and avoid? Insecticide options? Approximate cost to operate during summer months?
Doing a new barn build. 36x40 with 12’ overhang. Probably wanting to cover some areas outside the barn as well
If you have a system are you happy with it. Pros/cons? Things you would have installed differently.
Sound off!
I installed a “Shoo-fly” System in my 6 stall barn several years ago. Sounds about the same coverage as you are looking to do. Pretty easy to install and service. I’m in PA so had to flush lines (hard water) yearly with vinegar to keep the nozzles from clogging and as well as winterize. I had the 55 gallon drum size and one fill of concentrate lasted me the season. Absolutely no flies. The very nice lady at Shoo-fly recommended a rotation of insecticide and shipped it to me each spring.
If you have a system are you happy with it. Pros/cons? Things you would have installed differently.
we have had one of the full barn systems since about 1993 but I can not remember when last time I used the system. My problem is in the summer we must use fans also, Unless there is a control to turn off the fans before the fly spray is dispensed there is very little fly spray benefit.
We switched to a feed through fly control system which appears to have a greater affect.
We do not have swarms of flies, a few are around but not many
So, yes the sprayers work but the affect is dependent upon use.
You might want to look at whether there’s a way to put a shut-off valve in at least one stall. I have a horse that’s allergic to (many brands, although I haven’t tried them all) fly spray.
My guy kept getting hives, which would go away when we were at horse shows. It took a while, but we finally figured out that the hives were from the fly spray. There wasn’t any way to shut the system off in a particular stall, but luckily we have a barn without a fly spray system. Moved him in there and haven’t had a problem since (except when one of the new guys fly sprayed him before turnout, but at least that confirmed the fly spray/hives link 😊).
I had the Shoo-fly system installed in my barn this year. We had had a very wet spring and I was concerned that the bugs would be bad. The system works brilliantly and we rarely see a bug in the barn. It’s on a timer that allows me to adjust the frequency and duration of the spray. I love it.
I had a Shoo-fly system installed in my Central Florida barn earlier this spring (16 stalls, 2 vet stalls, 4 grooming stalls and a nozzle at each end of the main aisle). It’s been a life saver!! When we built the barn we didn’t put a system in … but after a year of operation and LOTS of flies despite trying other solutions … we had it installed. I had a Shoo-fly guy do the installation and he got it done in about half a day – very efficient. The system works really well and also helps with mosquitos (we have a very open facility). As others have said the system comes with a timer so you can adjust the frequency and duration of the spray depending on the bug situation. We had it run just a couple times a day in early spring and increased as the heat and the bugs got worse. Some horses take a little while to get used to it. When I was at a boarding barn before I built my place the nozzles were overhead and one of my geldings never guite got used to it. In our barn the nozzles spray sideways above their heads and he likes this better. You can install valves so that you can shut individual nozzles off (we’ve done that in our two vet/farrier stalls). I highly recommend the system.
Most of the systems seem similar: blue barrel, timer gadget, hoses with brass nozzles run to stalls.
The thing about our system we love is not the equipment, but the reliable and knowledgeable guy who services it. Not sure how easy it would be to buy your own fly potion (are the chemicals controlled or tracked with paperwork?) but we have our guy who fills up the tanks and checks the entire system each time he comes out.
He also adjusts the frequency and duration of the spray cycles throughout the year when he comes. Very good service from someone who knows the system and is knowledgeable about the chemicals too.
Our several systems work quite well- it certainly helps!- but close neighbors who don’t have fly systems, assorted fans that create drafts that mess with the spray, and having a fair number horses in mare motel type accommodations all affect the end result.
We do have the system in the mare motel setups as well as the box stalls, but more of the spray blows around in the breezes.
At max cycles (8 times per day for I think 15 seconds per spray) it costs us about $20/horse per month for the spray. I think it is worth it, and the boarders know that we are making every effort to keep their horses comfortable.
Not sure how easy it would be to buy your own fly potion (are the chemicals controlled or tracked with paperwork?)
the concentrate is readily available, not a controlled item
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