Fly proofing the barn

[Lord_Helpus]

for my horse with Sweet Itch.

I already have an overhead fly spray system which keeps the barn almost fly free. But those damn No-See-Ums are annoying and probably can live, even through a spray system.

I was thinking about making screens for the dutch doors (6 doors @ 4’ x 4’). To make the screens “midge proof” I would need to get a screen fabric which is called a “tiny mesh” and has a weave of 20x20.

I have a shop, so making wooden frames is really easy, but I am worried that screen material meant for homes will be trashed in no time. Sadly, the horse with sweet itch is the one most likely to ruin his screen.

I have a call in to “HorseFlyNets” to see how small the mesh in their screening material is. The price is much better than I thought it would be, and I can also get 2x 6’ x 8’ panels for the front door of the barn. and each panel will only cost $122.00. $244 is a lot less than I thought it would cost to completely cover my wide barn doors.

Has anyone been through the thought process I am going though now?

[JBD]

My spray system isn’t as effective as yours sounds. What type of spray do you use? Part of my problem may be that my barn is pretty light. I’ve noticed barns that are more shaded have less flies.

And yes, I’ve considered fly curtains for the 12x12 entrances.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

If you make screens, how about reinforcing the “tiny mesh” screen with a layer of hardware cloth or 2" x 4" wire fencing?

[SusanO]

I made curtains of fiberglass screening and shade cloth. The horse can still stick her head out of the top of the dutch door but it keeps most of the bugs out. I too have gnats nine months of the year. The shade cloth worked better than the screening.

Just hang 1 inch PVC pipe as a curtain rod. I use metal “straps” to slide the PVC pipe ( cut it into a 5 foot section) through and use PVC caps to keep it from sliding back through. Then sew a hem at the top of the screening to slide the curtain rod through… I have used duct tape to hem and sewn it with dental floss to secure it. Now you have a curtain that shades the stall and makes it harder for the bugs to get in. Add an overhead fan and spray system and your horses like my horses will chose to live indoors bug-free!

[gumtree]

I think you will be fighting a losing battle. But if you win let us know

[DiamondJubilee]

We have a screen that we place at the top of our door and it goes right to the ground. Its made of a heavy plastic type material and we just took a 1 x 1 and stapled the screen to the top of the wood. Then its screwed to the top of the door frame and we hang it down. We have 0 bugs in the barn. I mean none, ever. Its there to keep the birds out and of course all the bugs and we have been using it with success for years. Its heavy enough that wind doesnt move it much as well.
I of course dont have any pictures of it down (we roll it up and it sits on top of the door through the winter when its not needed) but I took a picture of a stick bug on it one day, so its a pretty crappy picture, but you can get a idea of it:
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10245423_10155193132270046_6512543546919552202_n.jpg?oh=1ef6fcbd5f4a97baf1ce1314a8f19f1a&oe=5790E9D4
I also like it as the ponies learn to walk through it. It touches them across their backs and makes quite the noise on a blanket, but they get used to it. They don’t even blink at it anymore.

[Bluey]

Yes, you can add hanging screens to the openings, each dutch door, bigger barn doors, something like the pictures below.
Several companies sell those made to order, green house companies tend to be the cheapest, but many sell to horse owners.

I have seen this picture in a web site that sells those.
Just noticed you are already talking to them:

http://horseflynet.com/blog/?p=649

[Manni01]

My horse is really good so far with the Rambo protector fly sheet. She wears it 24/7. I just hope it stays like this

[csaper58]

Midges and mosquitoes are classified as ‘poor fliers’. The breeze from a fan renders them unable to fly and it also disperses the carbon dioxide and pheromones that attract them.

An oscillating, or box fan should work great. It should have a sealed motor.

[Manni01]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8602483]
Midges and mosquitoes are classified as ‘poor fliers’. The breeze from a fan renders them unable to fly and it also disperses the carbon dioxide and pheromones that attract them.

An oscillating, or box fan should work great. It should have a sealed motor.[/QUOTE]

I agree. I have my horse in a stall with a fan for dusk dawn and during the night and she seems to be ok…

[snowrider]

We’ve always used fans too. The horses will stand in front of them like they’re being paid to when the bugs are bad.

[blueribbonpanel]

we had some screens made for our horse trailer windows, but the mesh was so small and tight that it didn’t really let any air in, or VERY little. We don’t have a ton of problems with those tiny knats, mostly just common flies and I want to keep the stupid sparrows out of my barn too. So I don’t want screens that are too small of a mesh.