03/20/2025
My fly predators are on their way! Are yours? It's easy to let the start date slip passed you. It's March for here in Oklahoma, sooner south of me and a little later north of me. Flies torture donkeys in particularly, and also relentlessly. They bite their legs till they bleed, and keep the eyes, ears, and back covered. In a couple of months, you will be noticing a lot of posts in groups asking for help with what fly products to use because "they are super bad this year". (Guess what? They are bad every year if you let them be). And the posters will get lots of suggestions on fly masks to wear on the face, and wraps on the legs, and sprays to use. All of those are putting bandaids on a serious problem that can be prevented. But, only if you start early enough, before the flies get bad, and before you start thinking about it.
I use a multi-pronged approach, and the absolute most important part is putting out fly predators on time, all season. They are tiny little wasps that eat the fly larvae. You will never see them once they are out because they are so little. You must follow the directions exactly for it to be effective. I know, because I have made all the mistakes. Here are pitfalls to avoid:
1. Do not order separately by the month. Order an entire year's worth and then they will send the right amount at the right time. Also, you will also get free bonus bags at the most needed times. If not, you will try to penny pinch or just let it get by accidentally and won't get some ordered on time, the flies will take over, and the remaining predators will not be able to keep up. Once the flies get out of hand, you really can't get them back under control. You have to stay ahead and on top of it. Bite the bullet. Order a whole year to be shipped when appropriate.
2. Don't have your significant other spread them out for you. They need to be placed in many small piles rather than a few large ones all around the property. They should be placed on poo piles and old rotting hay or other dead or rotting vegetation. Different types flies like different places to lay eggs. My husband will dump out in 3 or 4 places total and call it good. But that doesn't cut it.
3. Wait till you see at least a few little predators hatched and flying around in the bag before you open it or put them out. They come in cocoons and hatch soon after arrival normally. They hatch slower in cool weather and faster in the heat. If you don't wait, the birds and chickens can eat the cocoons before hatching. Once hatched though, they won't be eaten. The chickens can have the empty cocoons.
4. Don't wait too long though and let them overhatch in the bag. Then, when you are spreading them out, they are just flying out w***y nilly and you probably aren't getting them spread out as much or in as good of spots as you think.
I order from Spalding Labs. They do a good job of calculating how much and when to send for you. There are also feed through fly predators that work well because they actually come out in the p**p, but I do not feed daily in the summer time so that doesn't work for me. Most donkeys do not need any grain throughout the summer, although if you are feeding a very small amount that is OK.
Now, as I said, that is not all that I do. Next, I put a cow fly tag on a breakaway turnout collar to keep any incoming flies away. I like the biothane for collar material. It stays soft and nice over several years. I also use stainless steel hardware to prevent rust. The cow tags last about a month, and you can replace with a new one.
Next, I use Ultra-boss pour-on. It keeps flies away as well other mites in their haircoat. If I have a pasture of cattle nearby, sometimes the cow flies will migrate over to a few of my donkeys, and will have to reapply the ultraboss a few times in a summer as well. Also read directions carefully and follow exactly.
And last, I put out fly traps and sticky paper, low, in the shade, and in the barn to catch adults that do make it here.
This sounds like a lot, but it's basically getting it all on in early spring, then spreading out predators once a month after that. I had written an article a few years ago about fly prevention, but it's time to update and do it again.
Now is the time. PREVENT rather than react to fly attacks. All of my donkeys are always out without ever being bothered by flies and they don't have to wear stuff that bothers them or chafes them, or get sprayed on the daily. Much happier way to live :) And easier for the human too. It does cost some $, but worth it.
hi! We raise miniature donkeys in NW Oklahoma. They are very sweet and lovable and make great pets and companions.
