Got a fly problem around your coop and run? Here’s a solution you’re going to have to try to believe. It’s inexpensive and effective: vanilla scented automotive air fresheners. You heard it right: vanilla Christmas trees. 
I do not claim to know WHY they repel flies, but I can attest that they do. Deploy an army of them liberally around your coop and run where they will remain relatively dry for maximum efficiency and economy. I use 9 of them at a time.
Personally, I don’t just want the flies to relocate (eg: migrate up to my house or garage), I want them GONE, so I use two Trap & Toss® fly disposable traps, one near each coop. I buy the traps at Tractor Supply for about five bucks each. Be forewarned: these traps contain the fetid stench of a thousand garbage cans containing raw meat, locked in an air-tight garage during a month-long heatwave. You really don’t want to spill this putresence (or stand near it, for that matter). Somehow the flies prefer to the smell of death to vanilla. Go figure.
Here’s my most recent testimonial to the effectiveness of these little yellow trees. After having given my chickens an entire watermelon, cut into pieces, I left the rinds scattered about the yard overnight. Tactical error to be sure. By morning, flies had descended upon my backyard with a fury. I rolled out the Vanilla Scented Tree Army and by that afternoon, the flies were gone. True story. Try it yourself and let me know how it works for you!
Kathy Shea Mormino
Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on
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Got a fly problem around your coop and run? Here’s a solution you’re going to have to try to believe. It’s inexpensive and effective: vanilla scented automotive air fresheners. You heard it right: vanilla Christmas trees.
I do not claim to know WHY they repel flies, but I can attest that they do. Deploy an army of them liberally around your coop and run where they will remain relatively dry for maximum efficiency and economy. I use 9 of them at a time.
Personally, I don’t just want the flies to relocate (eg: migrate up to my house or garage), I want them GONE, so I use two Trap & Toss® fly disposable traps, one near each coop. I buy the traps at Tractor Supply for about five bucks each. Be forewarned: these traps contain the fetid stench of a thousand garbage cans containing raw meat, locked in an air-tight garage during a month-long heatwave. You really don’t want to spill this putresence (or stand near it, for that matter). Somehow the flies prefer to the smell of death to vanilla. Go figure.
Here’s my most recent testimonial to the effectiveness of these little yellow trees. After having given my chickens an entire watermelon, cut into pieces, I left the rinds scattered about the yard overnight. Tactical error to be sure. By morning, flies had descended upon my backyard with a fury. I rolled out the Vanilla Scented Tree Army and by that afternoon, the flies were gone. True story. Try it yourself and let me know how it works for you!
just wanted to let you know I did end up getting vanilla trees instead of the others…the trees work! I've had them up for a few weeks now… they still smell good and no flies! Amazing! So anyone else wondering…be sure to get the brand that are trees! :)
I suppose there are worse things your chicken run could smell like than Twizzlers! lol
I tried vanilla scented air fresheners but that didn't work. :( Maybe it has to be the trees? I tried a different brand (they were leaves) and it didn't smell very vanilla-ish…more like twizzlers. LOL. I'm going to try some trees.
I put the trap and toss in the coop and I trapped ONE fly. Gonna try these yellow christmas trees next.
I will give his a shot for sure. I have only just developed a small fly issue in my run, maybe from all of the rain we have been getting. I do not leave any veggies or fruit in my run except for the odd swinging cabbage ball.