Horse Farm Systems – Insect And Bird Control

Vectors are flying insects like stable flies and mosquitos which not only annoy us and our horses but they also carry and distribute diseases.  Birds soil our barn structures, dive at us when we get too close to the nest they have built in the rafters and also can carry disease (EPM).  I have only included flying things as pest control (ground animals) are usually offered through professional services (bait stations, ant contraceptives) that are not part of farm systems.

See what others have done.  I did see a farm that used an electronic bird calling system (not pictured in the gallery).  It was supposed to emit noises of predator birds threatening the birds invading the barn.  While a good idea, the owner admitted it didn’t work.  Also the installation of fake owls in the barn is supposed to work but I don’t think it works that well.  Birds aren’t stupid.

Here is a thought that may be liked by the lazy.  Cobwebs are great insect control.  Allowing the spiders to keep down the insect population actually seems to work.  The look of a dirty barn ceiling seems to be offensive to many barn owners so this is a tough idea for them.  But for the owners too busy to clean the cobwebs – perfect excuse to continue the lack of effort.

Other ideas:

Fly bait seems to help a lot in fly control.  Spreading it on the floor and in bait stations will knock down the population.

Insect spray systems that pump insecticide from nozzles in the ceiling work but fill the air with “barn perfume” which I personally don’t like to work in.  Once a clogged nozzle I was working under dripped the “all-natural” insecticide onto the back of my neck.  In about an hour I was dizzy and walked like a drunk.  It only stopped this effect after a shower.  Another time I inhaled it while working on a horse breathing out their DMSO (a carrier often given IV to horses for acute inflammation). The DMSO carried the fly spray into my lungs where I became dizzy and walked drunk again.  This time an hour of fresh air cleared things up.  Question – is inhaling this stuff in a stall day after day really good for all horses?

High velocity fans seem to be the best fly control.  Horses stand under them and fall asleep. These get my vote as the best vector control during fly season.

The best fly control EVER!

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