| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Judith |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 8:28:03 PM
Has anyone ever had an alpaca that drew flies like steel shavings to a magnet? I have a yearling male whose spine is always black with houseflies; they swarm around him like he was road kill (ick!). There is no wound or open skin along the back, no scent that I can tell, nothing unusual about him other than his fineness which seems to trap flies in his fleece. When he came in tonight, the cloud of flies around him was like being in a swarm of mosquitos. While they dispersed as soon as he entered the barn, his back was still covered with them until I brushed them off (and picked some out of his fiber). I dribbled some cream bug stuff along the topline and that seemed to prevent them from returning. Very strange, though. I've never had one so attractive to flies. Any suggestions?
Judith Korff
AlpacaNation Forum Co-Moderator
LadySong Farm Bolivian Suri Alpacas
Randolph, NY 14772
Cell: (716) 499-0383
www.alpacanation.com/ladysong.asp |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| maryk |
Posted - 07/30/2012 : 10:27:55 AM
Judith, have you found something that works to control the flies? Which methods have you used and which ones work? |
| rgoss1 |
Posted - 06/18/2012 : 11:31:07 PM
I've used garlic for a couple of years. I actually use it year round because its suppose to make the gut less inhabitable for parasites. I purchase a large container at Sams Club for $24.00. I've got 27 alpacas and I just throw a handful of the garlic in and then mix it well with their grain. I do this 2 -3 times a week.
Good Luck!
Roxanne Goss
Lands End Alpacas LLC
Vermilion, Ohio
440-225-4138
e-mail:gossr@roadrunner.com
website: www.landsendalpacafarm.com |
| garyw965 |
Posted - 06/17/2012 : 1:13:01 PM
What about Costco you can buy a large container that holds 21 ounces. I don't know if that will be enough for your use but a start. |
| BeachRunFarm |
Posted - 06/15/2012 : 8:32:01 PM
For those who use garlic granules; how much do you use in their feed? Also, I suppose you buy it in bulk; where can you get it?
Thanks so much. Sounds like a really good idea.
Patricia |
| pawsnpaca |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 12:32:30 PM
Just to clarify... the vinegar/garlic/water combination was for a topical spray - not to feed it to them (although there's evidence that vinegar in the drinking water may help too!).
Lisa Cadieux
Wit's End Farm Alpacas
Rochester, NH
603-335-2831
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| pawsnpaca |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 12:28:58 PM
Hi Judith - if you try the garlic you may need to give it a few weeks to build up in his tissues before you see results. I haven't heard of it being used for flies (more for ticks and fleas) so I'll be curious to know if you think it works.
FWIW - this year a lot of farms in our area found ticks on their animals during shearing. This was the first time in the 8+ years I've had alpacas that ticks were found. The farm where I board helped with several other shearings and all but one had a tick issue. Interestingly, the farm that didn't have issues was the only one that was adding garlic granules to their alpacas diet!
Another thought... I was researching natural flea/tick repellants for my dogs and found a site recommending a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, with a clove or two of garlic steeped in the water before it was mixed up with the vinegar. I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but it would be easy thing to throw together and see what the flies think of it! 
Lisa Cadieux
Wit's End Farm Alpacas
Rochester, NH
603-335-2831
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| Judith |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 06:56:07 AM
I'll have to give the garlic a try. I did apply some stuff last night just because it was so horrible; I'll see this morning whether it had any effect on him (it was Off! Botanicals, which I've never used on an animal before. I grabbed it thinking it was a form of Skin-so-Soft that I'd left in the barn. It did get rid of the flies last night, but I'll see if that remains the case).
Judith Korff
AlpacaNation Forum Co-Moderator
LadySong Farm Bolivian Suri Alpacas
Randolph, NY 14772
Cell: (716) 499-0383
www.alpacanation.com/ladysong.asp |
| Mary Jane |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 10:28:14 PM
We have an older gelding who has always attracted flies for some reason. We just make sure he has extra spray on his body and use a rag to wipe the spray on his face & ears. Some people say that feeding garlic helps keep the flies away. You might try mixing a little garlic powder in his feed and see what happens. We don't feed grain to the males/geldings daily, or I'd try it with our guy.
Mary Jane
Land of Legends Alpacas
2653 Swans Road
Newark, OH 43055
(740)345-2199
www.alpacanation.com/landoflegends.asp |
| Judith |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 9:40:29 PM
I've used Endure in the past when the flies got bad, but we don't normally have a fly problem until mid- to late-summer. I'll have to see if there's any left in the bottle. I did smear on some cream herbal stuff that I had in the barn, and it seemed to keep the flies from re-settling after I brushed them off. Guess I'll see how he does overnight and what he looks like in the morning.
Judith Korff
AlpacaNation Forum Co-Moderator
LadySong Farm Bolivian Suri Alpacas
Randolph, NY 14772
Cell: (716) 499-0383
www.alpacanation.com/ladysong.asp |
| Doubletake Farm |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 9:25:56 PM
I don't have an answer as to why he's attracting flies, but I really like Endure fly spray (TSC). It's expensive-$23 a bottle, but it works really well. I cover their eyes when I spray their heads.
Or maybe you should strap a guinea hen to his back 
Kimberly Brummitt
Doubletake Farm
Orwell, Ohio
330.766.0152
www.alpacanation.com/doubletakefarm
alpacas@doubletakefarm.com
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