Flies and my poor rabbit - help please!

begley

Our rabbit is in a hutch with a large run underneath it, which is on our patio (for ease of cleaning). She tends to poo outside(we sweep it up every day), and as soon as the warm weather comes is plagued by flies. It's awful, I've just been to give her some parsley and a cloud of flies flew out her run. I'm worried about fly strike and maggots, and it's not pleasant sitting on the patio with so many flies. I've tried burning a citronella candle on her hutch but it didn't make a scrap of difference. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do? Poor bunny is in her hutch, grumpy, when she could be sunbathing!! Thank you.

begley

Right, I've just made a fly trap using an old glass jar, some vinegar and sugar. I don't hold out much hope, but I'll post back progress! Hehe, I'm talking to myself in my own thread!!

EHL123

When our rabbit used to live outside we would staple fly mesh to the panels of her hutch and run in the summer. It was actually a cut up mosquito net so cost next to nothing, but you can buy mesh specifically for outdoors too and this would probably last longer. It'll keep all the bugs out but won't interfere with air circulation or her view! Our girl lives indoors now but I'll still be putting some up over her window in the summer. It also has the added benefit of cooling the hutch a bit, as it blocks 20% of the sun's rays (still enough to sunbathe though!)

http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/search/product/Garden+Netting_Ground+Cover+and+Mulching+Fabrics/GDN-018.htm

I would also recommend getting Rearguard for her, one application will last weeks and it'll prevent fly strike. You can get it online or at your vets (I think they may do a version in PAH now too).

And finally, lavender is an excellent insect repellant so a few pots around her run will help.

Hope this helps

begley

That's brilliant. Thank you so much. I'll be ordering some mesh or a mosquito net for her! Fab!

tango

Please please keep an eye on this I lost a rabbitt to fly strike and it was awful ...:(

paddypaws101

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__red+top+fly+trap_W0QQ_dmdZ2?rvr_id=225458045479&crlp=6041544397_228459_228459&UA=WXS%3F&GUID=3a1728df12b0a47a26539f43ff8f5eba&agid=1851447997&tm_kw=red+top+fly+trap&siteid=3&MT_ID=10&tt_encode=raw&keyword=red+top+fly+trap&geo_id=21&ff4=228459_228459
Try this positioned at the far end of the garden away from house and seating areas as it stinks....but it works really well to gather flies and kill them off.

Magic_Sister

tango wrote: »

Please please keep an eye on this I lost a rabbitt to fly strike and it was awful ...:(

So did I and it was truly awful :-(

tankgirl1

Flystrike is horrific I would strongly advise rearguard - only available from vets, but worth it!

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Novartis_Animal_Health_UK_Ltd/documents/S3497.html