


Links in this section are " affiliate links", which means that if you click and buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Which is why, even though it doesn't bite, the common fly is no good either for you or for your flock.

The diseases it spreads has been proven to range from dysentry and cholera in humans to Newcastle disease, E.coli and salmonella in chickens ( 2, 3, 4 ). While it's there laying its eggs, pathogens (diseased matter) from the original source - let's say your fly had been on some dog poop - will be regurgitated or excreted from the fly onto your food. Horse flies and deer flies do, but not house flies.Ī house fly transmits disease in a different way. Do house flies bite?Ĭontrary to what you'll see on some websites, house flies do not bite. So a fly which has been on animal poop a few minutes ago will have no problem about depositing bacteria and laying its eggs on your unrefrigerated food. They're particularly fond of decaying matter, so they'll use garbage, manure, compost, and any kind of animal waste. So the fly will lay on any surface which is damp to the touch. In order for the eggs to hatch, they must remain warm and moist. There are four stages in a fly's life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult ( 2 ). One fly can very quickly become an infestation. Which is why they need to be stopped quickly. And the eggs hatch within between just eight and twelve hours. So, potentially almost a thousand eggs from just one fly. The average house fly ( musca domestica) can live for up to 28 days - not long, you might think.Įxcept that during that time, they reproduce by laying at least five or six batches of eggs, each containing between 75 and 150 eggs ( 1 ). We can protect your rabbit from Flystrike by using an insecticide twice yearly, please contact us to arrange this for your rabbit.How long do flies live, where do they come from and how do they reproduce? Flystrike is extremely painful and requires prompt veterinary treatment. If the flies lay eggs onto to rabbits coat, the developing maggots will eat away at the rabbits skin. If a rabbit is unable to reach and clean around it’s rear end, it can lead to a build up of faeces which can attract flies. Vaccinations will be required annually to maintain protection from the diseases. The virus can be spread by flies from wild rabbits to your pets both in and outdoor rabbits can be infected. To keep your bunny healthy we recommend vaccinating them against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic disease (VHD) both diseases can be fatal. In male rabbits, castration prevents aggressive behaviour and inappropriate mounting of objects. In female rabbits, this prevents uterine tumours and can greatly reduce the chances of mammary tumours developing. This is the least important part of the diet, and only a small handful should be given daily. We recommend pellet food as rabbits can become fussy with other foods and pick out the bits they like and leave the rest. Rabbits should also be fed a small amount of pre-packaged rabbit food in the form of pellets. Fruits should be avoided as they are very sugary. All of these foods should be washed before being fed to your rabbit. Rabbits can also be fed green leafy foods and vegetables, such as cabbage, chard, parsley, watercress, broccoli, basil, carrot, brambles, and dandelions. Rabbits that are not fed enough hay will often encounter problems with overgrown teeth later in life, which can be very difficult to resolve. Rabbits should be allowed to eat as much hay and grass as their teeth continually grow and so hay is vitally important to keep them worn down. In winter try to cover your rabbits water bottle with material such as a sock to stop the water freezing and in the summer ensure their water is cool and in the shade.Ī rabbits top front teeth grow at a rate of 3mm a week! The most important part of a rabbits diet is hay, alongside fresh grass. Female rabbits will tolerate each other, but un-castrated male rabbits can be aggressive towards each other.Īlways ensure that there is fresh clean water available for your rabbit. Animals from the same litter will normally get on well, but any pair that are newly introduced must be monitored closely.
