Remember when flies didn't bother us and we didn't need homemade fly spray? Wait. That wasn't us. That was Adam and Eve.
Yes, I think of those times… when Adam was in the Garden, milking his sweet Jersey cow, frolicking in meadows of green grass, squirting milk into his perfectly clean pail (I'll bet she didn't ever kick at him either) and enjoying those sweet, blissful moments of complete peace.
Can you even imagine?
Unfortunately, that time of complete communion with nature passed. Sharks eat people. Zucchinis die from squash bugs. And flies reek so much havoc during milking time, it's enough to drive a dairy cow (and her milker… and her pantless bucket carrier…) mad.
MAD I TELL YOU! Hence the homemade fly spray.
The Problems With Commercial Fly Sprays
Last summer while we were milking Sally, the flies eventually got so dang bad (no matter how many of these or these that we put up) that we finally broke down and bought commercial fly spray. It worked.
…but then, the next day, her milk tasted hoooorible. Baaaaad. (I'm stretching out the words to let you know just how disgusting it tasted. Like thiiiiiiiis bad.)
Realizing that her diet hadn't changed, we thought… maybe, just maybe, it was the fly spray. So we stopped using it. And in a days time, the milk went back to it's normal, creamy, delicious self. Fluke? Maybe? Let's try again. Because obviously I have a thick skull and it's very difficult for me to retain information.
Once again, we used the fly spray. And once again, after about a day, the milk was undrinkable. Bleh. Plew. Gah. (I don't know how to type out gross sounds.)
I'm sorry… does this freak anyone else out? What on earth is in this stuff that could seep into her body and cause such a reaction? I bet it was pure poison. Poison, I tell you! I won't pretend to know what's in a commercial fly spray- because I don't. But I do know it was tainting my milk.
Eek. No thank you. Homemade fly spray, please!
The Perks Of Homemade Fly Spray
While homemade fly spray may not be as nuclear as commercial fly spray, I've gotta admit – of the five different recipes I tried and mixed, this one wins HANDS DOWN.
My not-so-crunchy husband was astounded at how well it worked. (I love it when that happens. Muah ha ha.) We use it twice a day – spraying Sal and Lyle down in the morning and again at night, at milking.
My favorite part about this homemade fly spray is that it utilizes the natural power of essential oils to be effective. There are certain compounds that flies don't like, man. So I'm exploiting their weakness and harnessing the natural power of… well, nature.
Homemade Fly Spray
You will need:
– Spray bottle
– 3 cups raw apple cider vinegar
– 1 cup mineral oil
– Half a bottle of TerraShield essential oil blend (I buy in bulk HERE). I've tried loads of different brands and combinations and this one is by the far the more effective. The cart of oils I put together above includes a wholesale account where all future purchases will receive the wholesale pricing as well.
Combine the ingredients together in the squirt bottle and gently shake to combine.
Well now, that wasn't very complicated – was it? Almost no work at all. And considering the cats, dogs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, sheep, pigs, and little humans all need to be fed, I'd say less work at this very moment may be a very good thing.
While I'm running around doing chores this morning, I think I'll dream of what life was like for Adam and Eve in the Garden. I bet there wasn't nearly as much poop involved in their days as is involved with mine.
And flies.
Lucky ducks.
And Amen.
Do your ducks help at all?
I went to your suggested site to buy the TerraShield essential oil blend but am not clear what the SIZE of the bottle is. Your recipe calls for 1/2 bottle…. You mentioned bulk pricing available but it’s also not clear how I check out to be certain you are credited etc.
Thanks
I was wondering the same thing. Half of a 15 ml bottle?
I just tie my cow’s tail up to the door she stands by while milking with baling twine. It works great! No more swats on my face:)
Eeek! The thought of those chemicals being so potent that they’re seeping into your milk is so unsettling, it makes me worry about the health of you AND your cows! Sounds like natural fly spray is the way to go for a variety of reasons. Thank you for the recipe, I’ll be sure to share it around!
Could this spray be used on humans?
Yes, it can.
The essential oils leave no taste in the milk then?
I wonder if your homemade spray will work on mosquitoes? Any thoughts on that?
Yes, it will help.
Hi Shaye, about a month ago I tried to open your link to the purchase of the essential oils mix that you talk about being so effective as a fly spray. Unless I did something incorrectly it appears as though I was supposed to become a member or dealer of DoTerra essential oils. Is there a way that I can buy it without the membership?
I’d like to try it out first before committing to an additional charge. Thanks much. Gregory
I’m going to try this! What is the “repellent blend essential oil”? Is that the TerraShield brand?
Yes, it is TerraShield.
What is in it?
Found the answer myself:Key Ingredients
Ylang Ylang Flower
Nootka Wood
Cedarwood Wood
Catnip Plant
Lemon Eucalyptus Leaf
Litsea Fruit
Arborvitae Wood
Vanilla Bean Absolute
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Tamanu Seed
That is NOT terrashield ingredients
Sesame oil
Citronella oil
Lemongrass oil
Thyme oil
Cedarwood oil
Geranium oil
And peppermint oil
Can you use any normal essential oils or does it have to be terrashield
I would most definitely use terrashield way more pure and you wont need as much sense its a stronger blend.
Thank you! We have the bags hanging on the patio, and that seems to work for us, but the flys around the pens are horrible and we like to use anything natural we can.
I just found your blog and really enjoy it!…really brings me back to the days when all our kids were little…those days go by way too fast! Now the ‘baby’is a not so little 10 years old already! Sad! Good thing for grands! Love those babies…you are so Blessed!
So would you spray this on yourself or just the area outside where you will be? I have lots of flies around my house. Thanks
What would be a fair amount to charge for this? I am doterra advocate and make my own vinegar from kombucha?
Well, after I posted my comment, your recipe came up. I can not find your repellent blend though. What is that recipe? Or, where can I find that recipe?
This is doTERRA’s Terrashield blend!
In the horse world, fly parasites are used a lot to control flies. They work great. Just another method that might work for you.
I have read several places that the smell is strong when using apple cider vinegar and I have a particularly sensitive nose. Do the essential oils cover up the smell….. or is it rather pungent?
Think it would work on bees and wasp’s?
Probably not? I’m not sure. I’ve never tried it for that!
I have beef cattle how long will this be effective? How often do I need to spray.
Is this fly spray safe to use on horses?
I wasn’t sure if it could be sprayed on horses but after seeing loads around her I thought it would b worth a try. 2 wasps landed on her and instantly flew away
Hi
Will this spray work on ticks on cattle
I was interested in your fly spray but when I click on the ‘GET HELP HERE” it does not come up but with the page on essential oils. I live in high desert of AZ. I do not have internet where I live, but come into town to see my son and use it there. So if you could email me some information on these oils I would appreciate it. When I get back to town I will check it.
After the monsoons started the fly problem in the chicken coop is getting bad and on the pigs. I was hoping to use something that would not cause me who has environmental asthma after living in CA for 2 years taking care of Dear Mother In Law. So was hoping that this spray would not bother me or my chickens and pigs.
Also where to purchase essential oils.
Thank You
Hi Nina! I emailed you! 🙂
I cannot afford doterra oils. Can you please give me a comparison drop that oil, to more common essential oils? We live in th sw Arizona (desert). Our pigs, cows, horses, chicken coup, and humans have a tremendous problem with. Flies & mosquitos. I desperately need you to email me please. I truly appreciate it so very much!
I am not sure… but I would concider Eucalyptus & TeaTree….
How do you use this? Spray the animals, yourself or the air around you?
How long will this stay good? I’m so happy I found y’all!! Thank you so much! 🙂
Have you tried this in your home, like around the window frames and door frames or anywhere really? We had a huge fly problem last year and they are creeping back already! I am going to try to stay ahead of them this year and will be trying this but wondered if you had tried it.
Hello! We have horrible flies around our house. In curious if you tried around your doors & windows & if it helped. I’m desperate!lol
I was curious about the use of apple cider vinegar in your spray to keep flies off, because ACV is what I use to attract flies in my fly catcher. How does it repel them?
Most essential oils have labels that say not to use of pregnant or nursing a baby. Is this safe to use on mares with a colt on the side and in foal ?
I have 3 miniature horses and chickens. Can I spray that mix directly on my horses or rub on their coats? And is it safe to spray in my coop? Thanks…😁
What size bottle terrashield?
Where do you find Terra’s Terrashield brand. Walmart ?
hi im from England and don’t no were to get or what is TerraShield ? could u recokenmend anythink eles that can kill flys pls I cant seem to get reed of my fly in my kitchen and don’t understand were there coming from iv got no bad food anywere in my kitchen no bad smells just don’t get it they are all over my lights the one that is turned off just don’t get it if they are like this no what they going to be like in summer pls pls any one help me all iv got is vinger lemon dish soap onions can any of them help thank u
Hi. Thank you for sharibg your recipe. I just wonder why it has to be mineraloil… would coconutoil or any seed-oil work too?
Thank you for your answer…
I’ve used your fly spray recipe on my alpacas for years and just came back to the site to make up a new batch. I like that you’ve updated it a bit and think the mineral oil will help it stay on much better than the soap! Everyone in our 4H club always asks for the recipe because it smells so good.
On a side note, I’m loving your new podcast. We grow for local markets and I was harvesting 30 lbs of rhubarb the other day and getting ready to put in a flat of sun gold cherry tomatoes as I was listening to the episode that was talking about both! So fun! Thanks for keeping me entertained while I work…and for the fly spray recipe! 🙂
May I use this on my goats? How often do you spray them?
I used olive oil. My poor milk cow was absolutely covered in horn flies. I sprayed her with this solution and the flies left her immediately. They would come back, land and take off just as quickly. They did not like it at all. I sprayed her down real good then checked her 2 hrs later and she was still good., I mean there may have been a couple but that us nothing to what she had been dealing with. The next morning she was still clear of flies, but I gave her a few squirts anyway. THIS STUFF WORKS!! And the best part is I had all this on hand. I used peppermint oil as the essential oil.
The recipient I found before seeing this one called for
Apple cider vinegar
Mineral oil (said can substitute with olive oil, any kind of seed oil really it just helps the solution stick and not evaporate so quickly)
A small squeeze or two of dawn dish soap
20 drops of any of the following essential oils:
Peppermint
Rosemary
Basil
I am interested in your homemade fly spray but when I click on the wholesale option for the terrashield it leads me to a site that says it has expired. Could you tell me what size bottle you are using? I know you said 1/2 of the bottle but don’t know what size of the bottle you are using. Thank you. Look forward to hearing back from you.
– Alexis
I’m sorry to bother you again, but I am also needing to know how many drops are in your 1/2 bottle?