Homemade Livestock Fly Spray (Safe, Natural & Easy)

Homemade Livestock Fly Spray

Have you ever read the back of a livestock fly spray bottle? It’s enough to make you think twice. I don’t want those kinds of chemicals in my barn, let alone on cows that are producing food for my family.

At the same time, flies aren’t something you can just ignore. If you’ve ever tried milking with flies crawling all over your cow (and you), you know it’s not an option.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products we personally use and trust on our farm.

So I started looking for a more natural alternative, something that would actually help control flies without bringing harsh chemicals into our daily routine.

Essential oils have become our go-to for a homemade livestock fly spray. This is my second summer using them, and overall, I’ve been really happy with the results. I do have to apply it more often, but I’m more than willing to make that trade.

For us, it’s worth it to have a solution that feels safe to use around our cows, calves, and kids.

Healthy Cows Start From the Inside

Healthy cows start with more than keeping the flies away. Over the years, I’ve learned just how much minerals can affect everything from coat condition and reproduction to immune function and overall health. If you’re raising cattle, especially a family milk cow, this is one area I wouldn’t overlook.6

Read: Dairy Cow Mineral Deficiency Guide

But before you mix up a bottle of homemade fly spray, let’s talk about why I stopped buying the store-bought stuff in the first place.

Why I stopped using store-bought fly sprays

“Maybe harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.  Avoid inhaling vapors or spray mist. Avoid contact with skin eyes and clothing.  Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before drinking, chewing gum or tobacco. Remove contaminated clothing.  Wash all clothing before reuse.  Foods or food processing equipment should be removed or covered during treatment. Do not apply while food processing is underway. All food processing services should be thoroughly cleaned before using. Do not apply over uncovered milk or food products. Any exposed utensils or food handling surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned before use. Facilities and equipment and federally inspected meat and poultry plants must be washed with effective cleaning compound followed by a potable water rinse after spraying. Vacate premises after treatment.”
“If swallowed call the poison control center or doctor immediately for treatment advice.
If inhaled, move person to fresh air.  If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance and give artificial respiration preferably mouth-to-mouth if possible.”

I wanted something I felt comfortable using regularly, especially on the cows providing milk for my family.

I’ve always leaned toward simple, natural solutions when they make sense, and fly control is no different.

That’s where this homemade livestock fly spray comes in.

Homemade fly sprays can absolutely help, but they work differently than conventional chemical sprays.

• They repel flies rather than kill them.
• Sun, rain and time will wear them off.
• During heavy fly season, you’ll need to reapply them regularly.

I’ve used homemade fly spray on our livestock for years, and I don’t expect one application in the morning to keep every fly away until evening. That’s not how I use it.

During the worst part of fly season, I keep a bottle handy and spray my cows before milking or whenever the flies are especially bad. It becomes part of the normal rhythm of summer chores.

Essential oils such as peppermint, clove and rosemary have a long history of use in herbal preparations and natural insect control. I like that I can reach for plants and ingredients I recognize instead of something covered in warnings I don’t want around the animals providing food for my family.

But a homemade fly spray is still only one part of fly control. On our farm, we use it alongside manure management, clean bedding, good airflow and keeping the areas where our animals spend the most time as clean and dry as reasonably possible.

You aren’t going to eliminate every fly on a farm. The goal is to make summer a whole lot more comfortable for the animals and for the person trying to milk them.

10 Reasons Why You Need a Cow

Homemade Livestock Fly Spray Recipe

This blend uses a combination of time-tested essential oils known for deterring flies, mosquitoes, and other pests, along with glycerin to help the scent last a little longer on the animal.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon food-grade glycerin

Essential oils:

• 20 drops citronella
• 15 drops peppermint
• 10 drops clove
• 10 drops rosemary

Instructions

1. Add water and apple cider vinegar to a spray bottle
2. Stir in glycerin (this helps bind the oils and slows evaporation)
3. Add essential oils
4. Shake well before each use

---

How to Use

• Spray lightly on animals, avoiding eyes, nose, and open wounds
• Focus on legs, belly, and back where flies tend to gather
• Reapply as needed, especially in heat or direct sun

I spray my cows with Homemade Fly Spray before every milking.  This will keep the flies at bay and save me from trying to milk a irritated cow.  I double the recipe and make up a big batch using a 32ounce spray bottle.  During the heavy summer months, this will typically last me for 2 weeks.  Which isn’t bad, considering I have 6 cows that I’m spraying.

How Much Does a Family Milk Cow Cost? + Monthly Cost Calculator

Short on time?

If you don’t have everything on hand, a simple mix of:

• vinegar
• water
• a few drops of essential oil

will still help deter flies in a pinch.

Why These Ingredients Work

Citronella – Citronella is probably one of the best-known natural insect repellents. Most people associate it with mosquitoes, but its strong scent can also help deter flies and other flying pests.

Peppermint – Peppermint is one of my favorite multipurpose herbs around the homestead. Its strong scent makes it useful as a natural pest deterrent for flies, mosquitoes, mice and spiders. I also use peppermint around the garden, where it has traditionally been used to help deter a variety of unwanted insects.

Clove – Do you remember Grandma’s old trick of pushing whole cloves into an apple or orange and setting it on the picnic table to help keep flies away from the food? There was some wisdom in those old tricks.

Clove has a strong, spicy scent that flies don’t particularly appreciate, but that’s not the only reason I keep it around. Cloves have a long history in traditional herbalism and have been valued for generations for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and soothing properties. Clove is also a familiar ingredient in traditional herbal blends, including versions of what we now call Thieves oil.

I love ingredients like this because they aren’t some new invention. People were reaching for cloves long before we had an entire aisle of chemical sprays to choose from.

Rosemary – Rosemary is another time-honored herb that earns its keep around a homestead. Traditionally, rosemary has been valued for everything from its aromatic and antioxidant properties to topical herbal preparations. That same strong aroma also makes rosemary useful in natural pest-control blends, both around the barn and in the garden.

Glycerin – I use food-grade vegetable glycerin in this recipe to help the spray cling to the animal’s coat. I also keep glycerin around for homemade soaps and other DIY products, so it’s one of those ingredients that gets used for more than one thing around here.

The essential oils will still separate from the water-based ingredients, so always give your bottle a good shake before spraying.

A 16-ounce batch costs just a few dollars to make, making this an inexpensive, natural alternative to store-bought livestock fly sprays.

The Real Secret to Controlling Flies

This isn’t a “spray once and forget it” solution. I keep a bottle handy during fly season and use it as needed, especially before milking when a cow that is stomping, kicking and swatting flies with her tail makes everyone’s morning more interesting.

But fly spray is only one piece of the puzzle.

Over the years, I’ve found that some of the simplest things make the biggest difference:

• Stay on top of manure, especially around barns and loafing areas.
• Keep bedding as clean and dry as possible.
• Give barns and enclosed areas plenty of airflow.
• Apply fly spray when you know the cows will need it most, like before milking.
• Pay attention to the animal itself, including coat condition, overall health and proper mineral nutrition.

You aren’t going to eliminate every fly on a farm, and I don’t think that’s a realistic goal. I just want my cows comfortable enough to graze, rest and stand for milking without spending the entire day fighting flies.

That’s where this spray earns its place in my barn.

Dairy Cow Mineral Deficiency Guide

Common Mistakes With Homemade Fly Spray

Depending on fly spray while ignoring manure, wet bedding and other breeding areas

Expecting one application to last all day

Forgetting to shake the bottle before each use

Applying too little when fly pressure is heavy

Homemade Livestock Fly Spray FAQ

Does homemade fly spray really work on cattle?

Yes, but don’t expect it to work exactly like a conventional chemical fly spray. I use homemade fly spray regularly on our cows during fly season, especially before milking. It helps repel flies and makes the cows more comfortable, but it needs to be reapplied as needed.

How often should I apply homemade fly spray to my cows?

I apply it as needed throughout the day. During heavy fly season, I almost always spray before milking. Sun, rain and normal activity will eventually wear a natural spray off, so don’t expect one morning application to last all day.

Do I need to shake homemade fly spray before using it?

Yes. Essential oils naturally separate from the water-based ingredients in the bottle. Give it a good shake immediately before each use.

Can I use this homemade fly spray on a dairy cow?

That’s exactly what I use it for. I originally started making homemade fly spray because I wanted something I felt comfortable using regularly around the cows providing milk for our family. I avoid spraying the eyes, nose, mouth, udder and other sensitive areas.

Can I leave out one of the essential oils?

Yes. If you or your animal are sensitive to a particular oil, leave it out rather than simply replacing it with a larger amount of another essential oil. The blend may work a little differently, but I would rather adjust the recipe than use an ingredient that causes irritation.

Why is clove oil used in homemade fly spray?

Clove has a strong, spicy aroma and a long history of use in traditional herbalism and natural pest control. It’s one of my favorite ingredients in this recipe and one I regularly keep on hand around the homestead.

Can I make a larger batch?

Absolutely. I usually make a larger batch because I use it regularly during fly season. Just keep the same ingredient ratios and remember to shake the bottle well before every use.

Where should I store homemade livestock fly spray?

I keep mine somewhere convenient for chores but out of direct sunlight and excessive heat. A fly spray isn’t much help if it’s buried somewhere in the house when you’re standing in the barn with an irritated cow and a bucket of milk.

More From the Family Milk Cow Barn

• 

  Family Milk Cow FAQ for Beginners

• 

  A2A2 Milk: What Every Family Milk Cow Owner Should Know

• 

  How Much Land Does a Cow Need? A Practical Acreage Guide

• 

  Why Does My Cow’s Milk Taste Salty?

• 

  Family Milk Cow Mistakes: My Most Painful Lessons

• 

  Milking Machine Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It for a Family Milk Cow?

You might also find these helpful: