[SophieLeeds]

Sheared our lot on Saturday morning, and did Clik straight after (they're fell sheep so I do what I can whilst I can!). All looked great, in good condition and no flies to be seen.

Last night I went in the field to check on them all, and when they came up to me they were surrounded by flies  A few were landing on their sides etc, but mostly seemed to be swarming around them. It is very warm here (currently 16 degrees) and I topped the fields two weeks ago because the grass was running away from them. There's no boggy land etc in the fields. Has anyone else noticed high numbers of flies in the last couple of days?

Do I need to be concerned about flystrike? Is this a sign that the Clik has been completely ineffective? It was a brand new bottle this year and I know I've applied enough and got a good coverage.

The sheep didn't seem overly bothered by the flies, but is there anything else I can do to keep them away? Worried that now my only option is to keep a keen eye out, and treat with Crovect once one gets infected? I wouldn't like to double dose them with the Clik, and there's little point if it's not worked anyway!

Feel like the Clik has attracted them rather than repelled them 

[Herdygirl]

At this time of year sheep other animals and flies go together!  it's the blue and green bottles you have to watch out for and we noticed that they hadn't come out yet.  We crovected our sheep last night and were surrounded before and after doing them.  Bloody awful work, but pour/spray on doesn't attract them.

[Marches Farmer]

Doesn't matter if the flies lay, it's whether the pour-on inhibits hatching.  The humid weather will lead to an explosion in fly numbers (seen our first horse flies here too). 

[Hellybee]

Like the others have said your looking fora fly the size of a bluebottle but with green back. 

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/flies/lucilia_sericata.htm

[in the hills]

We were also concerned last night as one of our ewes seemed to be behaving 'oddly'. All the flock seemed 'jumpy' and 'twitchy' though. They are bucket trained but wouldn't come in so not a lot that we could do. They are roo'd and treated with Crovect. Same thing here ..... lots of flies/insects around them.

The 'bottle' flies are about here because we found a hedgehog at the weekend covered in them. It died despite being taken to vets. The flies around the sheep seem to be smaller ones so hoping they are just irritated by them.

They won't come in this morning either so can't have a proper look at them.    Seem okay but just want to stay in the shade .... don't seem too happy about the heat and insects. Keeping a careful eye on them and hoping it cools down soon. 

[SophieLeeds]

The flies weren't bluebottles so sounds like I'm in the clear 

Glad I've not got to spend another eight hours rounding them all up just yet! Will continue to monitor them

Thanks all

[Hellybee]

If they have a metallic green back they're the troublesome ones

[SallyintNorth]

We get headflies here.  They aren't green-backed but they can be so bothersome they cause the sheep - especially the lambs - to rub their heads, often causing some bleeding.  The flies then feed on the blood.  The sheep can get so miserable with this that they lie down in reshes or a cool shaded spot, and don't feed.  So if we have a problem in one batch, we put a tiny spray of Crovect on the heads of the lambs and any ewes which have horn stubs and/or any sign of bleeding, which does stop the flies bothering them.

[SavageU]

OP can I ask about the topping of the field?

Is this to make sure it gets eaten off as opposed to too much tall grass for not enough sheep? Experiencing similar!