Adding Talc to feed help prevent fire ants?

[edible_chicken]

I am at my wits end. I cannot keep fire ants out of the feed and coop. They are only in there because of the feed. I used insecticide around the coop/run and it has kept down the number of fire ants, but they are still in the feed. I added DE to the coop/area and into feed, but did not do a thing. So I threw talc powder around the area (but not in the feed) and so far it has worked the best. It helped a lot to cut down number of fire ants, but still hasn't kept them out of the feed. So I am wanting to add talc to the feed, but i do not know how much i should add. googling reveled that producers add 2% talc to feed for broilers to increase weight and improve growth-feed ration. So if i can get pure talc, how much can i add to make it effective in keeping out fire ants but also safe for the chickens?

 

[Caribear]

Hi neighbor! I'm not too far from Greenville myself.

I can't help you with the talc, but there's a product called Orange TKO that's supposed to be awesome at killing/repelling fire ants. It is all natural too. And I think that regular old orange oil would work as well. We use an orange/vinegar spray for ants, but we don't have them nearly as bad as you seem to.

 

[edible_chicken]

Howdy! Actually, I now live in york, south carolina. Just moved here in june. Never had a problem raising my chickens in ohio, but in SC it is a completely different ballgame! the fire ants are so bad here i am spending all of the money i make from the chickens to control the fire ants! i have been using baby powder around the coop and it has been working well. i want to try talc (fragrance free) in feed to see if it will help keep the fire ants out. DE didn't work at all.

does TSC sell Orange TKO?

 

[Caribear]

I'm not sure if they do or not. I've gotten it off Amazon in the past, but I don't know about local sources.
I hope you're enjoying your new home, aside from the fire ants!

 

[chfite]

If you can set your feeder in something that holds water, the water will keep the ants out. If it has legs, cups of water for the legs to sit in. A tub style feeder can be set into a larger pan that holds water.

Chris