Ants all over?

[rhodeislandred1]

I literally see ants crawling out of their bowll in the coop and carrying food. How can i get rid of those pesky ants?

 

[TTracy]

You could use Diatomaceous Earth (often referred to as "DE"). Its a natural pesticide. I believe you could add it to their feed.
Here are some links with some info on it
http://www.richsoil.com/diatomaceous-earth.jsp

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/food-grade-de-diatomaceous-earth


Good luck to you!!

 

[rhodeislandred1]

So i can just put that powder anywhere and my chickens will stay safe?

 

[enola]

When the bowl is empty the chickens will get hungry. The ants will disappear one peck at a time.

Hungry chickens develope a taste for ants.

 

[TTracy]

Yeah, its ok for them to eat it. Some people say thats its actually good for chickens and can be used as a natural wormer.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: They say it, but it's not true.
The easiest way to solve your ant problem LONG TERM is use a hanging feeder so they can't get in

 

[coffeychicks]

Ants are extra protein for chickens lol ok maybe not but my girls love to find an ant nest

 

[rhodeislandred1]

will DE also get rid of the flies?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

will DE also get rid of the flies?

It might help a little by DRYING things up, but it won't kill enough of them to make a real difference.
The best way to control flies is to control moisture and odor

 

[3chickchicks]

Put it within a pale of water so it's like a mote.

Or sprinkle a ring of DE around it.

A few of my girls love ants. They've even made ant piles change locations. There was one by my porch and the girls would head straight for it, scratch in it to get the ants running and slurp them up.