I have an ant problem. Because it's hot right now, all the ants are going straight for my chickens' and rabbit's water sources. I've tried using an organic, plant based repellent/ant killer around the chicken coop and rabbit enclosure but to no avail. I even tried cinnamon all around the coop and, while they were gone for a few days, they came back with a vengeance. I've heard that I could use day old coffee and a little bit of dish soap around the chickens and they would be fine and ant free. But does it really work? Because I don't want to have to go and spray RAID around their coop and leave them roaming the dog run/garden until it dries. And I have no access to borax or whatever it is (someone has already suggested that to me). So what can I use around the chickens that won't be harmful but will get rid of the ants and keep them away? Same for the rabbit. What can I use around her enclosure and possibly on her hutch to get rid of the ants and keep them away that won't be harmful to her? Any advice is always welcome. Please and thank you. I just really don't want to have to keep fighting these ants or just leave them alone either. If I could make the entire backyard ant-free, that would be amazing, but I'll start small for now.
I would try food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in the areas where the ants are. It is safe for chickens and will kill most ants and insects.
There is a product I use called bifen. It's safe to use around pets and animals. It is also safe around chickens as long as the area sprayed is allowed to dry before the chickens have contact with it. Bugs killed with bifen will not harm chickens if eaten. Bifen is highly toxic to fish. It should not be used around ponds or other aquatic life. It is also toxic to bees. I spray it around and inside the house. it keeps all bugs away, and if they should happen to sneak over the threshold, I usually find them dead within a short period of time. I will track ants down and spray their mounds. Within 24 hours, an active nest looks like a ghost town. It is best applied with one of those hand pump sprayers. This is the same stuff my professional exterminator used at my restaurant. I hope this helps. Many places sell it online. This is just one with a lot of info as well as Q&A's http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/bifen-it-p-226.html
