Ants, Ants, Ants

[bamdim]

Help!!! have never seen so many ants in my coop. I have a hen on eggs. They don't seem to be in the nest box but everywhere else. I have sprayed with soapy water but they're right back.

 

[jtbrown]

Try food grade DE (diatemaceous earth). Mix it in with beddding, at baseboards etc. It did seem to slow down the parade in my chicken run, but if it gets wet, it loses it's special DE properties. Do a search and see if it is for you. You will see MANY MANY (did I say MANY?) pros and cons on using this product. But it is nonpoisonous and takes only a little protection for keeping it from dusting around too much for you AND your chickens. I bought mine on Amazon (good place to make sure getting food grade) and able to buy smaller quantities to "try" it before you invest more than 10-15 dollars in it.

Hope this helps. Also, if they are all along border of coop, I have good luck with those little outside ant "hotels" that are kid proof and I hope chicken proof, but I would worry about your little birds if they did break in to one. Just some thoughts, good luck. Remember, you will get people that LOVE and HATE DE but it may be worth a try.

 

[bamdim]

Try food grade DE (diatemaceous earth). Mix it in with beddding, at baseboards etc. It did seem to slow down the parade in my chicken run, but if it gets wet, it loses it's special DE properties. Do a search and see if it is for you. You will see MANY MANY (did I say MANY?) pros and cons on using this product. But it is nonpoisonous and takes only a little protection for keeping it from dusting around too much for you AND your chickens. I bought mine on Amazon (good place to make sure getting food grade) and able to buy smaller quantities to "try" it before you invest more than 10-15 dollars in it.

Hope this helps. Also, if they are all along border of coop, I have good luck with those little outside ant "hotels" that are kid proof and I hope chicken proof, but I would worry about your little birds if they did break in to one. Just some thoughts, good luck. Remember, you will get people that LOVE and HATE DE but it may be worth a try.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. You have a lot of mouths to feed. What are your favorite chickens?

 

[jtbrown]

I have to say, I love them all. The bantums, especially my Old English game birds are so sweet, and little. The EE have a special place because I had always wanted the blue eggs, the productions are sweet, and good layers. The barred rocks add pattern. . . The buckeyes are a cool heritage bird . . . Do you see how I ended up with so many? We have plenty of room, so I added them as I discovered them. As time goes by, I will possibly focus on certain breeds, but for now really love the look of the diverse flock.

I love that this hobby allows me to at least partially (mostly on good weeks) pay for itself with the eggs. I haven't gotten in to breeding them, for now, its enough to enjoy my colorful, egg producing flock. Free ranging really cuts feed costs too.

Good luck with you ants!