Ants in feeder

[Kaesi2020]

Hi everyone, we have six 8 week old chickens and just made a feeder out of pvc pipe in the bottom of the run. I notice more and more ants around the outside of the pvc pipe and it seems like they probably have access to the feed inside then? Is this a big issue? Anyone have this problem and find a way to mitigate it? Here is a picture of the feeder. Thanks!!

 

[darkbaysfordays]

Are the ants inside the coop or outside the coop? I would imagine they'd get eaten by your chicks inside.

 

[Kaesi2020]

Are the ants inside the coop or outside the coop? I would imagine they'd get eaten by your chicks inside.

The ones I see are on the outside of the coop where the PVC pipe hits the coop wood.

 

[darkbaysfordays]

I would make sure the plug is nice and tight. Maybe dust sticks to the outside when you dump the food in? Ants can be a drag!

 

[j1lly99]

Inside coop = free chicken food?

 

[RebelChief]

I was wondering....wouldn't it just be extra food for the chickens?

 

[Kaesi2020]

I was wondering....wouldn't it just be extra food for the chickens?

They do eat ants when they see them! I havent noticed them in the coop yet and that is probably why! Thanks for your reply

 

[Kaesi2020]

Inside coop = free chicken food?

Haha good point!!

 

[Kaesi2020]

I would make sure the plug is nice and tight. Maybe dust sticks to the outside when you dump the food in? Ants can be a drag!

Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Back in the day before pesticides things like pie safes had small containers of oil set under their legs to prevent ants from accessing the cabinet and the food. Even beds were done in this manner in tropical countries with huge ant problems. Might be possible to rig up something but it would probably require that the feeder parts that touch the ground be outside the coop or protected from litter being scratched up into the oil containers.