/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Ants in my compost pile!

Discussion in 'Random Ramblings' started by Papas Chickens, Oct 4, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 2
  1. Oct 4, 2014 #1
    Papas Chickens

    Papas Chickens Chillin' With My Peeps

    817
    74
    111
    Jul 13, 2014
    Dateland Arizona
    Howdy Ya'll I have a issue with ants in my compost pile what would be a good way to get rid of them so I can get a healthy compost pile going without the ants killing all the benificial bugs?
     
  3. Oct 5, 2014 #2
    IttyBiddyRedHen

    IttyBiddyRedHen Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,094
    39
    166
    Jul 30, 2011
    East coast
    I usually have 2 compost piles going at the same time. We have fire ants here in SC, and there is always a mound in the piles. It keeps them areated real good, and I have not seen any negative effects from the fireants being in the compost.
    Hopefully more people will respond.
     
  5. Oct 5, 2014 #3
    vehve

    vehve The Token Finn

    10,940
    667
    308
    Apr 29, 2014
    Kirkkonummi, Finland
    My Coop
    Your pile is too dry, wet it properly. Ants in the pile means it's too dry, a foul smell means it's too wet. The optimum moisture level is when you can grab a handful of compost and squeeze out a few drops of water from it.
     
  7. Oct 5, 2014 #4
    Papas Chickens

    Papas Chickens Chillin' With My Peeps

    817
    74
    111
    Jul 13, 2014
    Dateland Arizona
    Thx guys im trying to get a wild population of BSFL in my compost and I think ants will kill them plus i want introduce some earthworms into it aswell. I live in the desert and our soil is crap. Ii also have a chicken/goat/rabbit manure pile that I just started yesterday should I wet that down the same time I wet the compost pile?
     
  9. Oct 5, 2014 #5
    vehve

    vehve The Token Finn

    10,940
    667
    308
    Apr 29, 2014
    Kirkkonummi, Finland
    My Coop
    What do you have in the original pile? I would just compost the manure in there with it, it would add nitrogen nicely, unless it's mainly greens in the original pile. After wetting the pile, I'd cover the pile with some black plastic to create a welcoming environment for your creepy crawlies.
     
  11. Oct 5, 2014 #6
    Papas Chickens

    Papas Chickens Chillin' With My Peeps

    817
    74
    111
    Jul 13, 2014
    Dateland Arizona
    I relocated my compost pile because it was in my soon to be chicken breeding area so I started a new pile. I first put alot of dead oleander limbs I had laying around then I put some dead leaves that I raked out from under my oleanders when I was cleaning the yard. Then I put a good amount of chicken/goat/rabbit manure ontop of that then I put some green clippings on the pile then some more dead leaves. Then I put more manure then some hay and straw that I had laying around on and toped it off with more manure then wet it down really good. I dont have any black plastic the weather out here in Arizona will ruin it fast anyways.
     
  13. Oct 5, 2014 #7
    vehve

    vehve The Token Finn

    10,940
    667
    308
    Apr 29, 2014
    Kirkkonummi, Finland
    My Coop
    Some trash bags or cardboard would probably work too, or empty feed bags or something. I don't have personal experience with the BSF larvae as we don't have them here, but @RichnSteph quickly got some to move in with the plastic.
     
  15. Oct 5, 2014 #8
    Papas Chickens

    Papas Chickens Chillin' With My Peeps

    817
    74
    111
    Jul 13, 2014
    Dateland Arizona
    Ill look around and see what I have around the yard that I can put on it.
     
  17. Oct 6, 2014 #9
    sourland

    sourland Broody Magician Premium Member

    63,215
    7,520
    726
    May 3, 2009
    New Jersey
    I believe that Oleander leaves/branches contain a toxin that may not be beneficial in your compost pile.
     
  19. Oct 6, 2014 #10
    IttyBiddyRedHen

    IttyBiddyRedHen Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,094
    39
    166
    Jul 30, 2011
    East coast
    That's what I was thinking.
     
Page 1 of 2

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by