Ants in their feed

[FireWife443]

We are first time chicken parents and need help with ants in their feed. We recently purchased a hanging feeder, but I'm apprehensive to use it due to ants in our area. I currently set out feed first thing in the morning and again later in the afternoon. I go out periodically to check, and so many times find ants in the feeder. Their feed is place in a pan in the yard, as they are free ranging chickens, but with all the rain we have been receiving lately (Georgia) did put some feed in the coop and/or run, to find ants all over the feed in the morning. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially with the consideration for a bigger feeder that we can use when we go camping for a few days, leaving the chicks on their own. Please help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think a hanging feeder is your best bet. Chickens eat ants but ants can be a secondary host to large tapeworms.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can use a sticky substance like tanglefoot on the wire you hang the feeder from.

 

[FireWife443]

You can use a sticky substance like tanglefoot on the wire you hang the feeder from.

Thank you!

 

[FireWife443]

You can use a sticky substance like tanglefoot on the wire you hang the feeder from.

Thank you!

 

[Kenny_]

Also, diatomaceous earth is good for controlling ants is great for the birds in many other ways, as well.

 

[texsuze]

Hanging your feeders keeps them off the ground, usually away from ants. You might try using an "ant cup" from which to hang your feeder. Google it or look under hummingbird feeder supplies. It is a plastic cup with a built-in hanging hook and a second hanging hook underneath the cup. Ant cup acts like a 'moat' when kept filled with water; ants drown before reaching the feeder that hangs under the cup. Hang the ant cup where you want your feeder (preferably under shelter), fill with water, then hang your feeder on the cup's lower hook. You'll need to make a height adjustment for this type of setup.

I would caution against using any type of sticky substance around your chickens. One of my girls inadvertently got caught in a fly tape roll one day. Thankfully she was unharmed but I'll never put out anything sticky where a hen could even remotely come into contact.

 

[FireWife443]

Also, diatomaceous earth is good for controlling ants is great for the birds in many other ways, as well.

Thank you

 

[FireWife443]

Hanging your feeders keeps them off the ground, usually away from ants. You might try using an "ant cup" from which to hang your feeder. Google it or look under hummingbird feeder supplies. It is a plastic cup with a built-in hanging hook and a second hanging hook underneath the cup. Ant cup acts like a 'moat' when kept filled with water; ants drown before reaching the feeder that hangs under the cup. Hang the ant cup where you want your feeder (preferably under shelter), fill with water, then hang your feeder on the cup's lower hook. You'll need to make a height adjustment for this type of setup.

I would caution against using any type of sticky substance around your chickens. One of my girls inadvertently got caught in a fly tape roll one day. Thankfully she was unharmed but I'll never put out anything sticky where a hen could even remotely come into contact.

Thank you very much!