Ants invaded our coop!

[efriviere]

We are first time chicken owners and just moved our 5 girls into there new coop two days ago. I just noticed that there coop has been invaded by fire ants. Will they bite and hurt them? How do I get rid of the ants? I want our girls to be happy. Please help.

 

[Judy]

I use DE and Sevin -- whatever works and is needed. Yes, fire ants can harm them. Pesticides are of course not great -- but neither are fire ants.

 

[rachlore]

I heard sevin was horrible, how do you apply it

 

[Judy]

Sevin isn't harmless, certainly it has its dangers, but to my mind "horrible" is a bit much. I use it in the garden and coop. I buy 5% Sevin garden dust in a large shaker container. It also kills lice and mites that chickens will get sooner or later without a preventive.

I tried to garden organically years ago, and continue to keep methods as light on us and the environment as I can.

You could use DE, which isn't poisonous, but it is extremely irritating to the respiratory tract (yours and chickens') and it's hard to find unless you order it in bulk online. It must be food grade, not the kind for use in pools. DE is simply the skeletons of tiny oceanic creatures. And it will not work quickly or completely, though I find it is a decent preventive. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/478958/eek-de/10#post_6095985 for some good info,if you are not familiar.