Ants!

[Ntsees]

How can I get rid of black ants in and around the chicken coop? They are everywhere!! I had to move the food from being screwed into the side of the coop to being hung because I was watching them carry the food off. Every time I put down treats for the chickens, there is a swarm of ants within a minute. We are getting close to laying age and I don't want the ants getting into the eggs. Your help is greatly appreciated.

If your ants are just a nuisance and are not the kind that bites, you have it better than some people. What's worse are red ants (or the fire ants) that raid nests when the chicks hatch (hen incubated). I've had that problem and was furious with them. It's not a good sight to see the hen out of the nest and ants covered over the peeped chicks that are trying to hatch.

 

[destinduck]

Why dont you just use 5% sevin dust? It kills the ants(both kinds) and other bad bugs. It dont make a darn if you powder the chickens as well. Ive used it forever around here with killer results.Of course Maybe Im missing something here. But I dont even begin to know why you or anyone else wouldnt use nothing BUT this. Its safe to all birds, you can also sprinkle it on birds AND on the ground and it is cheap!!! Could someone please explain to me the downside of this???!!! I already know the downsides to DE, other toxic pestisides. I hear this over and over. Cmon.Make it easy on yourselfs already.Sheesh! Edited to say also works on mites and lice. I guess its just that its too easy . LOL!!!

 

[Moochie]

You could also capture the black ants, kill them, and cover them with chocolate...

 

[zazouse]

Why dont you just use 5% sevin dust? It kills the ants(both kinds) and other bad bugs. It dont make a darn if you powder the chickens as well. Ive used it forever around here with killer results.Of course Maybe Im missing something here. But I dont even begin to know why you or anyone else wouldnt use nothing BUT this. Its safe to all birds, you can also sprinkle it on birds AND on the ground and it is cheap!!! Could someone please explain to me the downside of this???!!! I already know the downsides to DE, other toxic pestisides. I hear this over and over. Cmon.Make it easy on yourselfs already.Sheesh! Edited to say also works on mites and lice. I guess its just that its too easy . LOL!!!

Yep that is what i would do, no sense in attracting more ants with mixtures with sweet in them.

After the rains i get ants around my doors, i sprinkle seven dust at the doorway and they disappear.

 

[Billy-jean]

What is the downside to DE(foodgrade)?> I have used it successfully and never a problem! I wouldn't use anything else. I have done tons of research and nowhere I have seen any downsides to using it...also,it's completely safe and not toxic in any way ,shape or form! Any dusts inhaled can be hazardous,so people need to use common sense when working around any dusts of any kind.

 

[Moochie]

What is the downside to DE(foodgrade)?> I have used it successfully and never a problem! I wouldn't use anything else. I have done tons of research and nowhere I have seen any downsides to using it...also,it's completely safe and not toxic in any way ,shape or form! Any dusts inhaled can be hazardous,so people need to use common sense when working around any dusts of any kind.

I'm not sure what the exact downside is, but for me it hasn't worked with keeping all the buggies out. I do still use it but I don't use it as a staple bug-be-gone.

 

[destinduck]

The downsides of foodgrade DE are if damp whatsoever its not effective.Thats a biggie right there for me(its been raining a bunch on us this year) Plus would you dust a bird with DE??? I think not. If they breathe in some sevin at least they keep on living.With DE they cough up a lung and die. Matter of fact most people sprinkle heavy with sevin where their birds dustbathe if they may have mites or lice. Also as Moochie mentioned .Its just not that effective for most of the other pests. But if DE serves the purpose for what you need beliz by all means keep using DE. Im always going to use 5 % sevin cause it last longer than DE , kills more bad bugs than DE But the main reason is its flat out way more safer than DE (Did the toe to toe test years ago) But yall dont have to take my word for it .Try em both for yourselfs with two separate pens and then tell me your preference

 

[mickey328]

JMO, but I'm with you, beeliz

 

[AKmthrgse5]

If you are concerned about using borax or pesticides, I have found that sprinkling grits on the ground closest to where you think the ant nest is will work. How this works is the ants eat the grits and bring more back to the nest, when the ants drink water the grits swell and BOOM, no more ants. I have used this on several nests by our barn and it has worked quite well. I did have to resort to a commercial ant killer spray for a huge nest of Carpenter Ants by the house but that was before I got our chickens. We have donkeys that graze our yard and the ant killer did its job and washed away with the next rain and the donkeys didn't seem to have a problem so I don't think the chickens would as long as you washed down the area after a couple of days. We live in Alaska and now the nights are getting colder so the ants are going back underground.

 

[destinduck]

Its a flat lie or untrue to be more polite and Im calling you on it.AKmthrgse5 Why?? Because this is exactly how old wifes tales get started. Just so you know I too did your grits thing a long time ago. Did lots of different mounds with different ants and plenty of grits(instant and regular) just not your results. Nothing happens but alot of fatter ants.

DE DOES at least work sometimes But like I said earlier. What all of you need to do is TRY the DE( I have) .TRY sevin5% (what i use now) heck even go TRY the grits

BUT I did that one too!!! Thats why i know what works the best of all these three. Dont have opinions on none of these or take me or anyone elses word for this whole discussion. Go out (like I already have personally ) and TRY ALL of them YOURSELF,,,, then get back on here and tell everyone what "works" or whats" best". Nuff said here.