Ants!

[3 Chicks]

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.

 

[Moochie]

I've used bug spray on the coops, nest boxes, against surfaces, on the fence, etc.. I don't quite remember the name of the brand I use but it's a big, heavy, black bottle with a little spray nozzle that comes with it that you connect to the bottle. It kills on contact and keeps ants (or any bug) away for 6 weeks, or atleast up to 6 weeks. DE wasn't doing diddly squat for my bug issues so I just got some heavy duty spray. It will however come off if it rains on the spot where you sprayed, the spray I use is for indoors but it works outdoors too. I have carpet on the bottom on my nest boxes instead of shavings and when the chickens were out of the hen house I sprayed the carpet to kind of let it soak, I get broken eggs from time to time and I used to have fire ants invade the boxes but now I haven't even seen a beetle.

Good luck ~

 

[MissusC]

Do not use insecticide spray. Locate where the ants are coming from and use something like this close to the point of origin. When you use a spray (or drown them out, or pour boiling water on the nest), you actually encourage the ants to do something called budding as the colony feels threatened. Budding creates more ant colonies thereby increasing your problem. Using a bait like the link above (or you can create your own using borax and corn syrup if you are sure none of your animals/children will get into it) is the most effective way to rid yourself of a colony, as the ants take the bait back to the colony and kill the queens. If you are using baits, DO NOT SPRAY anywhere remotely close by. Any use of chemicals (insecticides, cleaners, fertilizers etc) near the bait will render it unattractive to the ants.

The above is mostly for the black ants. Fire ants are a completely different problem.

~former exterminator

 

[Moochie]

About the spray I use -
Spectracide
BUG STOP indoor plus outdoor
Insect killer
Up to 9 months control indoors
Non-Staining, No odor
Indoor + Home Barrier treatment (use it on edges!)
Kills on contact
Kills ants, roaches, spiders, fleas, ticks (for me it kills more than that!)
128 fl oz (1 gallon) of it

How I use it : I first make sure all chickens are somewhere else! They can come back in their coop or the run when the spray dries. Do not spray on or near feed/treats/water. I remove all these things and place them somewhere else, including feed/water dishes or troughs. I remove all old bedding and I clean up any poop before I start spraying. First I start in the coop, I spray down all the roosts and nest boxes. You don't actually have to use that much spray either. Anyways next I spray the bottom of the walls and the doorway, I know how fire ants here like to climb up the sides sometimes so I will lightly spray the whole doorway. Next I go outside. I will spray the wire the fence, just the bottom part though. I will spray on the outside of the plastic feed barrels too. Make sure not to get any on the floor or in the feed!
Well, that's how I use the stuff. Probably not the best form of directions but I'm not the best at teaching. My mom bought this spray so I do not know how much it is but I believe it either came from Home Depot or Lowes. I've also used Sevin dust and spray in the past but Spectracide seems to work the best for me. Sevin might be cheaper than what I'm using though. You can also try food grade diatomaceous earth, but it costed like $70 when we got some at the feed store last year. The spray I'm using is much cheaper! Whatever you choose is up to you and I wish you luck

 

[Moochie]

Do not use insecticide spray. Locate where the ants are coming from and use something like this close to the point of origin. When you use a spray (or drown them out, or pour boiling water on the nest), you actually encourage the ants to do something called budding as the colony feels threatened. Budding creates more ant colonies thereby increasing your problem. Using a bait like the link above (or you can create your own using borax and corn syrup if you are sure none of your animals/children will get into it) is the most effective way to rid yourself of a colony, as the ants take the bait back to the colony and kill the queens. If you are using baits, DO NOT SPRAY anywhere remotely close by. Any use of chemicals (insecticides, cleaners, fertilizers etc) near the bait will render it unattractive to the ants.

The above is mostly for the black ants. Fire ants are a completely different problem.

~former exterminator

Well.. I just gave my two cents. Everyone's issue is different I guess.

 

[MissusC]

Well.. I just gave my two cents. Everyone's issue is different I guess.

No worries. Everyone has a different approach.

 

[3 Chicks]

Thanks for both approaches to dealing with ants. I have borax on hand...will that hurt the chickens if they peck at it?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Thanks for both approaches to dealing with ants. I have borax on hand...will that hurt the chickens if they peck at it?

Mix it with some Karo Syrup and put it where the ants can find it but the chickens can't reach.
Then you'll have what's basically the same thing as "Terro Ant KIller"

 

[MissusC]

Using a bait like the link above (or you can create your own using borax and corn syrup if you are sure none of your animals/children will get into it) is the most effective way to rid yourself of a colony, as the ants take the bait back to the colony and kill the queens.

Yup. The only difference with the Terro is that it's in a relatively pet resistant container. Definitely cheaper to make your own.

 

[Chicks on DL]

You can put some of the homemade ant bait in a Glad container and tape the lid on good. Then poke little holes into the sides so the ants can get in. Makes a safe homemade, refillable container.