Baby Chicks and Fire Ants!!

[eldfort]

I just built a coop and I have 8 babies and live in the Augusta Georgia area where fire ants run rampant. I have read many threads but can't seem to figure out how to keep them out of my nesting box area. I pre-treated with sevin and DE but they just move around in the fenced in coop and box. I did not treat the actual nesting box but the ants seem to stray that way too. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Lollipop]

Treat everything with Sevin. I've used it for 50 years, even on newly hatched chicks with no problem.........Pop

 

[eldfort]

Thanks Pop! I sure will. Hey, since you are an expert, can you tell me when I can put the 3 to 5 week old chicks I have in a big tub with a light in the walk-in pen? Will they know how to get up the ramp to their nesting box? I'm worried they will get cold at night. It's been about 70 at night. Thanks!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

They will not go to bed at night until they learn how. The best thing to do is shut them inside for 3-4 days before allowing them out into the pen.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[Beaks Of Hazard]

I don't know personally if this will work, but I read that you get a small container of honey, open it up and leave somewhere outside near your problem area. The ants supposedly will go after the honey all summer long and leave your plants (and hopefully chickens) alone. But I would still be tempted to go after them with RAID.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Hello and welcome to BYC from Arkansas!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard.