Black australorps vs fire ants

[Vadard]

In TX they would fill the holes with Gas or propane and then light it. It would get into all the little tunnels. But also blow a gully in the yard too.
very fun to watch but scary as hell.............. BTW this was done in FIELDS not small back yards

That sounds like some YouTube gold right there. Maybe an insurance deductible, too.

 

[Vadard]

Fire ants may be resistant against water, but ya, boiling water can kill a lot. Here is the problem though, you will need a lot of water to kill their queen. Fire ants place their queens deep underground, deep enough that rainwater doesn't bother them, and to get rid of a colony, you must get rid of the queen. Also, I agree with the avoidance of using chems, I just wanted to tell you a possibility.
-ps, I bet your elate seasons are painful, literally. But the good thing about chickens is that they eat everything, but, just like a pet lizard, do not give them to much live food or else they become the food. Keep your chickens away from the ant nest and they can have a little snack, or they will learn to avoid them.

Yep, makes sense. I decided to tactically nuke the larger fire ant hills that were away from my chicken tractor area with chemicals today. The other ant hills closer to my birds will get experimental hippy poisons like boiling water and essential oils. Seems like some balance may be necessary to win the war.

Cheers.

 

[dawg53]

Take your shovel and scoop out a mound and then quickly go dump the mound on another fire ant mound and watch them kill each other off. Make it quick with the shovel, they'll run up it and sting you if you dont hurry.

 

[Vadard]

Thread update: Today I did a victory lap talking sh** to all the dead ant hills. Then, I found one I missed. I was out of Ortho from Monday’s offensive, so I dumped a witch’s brew of poopy brooder water, diluted bleach, and Dawn on the ant hill. Mainly for spite. Hell, it can’t be good for them.

 

[tigger19687]

Dd you try just plain gas ? I think the fumes might kill them. do it at night muahahhahaha

 

[Mtnboomer]

My chickens eat black carpenter ants from the wood pile but thats it for ants.

As for getting rid of fire ants, boiling water will only kill the ants on the surface or top 1" or so it immediately hits. If this is your choice, disturb the hill as much as possible to bring out as many as you can before dumping the water andwith a little luck you'll get the queen.

Gasoline, motoroil, kerosene...all short term solutions if they work at all.

Only products that work are commercial insecticides that rely on the worker's feeding the queen the poison. Expect repeated applications for a full season. When I lived in GA our yard was miserable with fire ants. It took 2 yrs to fully eliminate the ants from the yard. Even after that, I used an annual application to kerp them from returning. I don't remember the name of the product. I bought it at the local co-op. It came in a red bag with yellow lettering.

Good luck and be careful.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Or you could use melted aluminum. Saw it on YouTube. Kills even the queen and you get a nice sculpture out of it.

Found a scorpion in my silverware drawer. My 11 week old chickens tore that thing apart and ate it.

 

[Vadard]

Or you could use melted aluminum. Saw it on YouTube. Kills even the queen and you get a nice sculpture out of it.

Found a scorpion in my silverware drawer. My 11 week old chickens tore that thing apart and ate it.

Melted aluminum is an interesting idea, except that I’d be the sculpture.....probably me covered with pissed off ants. I’m basing this on my consistency gluing my fingers together with gorilla glue.