Carpenter Ants- LONG Post/Rant...

[Oblio13]

Quote:
I would assume this would work on those tiny ants too? Those are the ones I have issue with..

Different species of ants have different diets, so you might have to use different baits. You can also mix peanut butter, grease, etc. with boric acid. Carpenter ants eat sweets, that's why we use jelly or molasses.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
They aren't the same. Borax might work as well, but I don't know so I didn't want to recommend it in the recipe.

From the intarweb:

Borax is Sodium Borate Decahydrate or sodium tetraborate decahydrate (salt of boric acid) Na2B4O2(H2O)10.

Boric acid = Orthoboric acid H3BO3 or B2O3·3H2O.

 

[chickfillhay]

We have a crazy amount of fire ants in the yard.
Our chickens free range. Is this safe for the chickens.
Will it work on fire ants?

What is the witches brew for fire ants?

 

[Dodgegal79]

The house I'm renting hatched a bunch of carpenter ants last years, it was freaky. I'm going to try the recipe and the straws, what will work on other ants?? I have lots at my other property.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
I don't think I'd put the bait where chickens could get it. Should be easy enough to keep it from them by putting it in little bottles on their sides or something similar.

We don't have fire ants here in the frozen wastelands of Cow Hampshire, but Googled "Fire ant control, boric acid" and there was some information. Give it a try, what's to lose? Just don't make the concentration too strong, you want the ants to live for a few days so they can ferry it back to the whole colony. A 1% solution seems to work best.

 

[LynneP]

The person who owns the house will lose the house if the trees are not removed. Carpenter ants launch from deadwood and as it runs out they send scouts to seek more. Your rental home may have some promising spots in the attic or under your floor joists- let the owner know, it's his/her responsibility. As renters, if this person does not solve this, I'd move. Seriously.

 

[morelcabin]

You will probably have to get an exterminator at the landlords expense, and you will have to move your birds for about 24 hours if they are in the direct way of the problem. We had an infestation of them here a few years back and had to have proffessionals brought in. You won't get them all just playing around with home remedies.
You can ask them about the chickens, see what they have that is pet safe.