Exterminators and chickens

[cackilacky]

Hello, not sure where to post this. Hope this is the right place. We have a chronic indoor ant problem which has been brought under control by regular visits from an exterminator. He comes once a month and sprays something outside around the house. I mentioned to the company that we have chickens (and kids, cats, and dog) and was that stuff safe. They assured me that it was b/c it breaks down somehow and as long as I waited until it was dry to let everyone out, then no worries. Ashamed to say that I don't know what said stuff is called. DH recently started asking how can I be sure it's safe, we eat the eggs, etc. Good point! So, I'm wondering if anyone knows what is safe to use to exterminate (if anything.) I know the girls eat plenty of bugs, but that's not what I mean

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

...and here I thought the chickens ARE the exterminators.......

 

[PunkinPeep]

My husband was once an exterminator, so i asked him about this.

He said that the ones they usually say are pet safe are usually pyrethrin-based and are supposed to be safe for "most mammals."

He followed that by saying that none of them are truly safe....so take it for what it's worth.

******

Separately, we used to have a terrible ant problem at our house, but after a full year of free-ranging chickens, we never see ants anymore. If i were you, i might consider using some true orange oil wherever you're having problems and see if the chickens can work on the problem outside. It's just a thought. I have quite a few chickens, so they may be better equipped, depending on the size of your flock.

*perfectly natural, orange oil dissolves the exoskeleton of ants but is harmless to humans and pets (outside, i guess, of some allergies)

 

[greenSearcher]

My "bug-man" uses orange based products, and other than the spring when the ants swarm, we no longer have a problem. I knock out the fire ants by pouring 1 or 2 gallons of 'ant solution' in each mound after I rip it open. I use, 1/2 cup each of orange oil and Garret Juice ( http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/204/ ) in a gallon of water. The site has recipes for the juice and other organic solutions. I am about to treat the new chicken yards before I put the coops there and fence them in. I can get the orange oil for about $60 a gallon. Wish I could make it my self. It is the only pricey think I use in the yard/garden.

The fire ants aren't too bad here in Texoma, we do get a good frosts, and occasional freezing that helps with the ants. At least we get a brief break in Jan and Feb.

 

[cackilacky]

Thank you all for the advice. Our chickens do free range around our 3/4 acre lot, but the indoor ant problem is still bad during certain seasons. I will investigate the orange oil and natural treatments.