Fire Ant Control

[dfalco]

Here in Southeast Oklahoma, fire ants are everywhere. I do not put poison on my land, except around the foundation of my home, to keep ants out. I have no recourse. They will invade the home by the millions this time of year. But now, I have free range chickens that love going to the cool under the house during these very hot days. (And other than keeping them penned up all the time, there is no keeping the chickens back from the house. Cross-fencing them is not an option.) I don't know what to do to keep ants out of my home, now that I can't put granules around the foundation. So far I've been deterring the ants with sprinkled cinnamon. But now that we are going into August, the ants are more aggressively trying to get inside and forage. Please help, before they cart us off to their nest.

Now I realize that in some places the ants are still confined to a few mounds here and there. Here, though, our land, and most of our county, is one giant ant hill. So simply dealing with a hill here and there won't work. There is no getting rid of the ants, only controlling.

I HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE you guys know what for me to do!

 

[jennyf]

I feel for you! Have you checked out this thread?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fire-ants-and-chickens.488133/page-3

Some suggestions in there...

 

[dfalco]

I feel for you! Have you checked out this thread?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fire-ants-and-chickens.488133/page-3

Some suggestions in there...

Thanks...checking it now!

 

[Sara Ranch]

I don't know if this will work on fire ants, but I have successfully used citrus essential oils (orange worked the best, lemon works too) and placed it where I saw the ants walking. They HATE the smell and move on.

Cornstarch also works. I think this would be safe for the chickens. Don't think the chickens would eat much of it.

The chickens stomping around here (ok - it's the brat pack that stomps) and they have managed to eliminate quite a few red ant brand new or recently established hills.

My guys aren't big on eating ants. Dang it.

 

[dfalco]

@jennyf , looks like need to find out what dry molasses is and where to get it. Thanks so much for the links you provided.

I remember back in the 80's, when fire ants lived in nice little mounds, with one queen, and if you avoided stepping in the mound they really didn't bother you too much. Well, we fixed that with diazinon. Now they are everywhere, mounds are hard to even find, and consist of hundreds of queens.

For anyone interested, here's the link I'm hoping knows what they're talking about:
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/garden/Fire-Ant-Control-that-Works_vq2316.htm

 

[reeac]

I use Ortho Home Defense on the inside of the house and around the windows. It clames to be safe for animals but just in case I use it on the borders. It is a spray liquid and works well at keeping things out for about 10 months. I live in south Texas and we also have a lot of fire ants until I started using this we would have them all over the house. I’ve used this for three years now and it works great and I’ve never noticed any ill effects from any of the animals dogs and cat included. Now if I can figure out how to control them around the chickens and rabbits.

 

[dawg53]

Get your shovel and dig into one of the mounds and carry the shoveled mound and put it on another mound. You'll have to be quick about it, the ants will crawl up the handle and try to sting you.
Each fire ant mound has its own scent. The ants will attack and kill each other.
Then go and repeat this with other mounds. I admit, it's fun to watch.

 

[WthrLady]

Darn tootin' it is!

We put silicone spray on the shovel and up the handle about 12 inches, and then wrapped duct tape - sticky side out for 12 inches- and wore gloves. They never made it up the handle. Note though. Don't forget to NOT wear flip flops. UGH. Bad move.

also have used cornstarch mixed with borax and orange oils.

 

[dawg53]

Darn tootin' it is!

We put silicone spray on the shovel and up the handle about 12 inches, and then wrapped duct tape - sticky side out for 12 inches- and wore gloves. They never made it up the handle. Note though. Don't forget to NOT wear flip flops. UGH. Bad move.

also have used cornstarch mixed with borax and orange oils.

Great idea! Luckily I've never had to use anything for the shovel handle, the mounds were within walking distance lol.
I've never worn flip flops or gone barefooted, only at the beach. However I've had those darn ants get up in my pants leg and nail me. UGH!

 

[aart]

You'll have to be quick about it, the ants will crawl up the handle and try to sting you.

Maybe dose the handle with orange oil and cinnamon?