Fire Ant ?

[kelly]

What can I use to get rid of fire ants without hurting the chickens? I can't find DE in this area but would order some on-line if it would work but anyone that lives in the south knows how hard it is to get rid of fire ants and I don't know that DE could do it. Any ideas? Thanks much.

Kelly
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4 RIR's

 

[Dawn419]

Yep, Food Grade DE will eliminate fire ants...Outdoor bugs affected by DE.

 

[GoodEgg]

I hope somebody has a better answer for you than this but ...

I had an antpile in the run when they were little chicks. I boiled a large pot of water and poured it on the pile. Wiped it out quickly. (I can't swear that a few didn't move someplace else though.) But no more ants in the run. I had to stay there to keep the chicks away while the ground was hot too.

I have always heard grits work ... pouring grits on the pile and the ants eat them, then swell and die. It's been too long since I used this method to give a report of it.

Good luck with them. I HATE fire ants!!!

trish

 

[mom'sfolly]

I use orange oil and molassas in water. It seems to work well and it smells great.

I don't know what the molassas does, but the orange oil is a natural insect repellant. I found the recipe online, but I just usually dump it in the bucket and pour it on the mound. HATE those nasty fire ants!!!!!!

 

[kelly]

Thanks for the answers! Where do ya find orange oil?

Kelly
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4-RIR's

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

On the vegetable garden, I sprinkle the ground with cayenne pepper powder every4-5 days. It is a non-toxic way to cut back on the fireants. It keeps them from building nests in that area.

However, after rain or watering, you have to re-apply.

 

[countrygirl4513]

Hope this pic shows up.

This is what I have found making burrows in my hen house. The DE has NO effect on them whatsoever. This is a female wasp.We've always called them red velvet ants. And they do sting. The male actually looks like a huge wasp, I saw him fly into the hole and nailed him with bug killer, right down the hole. The males from what I've read don't sting. Some may know them as cow killers. Everytime I see one of these red devils I squash the crap out of them. They are hard to kill. Just thought I'd share this with ya'll. I know they aren't fire ants, but people do confuse them with fire ants for some reason. I guess cuz they are red!

 

[GoodEgg]

On the orange oil ... (I know you weren't asking me but ... ) try a health food or herb store. We sell it at our store and it's just a few dollars a bottle. (They sell a lower quality type in the mall bath store and get over $20 for it, so don't buy it there!) Otherwise, you might have to order online, but look for the essential oil.

I'll have to try that one too. Thanks, mom'sfolly. I always have orange oil on hand. It also helps kill bacteria in air conditioning systems, and is a great air purifier.

Never knew it got rid of fire ants. Essential oils can be amazing though. I use them a lot, for a lot of things.

trish

 

[mom'sfolly]

I get my orange oil at a local garden store. As they say here in Texas "they're mighty proud of it" but it is cheaper than the locally made fire ant repellent. I think the recipe is something like 4 oz of orange oil, 2 oz of molassas and a gallon of water. It's raining here and I'm going to be able to find all the mound when it is done. Fire ants are EVIL.

 

[nccountrygirl]

you can get it at any Ace Hardware store too.