Fire ants in the nesting boxes

[Kdlevesque]

I went out to clean my coop today and noticed that I have fire ants in my nesting boxes is there anything I can put it in there that will not harm my chickens?

 

[N F C]

When I lived in FL we were constantly fighting fire ants (nasty things). Thankfully I never had them in the coop, but what we did in the garden and yard was get a pot of hot water with Dawn dish soap in it and pour it on them. That could work for your nesting boxes, just let the water dry well before adding more nesting material.

 

[Kdlevesque]

When I lived in FL we were constantly fighting fire ants (nasty things). Thankfully I never had them in the coop, but what we did in the garden and yard was get a pot of hot water with Dawn dish soap in it and pour it on them. That could work for your nesting boxes, just let the water dry well before adding more nesting material.

Thankyou! I’m going to give that a try!!!

 

[N F C]

Thankyou! I’m going to give that a try!!!

Hope it helps!

You'll have to keep an eye on the ants, they will move to a new spot. Hopefully, not in the coop!

 

[Kdlevesque]

I have a mother hen that is still sitting in the nesting box with her babies at night even though they’re about five weeks old. I’m hoping they haven’t been getting stung. When I was cleaning out the box I put my hand in there today and it was covered in ants. Hurt very much, LOL!

 

[kerbotx]

I've used poultry dust on fireants before - I don't think it really kills them, but it irritates them enough to move them along! Gardstar from TSC.

 

[WonkierZulu]

Also de!

 

[3KillerBs]

Find the mound, use Amdro, and make sure the chickens can't get to it. Read the package directions carefully.

Anything other than killing the mound just moves them around a little.

 

[Aapomp831]

If they are in the coop, they are not nesting they are in there for food / broken eggs / whatever to bring back to the colony (idk if that’s the right terminology). I would clean your coop out thoroughly bc it’s a food source they are going after, not a home; fire ants nest in the ground. We use this right here all over our yard all the time; if you look it up it’s safe for pets. Neither our chickens or dogs have ever been sickened by it. As @3KillerBs said, sprinkle it on the mound once you find it. It won’t be too far away.

 

[cmom]

I've used poultry dust on fireants before - I don't think it really kills them, but it irritates them enough to move them along! Gardstar from TSC.

I never had any luck with DE but did with poultry dust (permethrin) too. No more ants. Good luck...