Fire ants

[quackingdom]

Is there anything I could spread around a broody duck's nest to repel fire ants while the ducklings hatch?

We have had problems with fire ants on hatch day for all our previous three hatches, and last year a duckling died from them. Now our fourth batch is hatching. Yesterday when I checked on the eggs, one had a hole in the shell and was swarming with ants. I got them all out and moved the baby into a cardboard box under a lamp so it could finish hatching safely. It's okay. I think it suffered some bites, but it completely extricated itself from the shell within two hours, and once it had dried out somewhat, I put it back with the mom.

A friend said that peppermint keeps ants away. I spread a ring of peppermint oil diluted in water around the nest, but the scent was so strong that my eyes watered. I hope it didn't bother the mom and baby.

This morning, I no longer smell the peppermint, and there's a second duckling well on its way to hatched. There are no fire ants, but I don't know if that's thanks to the peppermint or not.

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[pineapple416]

I have not had this problem because I live in an area that does not have fire ants, but did some research and found a few natural ways to repel fire ants...

• Cayenne pepper...not sure if this would harm the ducklings
• Lemon water solution
• Vinegar water solution
• Dish soap...I would use Dawn dish soap
• food grade Diatomaceous Earth...this is the one that I would try first

I hope that this helps, good luck to you and your ducklings

 

[quackingdom]

Thank you! The cayenne pepper should be safe since I know some people have given it to their ducks. Diatomaceous earth sounds good, but I'm not sure if we have it.

#3 just hatched safely and #1, the one attacked yesterday, is a little energy ball. Can't stop running in circles around mom.

 

[pineapple416]

Oh good! If you wanted to use it in the future, Diatomaceous earth is available in most garden stores as it is commonly used as slug repellent.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I too have an ant problem. Around my pasture critters!
I feel your pain...

 

[quackingdom]

The DE has to be food grade in case the ducks eat it, right? Ours isn't food grade. @pineapple416

All nine hatched well. In a couple weeks we'll have another batch hatching, so I'll give these ideas a try then.

 

[pineapple416]

Yes it should be food grade in case they eat it.