fire ants

[Howlet]

lol just get like 5 hungry pullets i <3 watching them chase the ants XD

 

[LordUria]

Raise the feeder off the ground, then get a few of the ants and drown them, give them to the chickens as treats so they get a taste for them. After that you dont ever have to worry

 

[sunflour]

Anyone know how to keep fire ants out of a coop? There going in and getting pieces of dry chicken food, dont want to use poison in the coop or around the run

I assume you mean the fire ants come in and out of the chickens areas and that their hill is not inside the coop and not inside their run…. If so, I would use Amdro or similar fire ant bait around the coop out of chicken reach. See if you can find their source and treat the hill. The hill will be inactive within 2 days. BUT make sure your chickens are confined out of treated area until all the bait disappears so they cannot find and eat it. Move the feeder to hanging position, keep area beneath food free - no food, no ants.

The Seven dust post is interesting, think I'll try that in my veggie garden next battle. People used to dust chickens, cats and dogs with it, but it is no longer recommended for any of them.

 

[welasharon]

I had a hen in isolation and ants were really beginning to over run her area. I didn't want to use any poison and just happened to notice the seven can...it has an ant pic on it. I lightly sprinkled some on them....bingo. so I removed her and used a little. She will be out a couple more days. I raked the excess in today so there was none sitting on top of the ground. I would not want her to breathe any in. I was more worried about the ants attacking her than the seven dust bothering her. I still dust my chickens with it. Never have the dogs or cats.

 

[sunflour]

I had a hen in isolation and ants were really beginning to over run her area. I didn't want to use any poison and just happened to notice the seven can...it has an ant pic on it. I lightly sprinkled some on them....bingo. so I removed her and used a little. She will be out a couple more days. I raked the excess in today so there was none sitting on top of the ground. I would not want her to breathe any in. I was more worried about the ants attacking her than the seven dust bothering her. I still dust my chickens with it. Never have the dogs or cats.

Thanks for info. Have found no non-toxic method to rid vegetable garden of ants. Seven is safe in garden as long as you follow directions, just never thought about it for ants.


I think it would be safe in the way you describe.

 

[Kimberchick]

I have the same problem. I thought the chickens would eat them but nope! Thanks for the ideas.

 

[sunflour]

I have the same problem. I thought the chickens would eat them but nope! Thanks for the ideas.

I was surprised that my girls showed no interest in ants in their run. But found a new abandoned wasp nest in their coop above their roosts, know they enjoyed their wasp appetizers!

 

[sbhkma]

I love Amdro for fire ants. My husband built a 12" X 12" screen-top block of wood that we set over the amdro pile so the chickens can't get at it and it works perfectly. Just 2X4s set up in a 12 inch square and some mesh stapled to the top. It also keeps other birds and especially quail, from eating it. Fire ants are a huge reason for wild quail decline and I'm happy to say that we have 3 breeding pair on our 10 acres now, since we work diligently at keeping the fire ants under control.

 

[welasharon]

Genius!

 

[trudyg]

i use acephate powder for fire ants. any pest control that lists acephate first will do. one pound can for about $15, but i use about 1/2 tsp on the mound & they're gone, so a can lasts a long time.