Fireants in Coop

[Fruitloopz]

My silkies are finally in a "real" chicken coop, the floor being grass and dirt. And fire ants! How can I keep them away? I heard that cucumber peels work, but that just doesn't sound right. Any natural repellents?

 

[dawg53]

Try using food grade DE on the fire ants. I've used it on them with success. Food grade DE wont hurt your chickens neither.

 

[emvickrey]

When we where in Florida we used boiling water and poured it right on the mound. Pan after pan and it kills them. Depending on how big the mound is it could take 1 day or several but keep pouring boiling water over the mound. Don't just use one pan. WE had a line going and kept pouring it on for a while. Till we would get tired. But watch out. They'll come after you if you don't watch when they come out.

 

[jeb251]

grits work great on ants, they eat them and the grits swell up and no more ants, they will even carry them back to the nest

 

[Break an Egg]

Quote:
I second this.

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

Cornstarch works the same....

 

[sonraychick]

You can flood the coop area to chase them out. I then treat my entire yard (except the coop area, or anyplace the chickens eat or roll in the dirt. ) with a professional fire ant killer Talstar thats non systemic. (It won't go up into the grass my free range birds graze on). You can get Talstar at a chain called "U killem pest control". I also run a border around the coop of the killer. It needs to be applied per directions and watered in good several times before I let my girls back into that part of the yard, I wait a few 2-3 weeks even. I go to the extent of running a temp. fence to section off my yard to keep them out and still let them free range during the day. I also don't feed them people food in the coop anylonger. The feed doesn't seem to attract them as much as food. It's a battle, Talstar lasts about 9 months before re-treatment is needed here in Florida. I'm interisted in what other folks do to deter them also. Ohh, in the coop, I use hay for bedding, and I put de under the bedding also indoors.

 

[CompostQueen]

Quote:
Well Jeb I have no idea what you look like but you definitely are handy with advice like that!

 

[jeb251]

lol well thank you

 

[silkiechick05]

Quote:
I am guessing you don't cook them first...

Right?