Long term ant repellent that won't harm chickens?

[Chris-n-Kate]

We don’t get fire ants in iowa, I don’t think, but if we did I’d probably try doing the filling it with molten aluminum because I think that would kill them and then you can dig it up and sell it for a decent amount.

 

[GodofPecking]

If you are going to pour molten metal down their hole as I have suggested, then for goodness sake be prepared for emergencies with a running water garden hose or multiple buckets filled with ice water in case some of them climb out, you'll have to douse them immediately while they are still hot in order to kill them and escape home.

 

[alwaystj9]

Hmm, molten aluminum....Deep south here....mound empties (aluminum adult-beverage containers) over the fire ant mound, douse liberally with gasoline... toss in lit firecrackers...run like heck... still get fire ants down the back of my shirt and them still alive and biting me...
I can actually see it happening here and no one thinking cross-wise about it.

 

[FlyWheel]

Yeah I would love to see what happens (from a good distance!) when that cold water hits that molten metal.....

I sprinkled some of the diatomaceous earth on and around the largest active ant hill, I'll see what effect it has tomorrow. If it works I'll consider spreading it over the entire yard. I already spread some around the grounds of their run and on the floor of their coop to keep down the mites and fleas, it worked great at keeping pests out of the coop at my old house.

UPDATE: that once busy ant mound is now a ghost town! Even when I kicked a piece off of it there was no activity other that one or two ants wandering around aimlessly. Whether it killed the colony or they just moved I don't care; so long as they are gone. So I guess I'll stick with the DE. It's nontoxic and as it will be mixed in among the grass and dirt it should pose no respiratory problem, for the chickens or me (so long as I remember to wear my mask).