Problems with 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?

 

[CarleeAnn]

I've planted mint plants, it's supposed to deter ants and rats! I haven't had a big problem before that though, so no noticeable difference. My crazy husband has dumped lighter fluid down the ant hill and lit it. It was surrounded by dirt, so fairly safe. As long as you kill the queen the colony will die too. I don't like using poison but my grandmother does and that is also successful. I have heard of dish soap, cayenne pepper, or vinegar working too! I know dish soap irritates earthworms, so I could see it working on ants.

Good luck!

 

[quackingdom]

If I knew where they were coming from, I could kill the entire nest, but there are hundreds of fire ant nests on our property. I just want to keep them from attacking the ducklings while they hatch.

Cayenne pepper, dish soap, vinegar. OK. Thanks!