Red Ants.....

[OrganicHouse]

Being new to chicken raising, I wanted to post this question to y'all and get some experienced advice...

While my daughter and husband are busy making our very 1st coop... I decide to pitch in and start to level the ground a bit (and get rid of the dog doo) for the coop to sit..
As I am scooping away, I notice (and feel) red ants crawling (and biting) up and in my shoes and up my leg...

My daughter comes running out with a can of Hot Shot and says "use this".

My thoughts... prob not the safest thing for the chickens....


My question??? (finally)...... What can or should I do to handle these very common pests.

I have heard that chickens will eat bugs and such, just not sure on the red ants.. just cause they are so freakin mean. I would Hate to walk out in the AM to see my hens dead and being eatin from the inside out.

 

[Chick Charm]

There are options. Some chickens will eat fire ants. My flock now loves them for whatever reason.

Natural and chemical free ways include #1 DE-can kill them if they come into contact with it. I believe the food grade does not work as well. And #2 coffee grounds. Fire ants hate coffee grounds. I will put coffee grounds on ant mound and they will move to a different spot.

The most effective way is insecticides. Sevin Liquid form sprayed on them kills em dead. I've never used the powder form on them but I'll bet it works also.

Wish you the best.

 

[Coralietg]

The ants won't keep their home around the coop for long. Dump a lot of DE down too, that will help. I don't think I've ever had a chicken that would eat the fire ants!

Putting DE down, we've never had a nest form near or in the coop run, and we have a big problems with fire ants.

 

[chfite]

The chickens will turn the soil over in the run, so that ants may be discouraged from setting up shop there. I tossed a 1/4 cup of food grade diatomaceous earth on an ant hill one day. It was gone the next day.

If the chickens eat the ants, that will be the end of the ants. They will be ground up in the crop.

Chris

 

[OrganicHouse]

Thanks y'all for the advice.