Texas

[TammyTX]

....has anyone mentioned cinnamon for ants?? I've read that it will keep them out of areas by setting a boundary...last year I tried it with fireants in the kitchen and I think the ants thought it was a treat. Maybe it's any strong smelling spice? I have doused fireants with pure lemon juice and it killed them, too. Not very convenient though.

...fireants suck.

 

[magpiesing]

Did a little reading on ants...
Here are some things you can try
Diatomaceous earth..sprinkle two inch barrier around coop and areas where ants are seen
Keep in mind that it works by contact only and it needs to stay dry to be effective

You can use cornmeal (as was suggested) also cream of wheat or grits...work the same way...causes ant tummy to burst.

As deterrents...plant mint around the coop...ants don't care for mint...however chickens love it so plant where chickens can't get it

Can also treat around coop with cinnamon, black pepper or cayenne pepper...just sprinkle where chickens can't get it, can cause irritation just like for us.

You can put out sticky sweet stuff like maple syrup or honey...the ants will get stuck and die
If you want to use insecticide use one that is organic based such as pyretherim (not sure I spelled that right)
Try a combination of things...hope that helps
Personally...i know ants are beneficial...but I hate them...we have fireants, they are in my garden and flower pots and if there is one around it will find and bite me!

 

[Starfire669]

I can probably take another SLW Rooster. Are they hatchery birds or did you get hatching eggs from a breeder?

All my birds, geese and chickens are hatchery birds. I saw them in brooder and . I will probably get birds or hatching eggs from breeders from now on. If your a serious breeder mine probably aren't up to standard and Chickieluver26 has birds that need a home.

I have not hatched them quite yet the SLW will hatch in August. I got them from a BYC breeder I will attach the pictures she sent me of some of her parent stock. Would you come all the way here or meet me half-way? And are you still wanting one later in the year? if so that would be a blessing

I will need some time to figure out genders.
Thanks

 

[orumpoultry]

I think we all just need to go out and get ourselves some ant eaters. Leash train them and take then for daily walks through the runs

Side note: My very tame, very spoiled guinea forgot how to get back to the roost. Or didn't realize dark was upon him. Or was to busy chasing the teenagers...

When DF got home from helping the neighbor out I went to meet him in the yard. I guess he heard and recognized my voice because all of the sudden Larry came FLYING to me. Note, it's just gone total pitch dark outside and I had a near minor heart attack over the screaming white blob of terror flying towards me. He doesn't like John very much, and when he heard 's voice he took off into the dark.

Twenty minutes later I managed to coax Larry back over to me. Not before DF ran him around the yard like a crazy mad man. He snuck up behind him and snatched him up, then handed the screeching bird to me. Thanks doll. Haha!

Always something around here. Everyone is safely tucked away for the night now.

 

[magpiesing]

FYI...Chickens love mint and it is good for them...any kind of mint and there are many from common spearmint to lemon, apple and chocolate mint. Spearmint is the easiest to grow, in fact it can become invasive if you let it. I grow it in pots but am going to plant it around my coop and let it go. It dies to the ground in winter but then comes back. Hangs bundles of it in the chicken coop, it smells nice and repels flies and other bugs. Oh and you can eat it too, tastes great in tea!

 

[bnjrob]

....has anyone mentioned cinnamon for ants?? I've read that it will keep them out of areas by setting a boundary...last year I tried it with fireants in the kitchen and I think the ants thought it was a treat. Maybe it's any strong smelling spice? I have doused fireants with pure lemon juice and it killed them, too. Not very convenient though.

...fireants suck.

I have tried it and it worked well. I had to make a heavy line of cinnamon, but the ants would not cross it. I was having problems with them going into our dog's crates to look for dog food - so I put a ring of cinnamon around the crates and watched while the ants kept trying to find a way through but they would not cross a heavy, unbroken line of cinnamon. I got bulk cinnamon and put it into a squeeze bottle to make it easier to apply. And the living rooms smelled good too.

 

[bnjrob]

I think we all just need to go out and get ourselves some ant eaters. Leash train them and take then for daily walks through the runs

Side note: My very tame, very spoiled guinea forgot how to get back to the roost. Or didn't realize dark was upon him. Or was to busy chasing the teenagers...

When DF got home from helping the neighbor out I went to meet him in the yard. I guess he heard and recognized my voice because all of the sudden Larry came FLYING to me. Note, it's just gone total pitch dark outside and I had a near minor heart attack over the screaming white blob of terror flying towards me. He doesn't like John very much, and when he heard 's voice he took off into the dark.

Twenty minutes later I managed to coax Larry back over to me. Not before DF ran him around the yard like a crazy mad man. He snuck up behind him and snatched him up, then handed the screeching bird to me. Thanks doll. Haha!

Always something around here. Everyone is safely tucked away for the night now.

 

[bnjrob]

Off topic question, I have been entertaining the idea of getting a rooster. I have read that a Jersey Giant would be good for predator protection, and also good for their personality towards people. I have 4 RIR's, an EE, an Americauna, a Barred Rock, and a Buff Orpington. Not really worried about cross breeding, just protecting my ladies. Any advice????

A Jersey Giant won't be any better than any other rooster against a predator. A rooster is usually the first to die because they usually sound the alarm and allow the hens time to get away, but the chances of any chicken coming out on top when faced with fighting a predator is slim to none. Being larger, a Jersey might be able to fight a bit longer before dying, but still just as unlikely to survive without human intervention as other breeds.

 

[Starfire669]

Ok thank you I'm just not in the position to take any Roos here at my house at our ranch is where I have one and will take a Wyandotte If I am unable to re-home all of them and they start to crow I will probably use you as a back up. I wish I could keep Roos but I'm in a neighborhood and I'm pushing it with all my noisy hens

.
Thanks

This may be insensitive, but have you considered culling the Roos and eating them? It sounds harsh, but not a lot of demand for Roos. Unless someone loses a Roo to predators, those who can have some already do. That's the reason why I am not throwing a fit over my hubby wanting to put ours in the freezer. The only people around here who would take my extra Roos would eat them anyway.

 

[chickieluver26]

This may be insensitive, but have you considered culling the Roos and eating them? It sounds harsh, but not a lot of demand for Roos. Unless someone loses a Roo to predators, those who can have some already do. That's the reason why I am not throwing a fit over my hubby wanting to put ours in the freezer. The only people around here who would take my extra Roos would eat them anyway.

I've always thought about it but I get so attached to them and I just can't do it. I'd rather give it to someone else who knows what they are doing if it has to get killed I had a dream once when we had a bad rooster that we messed up while trying to kill it and it suffered a lot and that disturbs me. I know I sound like a marshmallow in Texas but I just can't do it