Thousands of ants!!! Help!

[joanm]

I cleaned out my coop today and they were thousands of ants in the pine shavings and in the wheat straw that I put down in the run due to all the rain we’ve had. They were crawling all over the coop. I did sprinkle DE in the coop a couple of days ago, but it really didn’t seem to help, the ants just alter their course. I am so desperate I bought grits to sprinkle in and around their coop. Does anyone else have this problem? What do you do? I’m really at a loss – I can’t spray poison for fear I’ll kill by birds! HELP?!

 

[Southern28Chick]

I would have suggested DE, but you already tried that. I don't know! I would think the chickens would love easy treats such as ants. Would it be to much for you to put DE all over your chicken house and run? I'm stumped.

 

[speckledhen]

Try to get Orange Guard from Ace hardware. It is natural, made from citrus. Take out all the bedding and spray the coop everywhere with that stuff. It even smells great. It is safe around the birds, too. Other than DE, I wouldn't have a clue about another thing except Orange Guard. My ACE didn't have it and I insisted they order the stuff.

 

[Alleyoops25]

I have used Borax soap before. I dont know why but they are attracted to it and eat it like you put down sugar. Once its in their systems they cant digest it and it cuts up their organs and kills them. I am surpised you chickens arent eating them.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Borax mixes seems to work as well as anything else for us. See here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8314

 

[Wolfpacker]

I suppose it's OK for the chicks to eat ants? Mine were outside yesterday and five of them completely finished off an ant hill. As quickly as an ant could come out, it would be eaten. I was amazed at their speed and acuracy - and these were tiny little ants who were living under a rock. Every now and then one of the chicks would stamp her feet to get the ants off, but when they were finished, so were the ants. Not one left in sight. I'm surprised yours haven't been gorging themselves.

 

[HobbyChickener]

What exactly is DE? I have used the Orange Guard in my house before and I think it attracted ants.

 

[Zenbirder]

I would say use more DE. It will work if you can get the ants in contact with it. We have white lines around every door in the house or they just walk in under the dorrs.

 

[bantymum]

They dont like salt!!!!
I use "ant rid" which is a potent poison but you only need a teensy bit in an unaccesible spot, the ants take it back to the nest and the queen ant tastes it and goes to heaven and so do all her worker ants, very horrible but quick!
I prefer bio controls and never use poison sprays etc in and around my home with the exception of this ant stuff!
A bit of a hypocrite I know but I cant stand ants in large numbers crawling everywhere, they hurt when they bite you when you want to sit outside.

 

[speckledhen]

Ants are pretty tough. My girls will sometimes eat them, sometimes not. Guess you need to use more DE or Borax, it sounds like. Interesting that Orange Guard attracted ants. I said use it because it's safe around the chickens, but if it doesnt kill them, then no reason to use it.