Wasp/yellow jacket nest near compost pile

[goldeneggtees]

Hi, yesterday, my husband was working on containing our compost by building a pallet composter. He didn't get very far. He must have accidentally disturbed a wasp/yellow jacket nest.

He got stung a few times and even had the nasty little buggers come into the house with him. I've found two still alive in here this morning.

My question is, has anyone ever had this problem before with compost areas being overtaken by wasp nests?

And also, if my chickens free range and disturb their nest, can they be stung and harmed? Seems like a big nest, I can see them flying in and out of their hole.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of them without being stung?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are coming out of a hole in the ground in large numbers they are most likely yellow jackets and not wasps. The way Dad got rid of yellow jackets was to wait until just before dark when they are all in the nest, pour a little gasoline in the hole and set it on fire. You could use charcoal starter, I'm sure. It would be less likely to explode than gasoline. I don't know if you can safely burn them out or not where they are located. Dad once got rid of a bumblebee nest in a barn by standing near the opening and spraying them with gasoline as they came in and out. I'm sure you could find a contact chemical that would work. There is definitely a fire hazard with gasoline but we had gasoline and no money to buy chemicals for that. He did eventually have to dig out the nest to get the last bees and the eggs, but he knocked the number down tremendously before he had to dig.

Chickens will eat yellow jackets. I would think it is possible a chicken could disturb the nest scratching around the compost and get ovewhelmed, but I don't know for certain. Yellow jackets will defend their nest by swarming on the intruder. I know. A few times I was the intruder so I understand why you want to get rid of them.

Others may come up with better solutions.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Hi Ridgerunner, I'd love to pour some gasoline on them and light them on fire, that would be fantastic, they are such mean bugs! However, I'm afraid of what the fire might lead to. It's in an area of alot of brush and I wouldn't want to set the woods on fire. So, maybe a wasp killing product will work. I know for sure I won't be the one out there doing it. I am deathly afraid of them.

 

[mbleily]

Quote:
I have problems with yellow jackets also. I am very allergic to them so they scary me terribly too. I always leave it to my son and husband to get rid of them. We use the spray we get in the store for them but most of them are up high and the spray is not a threat to any of the chickens or the animals. Just what ever you do ......do it at night. they are not active then. You can bet there are a lot more than what you saw too. Sorry I am not much help but I feel for you.

 

[panner123]

Check around for a product called "Home Denfense". I buy mine at Home Depot. Just pour a ot down the hole after dark, works for me. There is also a foam product that shoots the foam out up to 22 feet that works great also. Only it is hard to get down the hole. It is called Wasp and Bee Killer.

 

[fordmommy]

The Home Defence does not kill on contact. The bugs have to injest it. So if you could wait until they clean themselves, okay. Then use that.

But most hardward stores such as True Value, Fleet Farm, Menards, Lowes, all carry very good sprays for bees that kill on contact or at least almost imediately.

But the spraying should be in the evening when they go to their nest. And stay back because if they find you , you will still get stung. They do fly at night if their nest is desturbed.

 

[Uppity Peon]

The gas will kill them. The fire is not necessary. But it also pollutes the soil. I wouldn't want to use that compost.

 

[goldeneggtees]

HMM, you have a very good point there!
Quote:

 

[lleighmay]

Get a skunk (or leave them be when they come in your yard if they're not damaging anything else).... seriously. I've watched them spend an hour and a half digging out a yellow jacket nest the size of a basketball and when they're done there's nothing left- not even 1 grub. Somehow they seem impervious to any stings. That's why the skunks and I have a live and let live arrangement (and why the chickens are locked up at night and the dogs don't go out without leashes before bed.)

 

[GuineaFowlKepper]

Pour a bit of gas down the hole, and then surround the hole with wire so the chickens can't get to it.