can my chicks eat carpenter ants

[soin4ds]

I have six chicks they are about a week old and they are doing just fine. While I was outside splitting wood this morning I found a nest of carpenter ants some dead some alive probably about a 1/4 cup. I scooped them up and brought them inside. I was wondering if I could give them to my chicks. They are currently on a medicated starter feed with water and a probiotic water supplement. I know some ants can be toxic. I think my chicks might like the "treat" but I don't want to hurt them by accident.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Carpenter ants are probably ok but it's possible the chicks might not be interested in them at all. I would definitely not give them any ants if you suspect they've been sprayed with pesticide (since you mentioned some are dead, I'm wondering what they died from).

 

[azygous]

Ants won't hurt them, but they may find them bitter tasting due to the formic acid in them. My chickens turn up their beaks over ants unless I find a nest under a rock with sweet tasting eggs, then they're all over them.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

I'm pretty sure chickens can eat ants..

 

[BYC910]

I was just thinking I don't remember ever seeing a chicken eat ants .

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine do eat them but don't seem enthusiastic about them. Other bugs seem far more liked by chickens.

 

[twilightgecko]

my girls leave all ants alone.. but i do have a problem with black ants in the coop.. i sprinkle cinnamon in the corners when i clean it..

 

[BYC910]

my girls leave all ants alone.. but i do have a problem with black ants in the coop.. i sprinkle cinnamon in the corners when i clean it..

I now have fire ants on the farm I have a way to kill them with chemicals. Not crazy about it but it works . I have talked to a lot of people about ants lately . The one I want to try that he swears by is boric acid and honey says it will kill all kinds of ants . 50/50 mix and it doesn't take much . Kill the queen kill the colony.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have used the Borax boiled with sugar water on carpenter ants, and it works very well.

As for birds eating ants in the yard, I find that they show little interest until I open up the nest with a spade. The girls tell me that the eggs, larvae, and pupae are much tastier than the plain old ants. And if the nest is in the process of a Queen hatch, the girls love those Queens also. Unfortunately, hubby is not so fond of my insect control efforts when he comes home from work to find his beautiful back lawn (which he takes pride in) looking like the aftermath of a mine field detonation.

 

[mr_jud]

My chickens don't seem very interested in carpenter ants but they love carpenter ants eggs which are easier to get than you might think....find a carpenter ant nest (usually at the base of a tree or a pile of rock) turn a bucket upside down near the nest and the ants will pile their eggs under the bucket.. you then just collect the eggs from under the bucket with a shovel and throw them in with the birds... I have about 10 buckets set up this way near C ant nest and use them instead of laying pellets in the summer...