stupid ants, just want them to go away!!!

[Dobela]

I have flower pots that are becoming ant breeding grounds. I also just bought a bunch of top soil and I don't want it to become ant hilton. What can I do to get rid of the ants? Our chickens and ducks are allowed occassional free range time each day so whatever I do needs to be safe. I was told to sprinkle lime around my yard and planting areas. Would that harm the birds? What else can I do?

 

[Lollipop]

I have flower pots that are becoming ant breeding grounds. I also just bought a bunch of top soil and I don't want it to become ant hilton. What can I do to get rid of the ants? Our chickens and ducks are allowed occassional free range time each day so whatever I do needs to be safe. I was told to sprinkle lime around my yard and planting areas. Would that harm the birds? What else can I do?

Well, believe it or not, I've had success sprinkling corn meal around their nests. The idea is that they carry it back to the queen and everybody eats it, then it gets wet and expands, killing the ant. Takes a few days, but it has worked for me on fire ants. Doesn't take much.

Another thing, in the last week I've noticed sugar ants coming from behind the base board, in my house. I didn't have any cornmeal, but I do have some flax seed meal. Having noticed that the flax seed meal expands when it gets wet, I figured, why not. I sprinkled a pinch of the meal on the vanity in my batheroom and on the floor near the base board. In about 3 days the meal was gone and so were the ants. I have seen a couple since yesterday, so I plan to set out another pinch of meal. Cheap and effective. Go for it.........Pop

 

[FarmerRob]

I have tried the cornmeal, however, it works best if you use a stone-ground cornmeal. They cannot digest it and it will kill all the ones who eat it. The workers carry food to the queen so it should kill off the colony eventually. My favorite non-chemical approach is a dose of DE (diatomaceous earth) mixed with a little confectioners sugar. With either of these you will need to re-treat the area after a rain.

 

[halo]

If cornmeal worked, they would sprinkle it over the entire state of Texas. It just does not work. Amdro is a bait which is treated corn grits. Its not the grits that kill the ants, its the insecticide in it.

 

[Lollipop]

If cornmeal worked, they would sprinkle it over the entire state of Texas. It just does not work. Amdro is a bait which is treated corn grits. Its not the grits that kill the ants, its the insecticide in it.

I knew someone would dissagree, however, I have proved this method on about 6 fire ant mounds on my property in GA. Killed all the mounds and they did not relocate. Also, the FLAX Meal worked to rid my house of sugar ants. I guarrentee they aren't sitting in my wall making plans to overpower my defences. If it doesn't work for you, you aren't doing it right............Pop

 

[bj taylor]

what about the chickens eating the amdro? i'm going to be really fighting fire ants this year, i can tell already.

 

[Dobela]

what about the chickens eating the amdro? i'm going to be really fighting fire ants this year, i can tell already.

Yeah, that is my concern as well. We do allow our ladies to free range most afternoons and they do go near my pots of plants on the porch.

 

[jamesbwood]

Do guinnes eat ants?

 

[Lollipop]

Do guinnes eat ants?

Yes, but ants far outnumber guineas, no matter how many guineas you have........Pop