Can Ants Kill Chickens?
WouterUsing ant killers to get rid of ants is not always effective. Ants will also carry pesticides, and chickens can become sick from toxic pesticides.
Some chicken owners have found that ants are a great natural pest control method. However, chickens should not be left to fend for themselves, and it’s important to keep the chicken coop and surrounding areas clean and ant free.
Fire ants can be very dangerous for chickens, and they can cause severe pain and even death if they bite. The alkaloid-containing venom causes localized necrosis.
Carpenter ants can also be a problem in your chicken coop. They will chew up wood to create their nests, and these nests can damage your wooden structures. Carpenter ants are black in color. They can be very dangerous to your chickens, and you should remove the nest immediately.
Red fire ants are also very dangerous to your chickens. They can cause severe pain and stings. These ants can also poison pets and humans.
Carpenter ants have multiple satellite nests. The larger the colony, the more satellite nests are present. They also have larger, more complex mounds. This means you will have to spend more time getting rid of them.
To deal with these ants, you can drench the mound with a solution of vinegar and water. Or you can spray the perimeter with a solution of pyrethrins. These are compounds found naturally in chrysanthemum flowers.
Some chicken owners use ant eating as a natural pest control method. It’s not always effective, however, and you might need to resort to other methods to get rid of ants. If you need to use a product, you will need to follow the directions on the package.
