Please Help!

[CaliforniaZebraFinch]

Okay well I did all of the suggestions to get rid of the ants but it seems they stay around the cage. I've checked and they are walking out and around the nest . The Zebra's and eggs are unharmed but I am worried that when my little chicks hatch that they will get attacked by these pests.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[annague]

Hi, There is another post here about ants attacking babies so I would do a "search" and bring it up -- many suggestions were made and it is a very interesting post.

Let us know what you try.

[Mez]

I haven't said anything in the other post due to the fact that that some people have had bad experiences, but I tell you if I had this problem I would be strategically placing L2-3 sized Praying Mantis along the lines. You'll be able to pick them up for around $5 or so? Go for one of the cheaper species as
if you don't get the placement of them right the ants will run them down and eat them too. Don't get adults, they won't see ants as food.
I have pretty much no experience with finches, I've had
zebras and gouldians for like a month, but I do know inverts and I know mantis.
Cheers
James

[annague]

Wow. Interesting thought, James. I like the idea of natural ant control!

[Neysa]

I am having similar problems with ants. Spraying vinegar and even Ivory dish washing liquid only works for a few hours.

Trying something new this morning. Got a bottle of spray that safe to use on the birds for mites and lice. I'm hoping that keeps the ants at bay too!

Sprayed it on all the cage supports where the ant trails were, and on the floor of the cage where I put the feed bowls. It seemed to kill the ants that it came into contact with. Fingers crossed this works.

[debbyloo]

The best solution I've found to keep ants at bay is Sevin dust. This is apparently a relatively safe pesticide to use, as they use it around chickens in commercial chicken houses, and under the nests of purple martins in purple martin houses to keep nest mites at bay as well. It has no strong odor, and it is a dry powder and remains effective as long as it stays dry. I place some in a saucer and put a saucer under each leg of my flight cage. That way the ants have to travel through the sevin dust before getting into the cage, and they never make it. Sevin dust makes them disappear! I have found this to be the only thing that effectively combats those pesky little tiny black "sugar' ants that show up in my kitchen from time to time. If I sprinkle a little around their trail, they instantly have other places to go! I have also heard that you can make up a "bait" of granulated white sugar mixed with boric acid ("roach pruff") and that they will eat that and die. Boric acid (a dry powder) will not hurt your birds I don't think - it can be safely used around food and in kitchens. It harms an insect's ability to breathe(I think it pierces their exoskeleton, maybe it is a "sharp" shaped crystal?) rather than being a poison in and of itself. The sugar draws the ants to the boric acid powder. I personally would not trust either of these things where my birds could actually get to them, just cause I am extra cautious, but you could easily rig up something to maintain access to the ants but keep the birds out of it (maybe a low clay saucer up on low "legs" that lets ants under but not birds). Hope either of these ideas help.

[can]

I've never tried this, but I've heard people use double sided sticky tape around the trunks of apple trees to keep the ants out of them. You could put the tape around the legs of the stand your cage is on or around the bottom of the cage, just make sure your finches can't get near it!

[B CAMP]

Here is a link to one that works have used for some time they say to use the small plastic cups that butter sour cream etc.but i found that the plastic prescription bottles work better around the birds just put four holes in bottom of bottle stuff bottle with cotton balls and pour the solution in put the top on the birds can't get to it ,even set a small pot over the bottle the ants get to the sugar solution
http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww36eii.htm

The avian insect liquidator work well too and you can spray that on the birds for mites so its safe