FINCHforum

Does anyone know if bird seed (like the kind we give our finches) attracts ants? Also, does anyone know if Zebra finches and Gouldian finches would eat ants? I found Ants in my room yesterday, quite a bit, and I did have a bit of a mess, like hulls and feathers, and of course some seed on the floor, but the window had some openings (i've now covered them) So I don't know if the ants came in because of the opportunity (being able to walk right in) or if the "mess" of seeds on the floor attracted them. Also, i noticed they were on the floor and window sill near the window all around the cages, but NOT a SINGLE one was IN any of the cages, or near any of their fresh, not yet eaten seed... Just wondering if anyone knows. Thanks for any info!!! Hope all my fellow finch fanciers are doing well, and had a fantastic Independence Day!!!

We get tons of ants here in Florida. They're everywhere and I'm constantly plugging holes along the foundation.

I don't think they're attracted to seeds.

I've had ants in my bird room (and they didn't last long - I think they got eaten?) and they went for little bits of fruit/veggies/egg/mealworm bits that fell through the grate.
But they didn't seem interested in seeds.

I also toss my seed hulls outdoors so the wild birds can get the leftovers (my guys don't eat some of the bigger seeds in the mix and I hate to waste!)
I often toss the mix on the driveway and I've never seen ants going nuts for it.

MiaCarter Thanks Mia. I didn't think so either (i had QUITE the mess behind my dresser!!!) so i was worried that was why i had them. Of course you know how MA is, it's summer now, and we are getting ants galore... just where I never had them in my room before I got a little nervous.... and I wondered if the ants "knew" better than to go into the cage, like you said... bird is a natural predator? Not sure, but thanks I didn't really think so, but my dad was saying the ants were coming in because of the bird seed.... sometimes he ONLY THINKS he knows it all ya know? hahah

I get ants e every summer. I just put out some ant bait and that takes care of them (usually). They are around the bird cages, but I think they are eating the bird dust...at least that's what I assumed, not based on any scientific data or anything

I've had ants coming into the aviary and carrying seeds out so they definitely do like seeds. I've had to use ant traps and ant powder to get rid of them. I haven't had the ant problem inside my home where I keep several cages.

Ants are opportunistic, seed is considered food to them. We live in Florida also, we get everything from small sugar ants to fire ants here. They tend to come inside to either seek water or get away from it (rainy season). They also can get up under foundations and enter via cracks. Caulking or sealing small holes and cracks can help prevent them from entering. Often spraying the yard or perimeter of the house may push them inside, they are trying to get away fro the chemical.

If you treat a mount do not stir the product/granular into the mound, it will simply cause the ants/queen to relocate the mound. Gently put the product on top of the mound and around the mound.

We treat the entire yard, mounds and use a product inside called Terro. It is easy to use and generally after putting it out the ants are gone within a day or so. This however should not be place where dogs, cats or birds, children can get to it. A drop or trap placed in the trail line or near where the ants are coming from is all that is needed.

The ants here eat seeds especially leftover eggfood. Normally I don't pay attention if they are black ants or the small red ants. But if they happen to be medium sized red ants ( the ones that have a nasty bite), I find the lair and nuke it with insecticide. These ants will sometimes bite chicks and even adult birds. I even lost some birds to them a few years ago.

MiaCarter wrote: <snippage>
I also toss my seed hulls outdoors so the wild birds can get the leftovers (my guys don't eat some of the bigger seeds in the mix and I hate to waste!)

I have been tossing seed cup contents daily because its just easier than trying to separate out the hulls - the seed cups are too deep, not like the shallow cups we could get 40 or 50 years ago that seem to be so hard to find now.

Of course I don't fill the cups, just put in enough to cover the bottom. There are currently 3 seed cups in the cage, 2 for "regular" finch mix and one for nyjer seed.

I had not thought of offering the leftovers to my wild birds! I will start doing that from now on.

lnlovesorange

I get the occasional ant that wonders in looking for treats.
I usually will let it walk on to a piece of paper and put it back outside.

Some years ago however, I had more than one coming in. For some reason, they were attracted to a house plant that I had on my kitchen window sill. I got rid of the plant, and replaced it with a small ant trap. That was the end of that.

I also run around with the vacume cleaner daily, using the hose attachment to get into corners and areas that my broom can't reach. That takes care of hulls, feathers and whatnot, including any ants or other insect critters who think it's a good idea to take up residence.

Elana

cindy - That's me! Constantly caulking up the foundation! The sugar ants are the ones we get indoors most often.

They're super tiny, so I wonder if that's why they don't eat the seed. I bet different ant species eat slightly differently.

I always see the sugar ants eating bits of egg food and mealworm bits.

I don't use chemicals or baits because of all my dogs and cats. I just plug the hole where they're coming from and use a mix of water and borax to wipe out the scent trail.
Once you eliminate that scent trail that they lay down, they need to rediscover the food source all over again (which takes time and generally, they seem to just give up and go elsewhere.)

The borax and water works beautifully. But you need to make a new mix every time because if you leave it in the spray bottle it will crystalize and plug up the sprayer tube and nozzle.

That's funny that you mentioned them coming indoors to escape the rain. I've noticed that they seem to start coming in after big rains and always assumed that was the case, but never knew for sure.

Sojourner - yes, your wild bird friends will definitely love the leftovers!

My guys don't eat all of the seeds in the mix (no matter what mix I pick!) so that's why I started tossing outdoors.

I hate to waste food! Especially when there are hungry birds outdoors!

Just beware that any uneaten seeds will sprout, so you don't want to toss it onto your lawn. That's why I toss it onto my driveway.

you do need to be careful with borax if you have dogs and cats.... anything that breaks the scent trail like soapy water will work. I use the Terro traps and place a plastic shoe box with a cut out so the ants can get to the bait but dogs can not...that goes against the wall over the area the ants are coming in. The key is to let them feed on the bait, take it to the queen and once she dies the mound dies. Caulking helps but they will find another way in and some ants will chew through caulk.

cindy - That's a great idea with the shoe box. So clever!
Alas, that wouldn't work for me because my cats are box-obsessed and they would mess with it until they got it open.

With the borax, I don't leave it out, so hopefully nothing harmful to the creatures.
I mix it with some water in a spray bottle, shake, then spray on the scent trails. Let it sit for about 2-3 min, then wipe up.
I tried just soapy water but it didn't work quite as well. They got it re-established pretty quickly, whereas the borax-and-water seems to eliminate all traces. I've never had them re-establish the scent trail.

That's curious that some can chew through the caulking!
Fortunately, the caulking has been quite effective for me, but I have those tiny sugar ants.
I can imagine some of the larger ants with stronger mandibles could chomp right through!

I'm always on the lookout for fire ants. We have them in our yard, but so far none have come indoors. (Thank goodness because I have a dog who's acutely allergic. Just one bite sends her into anaphylactic shock.)

I have a friend who says she uses flea spray on the ant trails and apparently, it works well.
I've never tried it, but it is a powerful insecticide, so it makes sense.