ANTS in the indoor bird house

[Spreckles]

Every year when it rains heavily ants find their way into my bird cages. I have diatomaceous earth in there. I would never spray in the house anything. Usually find where they are going in outside. My QUESTION is will the finches eat them????

[Sally]

Finches eat ant eggs, but I don't know if they will eat the ants. We've been having lots of rain lately, so anthills are popping up everywhere. Yesterday, I found a large mound on the side of my house, with ants going in and out of the weep hole at the foundation. Outside, I will spray whatever ant poison spray I have on hand, but inside I only use Avian Insect Liquidator. It will kill ants and is perfectly safe around the birds, even on them.

[Spreckles]

Wow thanks for that info! I am glad they weren't red ants those mounds are coming everywhere.

[Rox]

I've seen my waxbills eat ants and they are listed as a food source for the Orange-breasted waxbill in the wild.

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/bir ... flavus.htm

But I don't encourage ants in the aviary as they will kill clutches of new born chicks if they get into the nest. I usually follow the trail back to the ant nest outside of the aviary and put ant poison down.

[cindy]

I use terro ant bait on the floor right next to the spot they are entering the house. Set it in the trail they walk. Do not put thin in where birds can get to it or other pets or children.

They are drawn to this and it usually eliminates the issue in less than 24 douse...they take the bait back to the nest and feed it to the queen... mound dies.

Sprays are great outside but also try the granular bait, same process they feed it to the queen and the mound dies. Do not disturb the mound with a shovel or stick they will simply move the mound. Do not use the granulars in side an outdoor aviary.

[Spreckles]

Cindy

since you are from Florida where bugs are as prolific as where i am i will look for this. I do use bait that kills the queen but we have had a terrible year for ants here!!! It was even on the news not long ago. just grateful they aren't red ants, those are bad enough outside.

[paul-inAZ]

Granular poisons that are carried into the ant nests kill the queen and are very effective.
There are two sizes. The 'regular' has larger granules. I use one labeled for fire ants that has smaller granules. The thinking here is that smaller granules are easier for the worker ants to carry into the nest.
Kill the queen and thereby the nests some 10 or 15 feet from your house and you won't have them coming in.

[Nipper06]

TERRO really works on small ants that like sweet stuff. You just have to wait a while for them to bring it back to the nest. It may take a week or more to eliminate all the ants. As Cindy says, put it where they are coming in the room and they will find it (but don't put it where your birds can get it).

Big Box stores like Lowes or Home Depot usually have it, if you can't find it in your local hardware store.