Ant Problem

[Birdfoot]

I just officially moved into my house (house was built in 1948) but my green cheek conure and parakeet have been here for a couple days. Today I woke up and discovered ants in my bird room!

I've collected information online - how to kill ants and such, however, I am extremely nervous about potentially hurting my birds with the the means used to kill ants.

How can I kill these ants in my bird room without harming my birds?

I've read about Diatomaceous Earth, which sounds like a great option. I've also read that you can put the legs of the bird cage in a bowl of water so the ants can't crawl up it.

We will be using pesticide on the outside of the house, but my roommate wants to use it by the windows too, which I think is a good idea, but the windows are 1948 windows and I'm so scared about it potentially leaking through the window.


TLDR; does anyone have advice on how to get rid of an ant problem while keeping my birds safe from the means used to kill ants?

 

[Rebel]

I get ants every spring in my bird room. I put these out and the ants disappear in no time.

 

[Birdfoot]

I get ants every spring in my bird room. I put these out and the ants disappear in no time.
View attachment 459980

OH thank you SO MUCH! I'm going to purchase these!

I know this might be an extremely obvious question, but I make sure my birds do NOT go near this and if I have my birds out and about I will make sure they do not walk anywhere near them? Sorry I have huge anxiety LOL

 

[Rebel]

OH thank you SO MUCH! I'm going ti purchase these!

I know this might be an extremely obvious question, but I make sure my birds do NOT go near this and if I have my birds out and about I will make sure they do not walk anywhere near them? Sorry I have huge anxiety LOL

Your anxiety is completely understandable. I put them under the cupboard and stand that i have in their room. Most definitely make sure your birds cant get them. You may even want to put them out at night and pick them up during the day if you have to.
Wash your hands after handling them if youll be holding your birds etc….. just in case.

 

[Clueless]

I hate ants.

I've bought Terro before (comes in different forms but there's a liquid) but I've only put it in a part of the house that the birds can NOT GET ANYWHERE CLOSE TO IT. Like mentioned above, I wash my hands thoroughly before getting close to the birds or their food.

We are going to treat outside the house this year because I've just had it with those critters.

 

[rocky'smom]

DE it's another great deterrent for ants. DO NOT GET THE SWIMMING POOL version. get human grade type

 

[Rebel]

DE it's another great deterrent for ants. DO NOT GET THE SWIMMING POOL version. get human grade type

Does it kill them or just deter them?

 

[JAavian]

I personally use the ant bait traps in my house and just don't use them places the bird can get and my birds are always monitored while out so it is not an issue. I haven't had many issues with ants yet this year besides ants suddenly coming out of the bathroom sink drain! Vinegar is also used as an ant deterrent as it destroys their pheromone trails so I would spray some in places you see them regularly walking.

 

[rocky'smom]

Does it kill them or just deter them?

it's a deterrent but they can't walk over it because it will shred their bodies.

 

[Shezbug]

Kills all bugs with an exoskeleton but is also unfortunately extremely dangerous to breathe in. People are choosing to no longer use it with their poultry and many gardeners are also no longer using it. I will still use it sparingly outside in the garden for certain pest control around my plants and I also use it around the outside of the house. I have used it a few times inside a cupboard to kill off the ants coming in but I wont use it anywhere near where Burt or Squeak will flap and make the dust airborne or anywhere my dog is likely to stick her nose, I have recently also settled down with how much I use it in my garden as I discovered it also gets many of the tiny bugs we need to keep things healthy. It gets into the cracks in the bugs shells and basically acts like little razor blades. Great stuff but hard to use safely with pets.

 

[Shezbug]

Does it kill them or just deter them?

Opps I did it again.... post above should have had you tagged in it lol

 

[Rebel]

Opps I did it again.... post above should have had you tagged in it lol

Like Forrest Gump would say “It happens”

 

[Rebel]

Kills all bugs with an exoskeleton but is also unfortunately extremely dangerous to breathe in. People are choosing to no longer use it with their poultry and many gardeners are also no longer using it. I will still use it sparingly outside in the garden for certain pest control around my plants and I also use it around the outside of the house. I have used it a few times inside a cupboard to kill off the ants coming in but I wont use it anywhere near where Burt or Squeak will flap and make the dust airborne or anywhere my dog is likely to stick her nose, I have recently also settled down with how much I use it in my garden as I discovered it also gets many of the tiny bugs we need to keep things healthy. It gets into the cracks in the bugs shells and basically acts like little razor blades. Great stuff but hard to use safely with pets.

When i first found my bunny rabbit i wanted to give her a bath to clean her up and kill off/wash away any possible bugs. I went to tractor supply to see if they had rabbit shampoo. Lol. Turns out there is no such thing. The girl there recommended i dust down the rabbit with DE to kill off any bugs. She said they do it to her farm animals all the time.I did buy some human grade DE but i never used it. Something told me it wasnt right. Im glad the little voice in my head told me not to.

I still have it and may sprinkle it around the outside of my house.

 

[Shezbug]

When i first found my bunny rabbit i wanted to give her a bath to clean her up and kill off/wash away any possible bugs. I went to tractor supply to see if they had rabbit shampoo. Lol. Turns out there is no such thing. The girl there recommended i dust down the rabbit with DE to kill off any bugs. She said they do it to her farm animals all the time.I did buy some human grade DE but i never used it. Something told me it wasnt right. Im glad the little voice in my head told me not to.

I still have it and may sprinkle it around the outside of my house.

Lots of people used to use it on farm birds and other farm pets but not so much any more (where I live this is true, may not be elsewhere) as they are learning just how much it kills off good as well as bad bugs and most importantly how horribly destructive it is to the mucous membranes of all living beings. I love the stuff and wish it was a little less effective in some ways so I could use it more heavy handed. It works well but not instantly.

 

[shesha0219]

I personally use the ant bait traps in my house and just don't use them places the bird can get and my birds are always monitored while out so it is not an issue. I haven't had many issues with ants yet this year besides ants suddenly coming out of the bathroom sink drain! Vinegar is also used as an ant deterrent as it destroys their pheromone trails so I would spray some in places you see them regularly walking.

 

[shesha0219]

Is vinegar or rosemary essential oil safe?

 

[JAavian]

Is vinegar or rosemary essential oil safe?

Vinegar is safe to use to deter ants, a vinegar / water mix is commonly used as a cleaner (not a disinfectant) for bird cages. As for rosemary essential oil... I would assume not? I have never used essential oils so i don't much about them but I believ they have a strong scent and are normally used by being put into the air? Generally heavily scented items such as room sprays are not safe around birds

 

[Finchbreed]

The putting the legs of the cage/s in bowls of water is effective - have done this with my bird food stands.
I use pyrethrin based spray round the outside of the avairies, and on inside walls where the birds cant peck, it is very effective.
Unlike trying to touch type with a finger taped up and out of action due to a pruning accident - ouch.