Ants

[Tami]

Ok, so for several days I’ve been finding tiny ants on the floor.  First they were over by my Rose-Breasted Cockatoo, Pebbles, cage and they were carrying various little tidbits with them.  I figured they were after the Goldenfeast food that we feed our parrots (good stuff !)……but after I sucked them all up with the vacuum, they have now appeared underneath my Cockatiel, Li’l Sprout’s, cage and two of my buns are sitting in front of Sprout’s cage.

At first I thought the same thing as w/Pebbles……that they were after the parrot food, but I stood there and watched for a little bit and they’re coming from around the rabbit’s cage !  Seems they are after BB’s Oat hay that is all over the floor from falling out of the holder (this stuff is so coarse, it’s hard to keep it in the hay ball when the buns pull some out to eat, so it’s all over the place !). 

Anyway, do you think it’s because the Oat hay has a “sweet” flavor to it ?  I’m not about to try it, but someone else can, if they want , JK, LOL ! 

Kidding aside, is anyone else having problems with ants around their bun cage?  Surely they couldn’t be after their pellets, could they ?  We feed “Dumor Show Quality” pellets, we feed different hays on different days and I haven’t given any “sweet” treats like carrots, apples or bananas for a while now, so there aren’t any remnants of that around *shrugs* 

I had some Chili Powder that I sprinkled around underneath Sprout’s cage, but it didn’t deter them in the least !  I was going to sprinkle some Cinnamon on the floor before that, but I don’t have much left and don’t want to waste it, so I’m just “standing by” with vacuum hose in hand to suck up the “stragglers” for now, but I have so many other things I could be doing right now *sigh*

Cripes…..it’s always something !  Anyone have any suggestions ?  What else can I use that will fend them off ? 

I never figured having buns in the house would be a dinner call to all the ants in the neighborhood !  Sheesh !

[Sage Cat]

A friend of mine had a problem with ants in her house. Since she has cats she did not want to use any kind of yucky spray.

After some research, she put fresh Bay Leaves where ever she found the ants coming into the house – typically electrical outlets or windows – it worked like a charm – no more ants!

[Sarita]

Bay leaves! That is very interesting and I like that idea – did she use fresh or dried? Is it the fragrance that they do not like?

[bunnytowne]

wow bay leaves  ….who knew   that sounds like a safe alternative

[Nicci607]

Posted By Sarita on 06/10/2008 11:36 AM
Bay leaves! That is very interesting and I like that idea – did she use fresh or dried? Is it the fragrance that they do not like?

Bay Leaves, they have to be FRESH

they also work great against roaches!! this spring has been REALLY bad here in GA!! Its just awful with tiny ants everywhere, flying insects, and now…flying roaches. I was used to flying roaches in SC, but now, they are around here too!! Disgusting. I don’t know what can be done for those flying roaches, though…

anybody has any advise on that??? could you hang up dried garlic or something???

???

 

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

How bout this? Get some duct tape and tape it around the perimeter of the cages (and maybe the doors/windows too for you!) so that it’s sticky side up. Guaranteed, that’ll fix er!! (Used to live in Southern Ontario and had lots of ants!!)

[kralspace]

For the flying roaches, the best thing is a new flyswatter! You’re right, they are bad this year. I usually see one or 2 during the summer (even with the rabbits), but since it got so hot I kill a few each day.

I have to say though, I catch them coming out of my son’s room more often than the rabbit’s room so I keep yelling at him to clean his room up!

[rabbitsmba]

UGH! I’ve been dealing with ants for a few months now. The tiny ones, tons of them in the basement. I tried vinegar-soaked paper towel and then cayenne pepper, both to no avail. Then I tried something called Insectigone which contains diotimaceous earth. It’s like miniscule razor blades that cut the ants and dehydrate them – but it’s completely safe for animals. This kept them at bay, until the other night….

I went down to check on the bunnies and the door that leads to the garage was covered in flying ants! AAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!! Oh it was so gross! They were flying everywhere, buzzing up to the light, getting zapped, dropping to the ground – I FREAKED! I moved the bunnies upstairs and the next day, called in the professionals who laid down bait for them to take back to the colony and poison them.

I realized that killing them on-site didn’t really do the trick as more just kept coming – you need to destroy the nest. They say that at any given time, when you see ants , you are only seeing about one per cent of the actual colony that is living nearby…

I have since heard that a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and icing sugar also works. The sugar attracts them to eat it, the soda expands inside them and kills them. Haven’t tried it though….

[MarkBun]

Posted By rabbitsmba on 06/10/2008 1:09 PM

I have since heard that a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and icing sugar also works. The sugar attracts them to eat it, the soda expands inside them and kills them. Haven’t tried it though….

As an fyi, this mixture will also kill a bun.  Since a bun can’t burp (despite the cute commercial for 7up), the gas from the soda will expand their bellies too.

[rabbitsmba]

YIKES! Thanks for clarifying that, markusdark! Guess I’ll NOT be trying that one out!

[Nicci607]

Posted By kralspace on 06/10/2008 1:06 PM
For the flying roaches, the best thing is a new flyswatter! You’re right, they are bad this year. I usually see one or 2 during the summer (even with the rabbits), but since it got so hot I kill a few each day.

I have to say though, I catch them coming out of my son’s room more often than the rabbit’s room so I keep yelling at him to clean his room up!

hiya, kralspace!!

those flying roaches…they are EVIL…

someone told me, NOT to swat them, cuz the females carry millions of eggs in them, so that’s why you shouldn’t swat them???

they really are nasty things!! even the time it takes to get my groceries from the car inside the house…they’re flying in my car!!! arghz!!! and its hard to get to them there, and I don’t wanna spray chemicals in my car [that of course, WOULD kill them right away, though]

 

xx

 

 

[Bunstheboss]

Oh God! I was just about to post about this!!! I have exactly the same problem, fortunately not so much around the bunnies’ room, but in several different places of the house and the bunny garden. I was afraid of using any kind of poison, no matter how mild, so all these suggestions really come in handy!! I’ll keep you posted as soon as I try one. BTW, what are Bay Leaves? (I am not a native speaker, so sometimes I need help). I anybody knows the Spanish for that, so much the better!!

Thanks!!!

[Nicci607]

Posted By markusdark on 06/10/2008 1:18 PM

Posted By rabbitsmba on 06/10/2008 1:09 PM

I have since heard that a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and icing sugar also works. The sugar attracts them to eat it, the soda expands inside them and kills them. Haven’t tried it though….

As an fyi, this mixture will also kill a bun.  Since a bun can’t burp (despite the cute commercial for 7up), the gas from the soda will expand their bellies too.

no, no, no, oh my,…no killing no bunz here!!

would that 50/50 mixture work, though, if I put it outside??? like around the house???

 

 

 

 

[Bunnies4ever]

The trick is to kill the colony (I know, better said than done). I also have a problem with ants. You have to go outside and find the trail from the colony into your home. I’ve found them on my patio and in my garage. What I have done is to put boric acid around the outside where I find them and on the inside use the bay leaves. So far, the ants haven’t found their way into the rabbits room. They are mostly in my kitchen cupboard and countertop. I’m really NOT into using any type of spray. It’s counterproductive to me.  I’ve done some research and boric acid is not toxic to animals in small doses.  If you have outside pets, you may want to be extra careful where you place it to be on the safe side.

[Nicci607]

Posted By Bunnycraze on 06/10/2008 2:02 PM

Oh God! I was just about to post about this!!! I have exactly the same problem, fortunately not so much around the bunnies’ room, but in several different places of the house and the bunny garden. I was afraid of using any kind of poison, no matter how mild, so all these suggestions really come in handy!! I’ll keep you posted as soon as I try one. BTW, what are Bay Leaves? (I am not a native speaker, so sometimes I need help). I anybody knows the Spanish for that, so much the better!!

Thanks!!!

Hi, bunnycraze!!

I think the spanish word for

Bay Leaves is:

hojas de laurel

 

could be wrong, though

just starting learning spanish…

 

adios??? right???

 

 

 

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hmm, bay leaves?  I hadn’t heard of that one.  I was going to suggest boric acid and diotomaceous earth but they have already been suggested.  For flying insects (outdoors) I love using a bug zapper.  I have also heard that everything in the mint family will repel insects as well.  So try dousing a cotton ball with peppermint oil and leaving that in strategic places.  I am not sure if bay leaf oil is sold anywhere.

Here are some more tips that I’ve tried some of and they worked pretty well, one even suggests cucumber!

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm

 I just wanted to add that it looks like catnip repels both ants and cockroaches.

[Nicci607]

scarlet:

thanxx A LOT for that website!! some REALLY good info there…

 

 

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

No problem! Just be sure to keep an eye on your rabbits for any adverse reaction to the smell like runny noses & eyes (distress-type symptoms).

[Author]

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