Ants in the cage!

[Barbi]

I don't know how to effectively and safely get the ants out of Krickett's (3-yr old yellow collared macaw) cage. Apparently they are after her seeds and/nuts. I have emptied the cage completely, cleaned everything, cleaned around in, every inch of the cage and put most of her goodies back in. Jeff has gone outside and found where they are getting into the house and sprayed and we have put some dish soap and water solution along the wall/carpet seam where they seem to be moving in towards her cage from but the ants are back this morning. Any ideas what we can do to stop them?

[LovelySydney]

I have read that cornmeal is effective in getting rid of ants. Is the cage small enough so that you could effectively take it out and clean it from head to toe?? Like, spray it down with a hose? This could at least get them off of the cage itself. I would suggest cornmeal at the bottom of the cage underneath the grate but thats only if your bird doesnt try to eat things down there - plus, I dont know if thats particularly safe!! Anyone know if that would be possible?

[Barbi]

The cage is 3x4x6, weights a LOT and not on casters so getting it outside isn't feasible. Yeah...anyone know if cornmeal would be okay? It sounds safe...at least it doesn't sound bad...

[Eloise]

don't forget to put sugar in the dishsoap/water, to attract them to the cup.

Start wiping is cage every single day with damp soapy cloth, ants follow pheramones(i think its what they're called) to find their way to and from food sources, if you wipe out the 'trail' and keep wiping away new ones you may find the ants find something else to bug.

[MissV]

Pheromones is good.

Also, citrus (like oranges) and ants HATE spicy things...but macaws love it! You might try getting some chili powder or dice some peppers up and mix it in the food.


There are also the all natural globe things you put in your garden. Only ants can manage to get inside it, where there's delicious ant food. They bring it back to their nest, dole it out, and it kills them. We've been using this for a while now and it's just about rid us of all the ants. The globes go outside of the house, near the ants but not too close...it's better if they find them.


if you'd like, I will check and fin dout what the crap those globe things are called. it may help you out. They're not crazy expensive but not cheap either.

[swanwillow]

If your bird isn't toooo explorative. Can try putting vaseline or its alternative around the bottom few inches of the stand's feet.

[lorikeet tweet]

I have always used cinnamon to keep ants away, around the house and in the cages. It is safe for birds and most ants will not walk through cinnamon. I sprinkle the powder at the bottom of the cage and sometimes in with the food.

It works well for me, good luck!

[FeathersNFur8]

Originally Posted by Barbi

The cage is 3x4x6, weights a LOT and not on casters so getting it outside isn't feasible. Yeah...anyone know if cornmeal would be okay? It sounds safe...at least it doesn't sound bad...

Barbi, could you put a dish of water under each leg of the cage? The ants wouldn't be able to climb the cage if they had to go through water to get on the cage.

[Jagsdaughter]

we had ant problems in Ricos cage so we cleand his ENTIRE cage and put ant traps on he floor behind the cages where the birds never go.

[Lori~D]

I have put ant baits into the tray But only in cages where the tray is way far from the grate and there is a barrier to keep birds who are climbing on the outside of the cage OUT of the tray.