4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bootscooter Nell]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone tell me what the relationship between chickens and ants is? We are in the middle of building our chicken run and the lilac eglu arrived yesterday but when I looked at it today, it has several ants mountaineering all over it! We haven't got the chickens yet but I am now concerned as to whether the ants will cause problems with the chickens especially if they move into the eglu. Ideally it would be brill if chickens eat the little darlings (yes, I know, I've seen Ant Bully too!) but needs must and my chickens come first! Any advice will be greatly appreciated - Thanks.

[Snowy]

My chickens love ants - very tasty!

[Dave36]

My chicks love the ants and also dig up for the eggs as well

[Laura & CTB]

Mine turn their beaks up

[muzzie]

Mine ignore the ants but have just started to eat the eggs.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Food or nuisance Depends what angle you come from. Ours have dug deep holes in the lawn to excavate them as they clearly like them

[..lay a little egg for me]

Mine certainly like them...was watching one picking them off just today...a very close myopic stare for a few seconds, back off slightly, lunge forward and grab struggling ant. I don't know how much of an impact on the ant population they would have at this rate of consumption, but definitely like the taste!

[Hen Watch]

Mine are fussy and will only eat flying ants...... They don't touch other ants (or if they do I've not seen them).

[Egluntyne]

Mine like 'em.