Ticks on and in chicken coop

Get some guineas. They eat ticks.  I haven't seen a tick on anything since I got them.

The ticks are really bad here.  My cats are covered, even with their monthly flea/tick medicine   Makes my skin crawl **shudders**

Maybe I will get some Guineas, they would certainly have a feast!

It sounds like you might have Poultry (Fowl) Ticks.  If they are, guineas are no use against them and would only become victims.  This kind of tick specializes on birds.  They live in crevices during the day and emerge right after the sun sets to feed.  They generally feed for the first hour after sunset and then retreat back to their cracks and crevices.   They are so good at hiding, you may never know you have them until their population has exploded.  I had a poultry tick infestation last year and made a byc page on how to control them: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=56638-poultry-ticks  They page isn't finished yet, but most of what you need is included there.

I would first determine if they are indeed poultry ticks.  Are they emerging right after the sun sets?  Do they look like these?:

Sprinkling Sevin Dust might help.

Good luck!

Today, I found just what you've shown in your article and here.  YUCK....I live in Arizona and with our heat, my girls are loaded with ticks!  A couple of my roos have scaly leg mites too.  Such a sad state of affairs that began when my friend left for Alaska and brought his flock of 18 "infected" birds to visit.  So sad.....and I'm SOOO busy cleaning up the mess!  Thanks for the ideas and hopefully I can get these things under control!  Thanks!

Good luck and stay vigilant!   Welcome to BYC too!