Blood sucking freaks

[Ninjasquirrel]

Its tick season! Im fairly new to chickens so I have a few questions regarding them. Anyone willing to give some incite would be greatly appreciated.

1. Is there a way to know if a chicken is bitten by a tick? Or do you just have to check periodically?
2. Do chickens get lyme disease?
3. Is removing a tick from a chicken similar to removing one from a dog/cat or is there a special process?
4. Will chickens eat ticks?
5. Is there a medicine for chickens to prevent tick bites like revolution is for dogs?
6. What is the best prevention method(if any)?

You dont have to answer all of these just do what you can. Thanks!

 

[llombardo]

#4--chickens are one of the best at tick control. I read an article that recommended getting chickens to control ticks.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

#4--chickens are one of the best at tick control. I read an article that recommended getting chickens to control ticks.

Awesome! We have a bad deer tick population where i live(and lots of trees!) so im always worried about them

 

[aligarysmom]

Guinea fowl are supposed to be better. If you haven’t got chickens yet. But they are very loud so look into them first.

 

[aligarysmom]

There is a "fowl tick," Argas persicus, (sometimes known as "blue bug") that can sometimes be a problem for chickens and wild birds, but it would not likely be the type you are seeing on you or your dogs. The small Lone Star tick will sometimes attack poultry, too.

T he bottom line is that if you are concerned about ticks on your flock, you can keep an eye out and examine your birds every so often to make sure the ticks in your area are the prey, rather than your chickens. You might also want to contact your local extension agent to see if there are any ticks in your area that are known to attack chickens or other fowl.

From my backyard chicken

 

[deepbluesea]

Heh--I thought this was going to be a vampire thread.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Heh--I thought this was going to be a vampire thread.

ISN'T IT?!