Free ranging and ticks

[TheTwoRoos]

Still add wolf pee,and maybe appear outside a lot.I have had a ton of hawk attacks (An attempt).Owls However are willing to put up any fight,no matter the size.

 

[Chickensrforus1234]

Question...would having free rangers attract more predators and put my pet chooks in jeopardy?

As I'm sure you know New Jersey has the second most Lyme disease outbreaks behind Pennsylvania.

According to the CDC it's actually not proven that guineas or any other animals will reduce the tick population those animals can actually be hosts for ticks but definitely go to the CDC website and check it out yourself!!

However I will tell you this once I added a bunch of chickens and Ducks to my backyard I went from pulling two or three ticks off of myself and five or six off of my dog each day to one or two every few days off of my dog and zero on me!

Alternatively if you go to this website doyourown.com you could get something very serious stuff that will get rid of the ticks however keep in mind that's an ongoing process..

Ticks aren't born with Lyme disease they get it from rodents, squirrels, white foot mouse (super cute mouse too) any other type of Critter they suck blood off of. As a preventative maybe try to get those Critters dealt with and you won't have to worry so much about to ticks. I recently read an article that ticks have been around for 100 million years so it's going to be kind of hard to get rid of them. Gl

 

[lazy gardener]

Ticks are prevalent in Maine. I have not seen any this season, though all those folks living around me are commenting about what a severe tick year this is. My birds have been able to free range most days, even though we have frequent hawk issues. Northern Goshawk was scouting my flock last week, and Red Tail several weeks ago. I purposefully keep a lot of clutter in my back yard for the birds to hide under. There is a covered chicken run for those days when the danger appears to be too severe.

I suggest that you put up an electric fence to keep out the land predators, and put up some netting and other protection here and there. If you don't have a dog, that may be a good option.

 

[Cryss]

I’m so sorry for what Lyme disease has done to your daughter cryss. May she be granted a speedy and easy recovery.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your kind words.

 

[Cryss]

As I'm sure you know New Jersey has the second most Lyme disease outbreaks behind Pennsylvania.

According to the CDC it's actually not proven that guineas or any other animals will reduce the tick population those animals can actually be hosts for ticks but definitely go to the CDC website and check it out yourself!!

However I will tell you this once I added a bunch of chickens and Ducks to my backyard I went from pulling two or three ticks off of myself and five or six off of my dog each day to one or two every few days off of my dog and zero on me!

Alternatively if you go to this website doyourown.com you could get something very serious stuff that will get rid of the ticks however keep in mind that's an ongoing process..

Ticks aren't born with Lyme disease they get it from rodents, squirrels, white foot mouse (super cute mouse too) any other type of Critter they suck blood off of. As a preventative maybe try to get those Critters dealt with and you won't have to worry so much about to ticks. I recently read an article that ticks have been around for 100 million years so it's going to be kind of hard to get rid of them. Gl

Oh yes believe me I know the history and life cycle and God knows what all about ticks now. Intense research has become a staple here. And, just like your experience with your animals and reduction of ticks, I don't believe all the hogwash info they give us in the media. But I appreciate everyone here for thoughts on free ranging. This is what I am researching now. Ticks are the reason but not the subject. I dont want a moderator to feel I'm turning a chicken forum into a medical forum. I only bring it up as a pest that must be dealt with and need to understand the consequences, or lack of, free ranging birds for tick control.
Also I want to thank everyone for your good thoughts for my daughter.

 

[Chickensrforus1234]

Oh yes believe me I know the history and life cycle and God knows what all about ticks now. Intense research has become a staple here. And, just like your experience with your animals and reduction of ticks, I don't believe all the hogwash info they give us in the media. But I appreciate everyone here for thoughts on free ranging. This is what I am researching now. Ticks are the reason but not the subject. I dont want a moderator to feel I'm turning a chicken forum into a medical forum. I only bring it up as a pest that must be dealt with and need to understand the consequences, or lack of, free ranging birds for tick control.
Also I want to thank everyone for your good thoughts for my daughter.

I think if you're the op you could reverse it spin it and flip it upside down and no one will have a problem.

Ultimately you're the one with the questions! We are all just giving their two cents!!

Enjoy!!!

 

[Cryss]

I am!

 

[OneLuckeyWife]

My husband sprays the yard with this stuff called permethrin. Haven’t had any ticks or flees since; he sprayed once like 2 years ago. Safe to use it on livestock and dogs, too.

 

[123RedBeard]

I think if you could cut the trees around the perimeter of your property, then install a 4'-5' tall fence, then add electric to it ... that should cut out the four legged predators ... you need a wide enough pathway to not only install (and maintain) the fence, but racoons can travel through the trees, running from branch to branch ...

For flying chicken eaters ... you need plenty of hidey spots for them to get under ... either bushes, or briars (plant a raspberry patch!) Could even be a bunch of sections of sheep panel (like a cattle panel but 4" squares) bent into little hoops ... 55 gal barrels cut in half, turned upside down ...

Generally the smaller large fowl birds are very alert ... game, leghorn, minorca, penedesenca ...

My sister in PA got lyme about 10 years ago ... I have a few symptoms ... but dr's can' pinpoint it ... I'd have go back and look at all my tests to confirm if lyme was tested ... my wife just last week sent me a link about lyme's and possibly my problems ... I hope your daughter has a good day today, one day at a time!

 

[Cryss]

I think if you could cut the trees around the perimeter of your property, then install a 4'-5' tall fence, then add electric to it ... that should cut out the four legged predators ... you need a wide enough pathway to not only install (and maintain) the fence, but racoons can travel through the trees, running from branch to branch ...

For flying chicken eaters ... you need plenty of hidey spots for them to get under ... either bushes, or briars (plant a raspberry patch!) Could even be a bunch of sections of sheep panel (like a cattle panel but 4" squares) bent into little hoops ... 55 gal barrels cut in half, turned upside down ...

Generally the smaller large fowl birds are very alert ... game, leghorn, minorca, penedesenca ...

My sister in PA got lyme about 10 years ago ... I have a few symptoms ... but dr's can' pinpoint it ... I'd have go back and look at all my tests to confirm if lyme was tested ... my wife just last week sent me a link about lyme's and possibly my problems ... I hope your daughter has a good day today, one day at a time!

We are surrounded by trees that don't belong to us so I can't cut those. I don't worry TOO much about raccoons because they USUALLY come out at night and my chickens are in their coop which is inside the run which my husband calls Fort Knox. Bear on the other hand have come through my property in broad daylight. For that I'm considering electric fence around the run but it's so pricey and I don't have a big budget so doing the whole yard is out of the question. Mostly I'm afraid of big birds, hawk, crow, owl...
Some of my birds are large and slow Orpintons. Like I said, I'm petrified at the thought of even trying them free ranging. I'm still considering "sacrificial birds" that aren't pets and are meant for the freezer as an experiment. If they make it to my freezer that's a good outcome.

I understand exactly what you mean about having Lyme symptoms but not being sure. I'm in that boat too. Researching previous Lyme tests is futile. They often show as negative because testing was, and still is, ineffective, inefficient, and incomplete. Drs are bound by CDC rules that say IF you tested positive and were given an antibiotic you are now cured. Example...Because of Trishas severe stutter after having been treated with month long double antibiotics yer Dr sent her to a neurologist. This Dr looked in her eyes, had her squeeze his fingers, and tapped her knees with his little hammer. He asked her one question. Had she been treated with antibiotics? Yes? Ok, then you are healed and are fine. You just need a speech therapist.
May I suggest watching Patrick Plum on YouTube? There's lots to learn and he's an excellent start. Anyone who suspects Lyme should seek out an infectious disease Dr that is Lyme LITERATE, not just a Lyme Specialist.
Good luck to you and your sister.