over-run by ticks....what to use

[steveo]

My guineas live with my layers in the same coop. Everybody free ranges during the day and then everybody goes into the coop at night. Check out the book Gardening with Guineas for some information on keeping guineas. If your guineas roost in the trees they will definately get picked off by predators.

We were infested with ticks so bad that you could not go into the yard without coming in with ticks all over you. We got guineas and they do an excellent job. Last year I saw maybe three to five ticks all year.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Steve I'm really thinking about getting some now. I am so sick of pulling them off my kids and worrying sick that they are going to get Lyme Disease.
How do I train the guineas to come back to the coop at night when I first get them? I am hoping to buy some adults from someone locally.

 

[steveo]

Quote:
The book Gardening with Guineas will tell you everything you need to know and more. You can also visit guineafowl.com for more information.

I got my guineas when they were a day old. I kept them in a brooder and then moved them into the coop after a period of time. I think they were in a brooder for about 4 to 6 weeks and then in the coop for another six weeks before letting them free range. The book I recommended has more detailed information and time frames. Anyways while the guineas are in the coop I train them to come for millet. Millet is like candy to them. I had my first guineas eating millet out of my hands and whenever I gave it to them I say the word millet out loud so they knew what it was. Now I just go outside and yell "guineas want some millet" and they come running lol. This is how I get them back into the coop. After some time they will go into the coop on their own at the same time just before dark.

 

[steveo]

Quote:
The book Gardening with Guineas will tell you everything you need to know and more. You can also visit guineafowl.com for more information.

I got my guineas when they were a day old. I kept them in a brooder and then moved them into the coop after a period of time. I think they were in a brooder for about 4 to 6 weeks and then in the coop for another six weeks before letting them free range. The book I recommended has more detailed information and time frames. Anyways while the guineas are in the coop I train them to come for millet. Millet is like candy to them. I had my first guineas eating millet out of my hands and whenever I gave it to them I say the word millet out loud so they knew what it was. Now I just go outside and yell "guineas want some millet" and they come running lol. This is how I get them back into the coop. After some time they will go into the coop on their own at the same time just before dark.

You can also train adult guineas by keeping them in the coop for 6 weeks and work on millet training. If you put them in the same coop as chickens you will have to keep them separated from the chickens where they can all see each other for a while so they can get used to each other.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Thanks! I need to find that book!

 

[greathorse]

guinea uni-mind LOL I have six and they seem to run in groups of three. The ones I had last year all hung together but this group is a bit different. They have also quit cooping with the chickens. They do go in the barn at night and roost in the rafters so I think farily predator proof. They are darn tough in the winter. Any predator proof enclosure should be just fine for them.

They are hell on bugs. If I had tick problems I would have them no matter the noise. I like hearing them so far the neighbors have been polite about them.

They are kakakakaking away as I speak. Gotta love em. God knows what they complain about all the time but they are worriers. LOL

 

[tktagalongtek]

I was aware that Guineas will help with the tick problem; I just can't get any as they are way above my budget as well as my housing--my local chick supplier can only get them if you order 15 or more & they're running $75+. I've checked with several hatcheries but they are sold out "until further notice" or at least until next spring. I don't have a really safe place for them to roost either. It would be great if I could put them in with the chickens, but I'm pushing the space issue there enough already. I just completed converting our old camper trailer into a coop for the new chickens that will arrive next week. My original coop is not large enough to house anybody else & the other buildings on the property that might work are now being flooded (we've had 4.5 inches of rain in the past week & I live with the river in my back yard.
I use Frontline on the dog and am trying a "natural" repellent on the cats as the only options for ticks on cats other than going to the vet are those silly collars that I don't like because my cats can't seem to keep a regular collar on for more than a day, no point in wasting money on flea/tick collars.
I've also heard that ducks are great at eating the ticks, but those are a definate no no for me with the river so close (talked to the neighbors before I got birds & found out what not to get very quickly)
I'm thinking my only choice is to use a chemical pesticide....the bottle says to keep pets/kids off the area until it's dry, but it doesn't say anything about the birds....last year I had all the robbins, jays & other pretty wild wings out snatching worms & bugs while I was spraying...never noticed any problems in them. Has anyone used a chemical controll with free range chickens? Did you pen your birds while spraying and how long did you keep them penned afterwords?

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Anybody sell eggs?

 

[tktagalongtek]

I've checked locally and there's only one person who breeds them here....he doesn't sell eggs only keets, and he wants $50/bird! I am not set up to hatch my own or I'd probably get eggs from someone here. I've had my eye on a friends hatching stuff (she's gotten out of the bird business), but don't have a clue where I'd put it, or if I've even got the time to do it myself as I'm working 4 jobs right now as well as selling the chicken eggs, keeping track of 3 tame cats, 5 feral cats, one dog, the rising river behind me, the overflowing irrigation ditch in front of me, that very calm husband of mine, one mentally challenged adult son, one daughter in the middle of planning a wedding, one normal son still at home, and one semi-normal son who's just moved away from home. (btw, I am NOT wonderwoman all you related to me & employing me people and may just decide that today's the day I run away to Austrailia for a permanent vacation.)

 

[NGT ANGL]

I thought I was just imagining things....we have had an awful lot of ticks at our place so far this year also - live in Virginia. Hubby has been blaming it on my chickens although I have told him that I think they eat ticks...did some research on this - we try to live organically with no pesticide use also so was looking for something natural...guinea fowl are out as we aren't home from early morning to late evening. I bought and just received POULTRY PROTECTOR spray from First State Vet Supply which says it is all natural enzymes and cleans away chicken mites, northern fowl mites, straw mites and is also effective on ticks, midges and beetles...need to use it to see how it works though. There is also a site - gardensalive.com - which has some natural products that may be helpful (haven't used them myself yet but will probably try 'em out) go to the site and go to the "Ask Mike McGrath" section, click on Mikes YBYGArchives and click on the letter T (for ticks). The "Lets Tackle Ticks" Q&A is interesting and he seems to be really adverse to "bad" chemicals...I might try some of his ideas...just sort of an FYI for fellow tick haters but again, I haven't tried any of this yet and except for the poultry protector, would keep stuff away from my chicks until I test it out....