Tick control--what to use??

[WalkingWolf]

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I am surrounded by scrub pine and the ticks are very bad here. I have yet to see a tick on my birds and on my dogs this year. They even go after those nasty fire ants. I have yet to see a bug they will not eat.

 

[MarkR]

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How noisy are guineas. . .

If you're in a residential area, you're neighbors will hate you and curse your family for six generations.

There's a farm about a mile from me with guineas. I can hear them fine, clear as day, all day long. Doesn't bother me personally, but some of our mutual neighbors feel otherwise.

 

[mediazeal]

WalkingWolf, you mean the guineas will eat anything or you mean chickens alone will handle all bugs and ticks if allowed to free range?

MarkR, thanks, yes, I was told they would be too noisy for a neighborhood so went with chickens/hens instead
thanks for the confirmation.

 

[RaeC]

We have 15 acres that's partially wooded/partially pasture, and they're everywhere, pretty much. Our house is in the wooded portion, where they seem to be worse. Some of my smaller chickens free range, and they don't seem to go for ticks. I've never understood why.

I might have to break down & get guineas.

The only thing is--they'd have to be raised from chicks to stick around, wouldn't they? And there's no guarantee they'd all be hens. (Once had one attack my rooster--had to kill it, because it wouldn't stop. This is the big reason I don't want guineas. That, and the noise. They're the most annoying thing ever.

)

Ohh, just found one crawling up my back.

 

[WalkingWolf]

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I only have chickens and mine(not sure about others) eat any bugs that comes into site. I had a processed hen that I found ticks in her crop, so yes chickens will eat them. I believe most of a free range chickens protein comes from bugs.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Since ticks have been settled with the guineas, what do you all do for fleas? We are in a flea band, and I dread thinking about what its going to cost me for flea control this year? Any feathered friend out there that hunts fleas?

 

[dedern]

To everyone out there . Inform yourself about the signs and symptoms of the Tick Borne diseases in humans, following a bite. there are very Serious complications if not treated appropiately. The lyme and associated disease web site needs to be checked out by everyone in America. These diseases are at epidemic porportions according to the info available. Check out the cdc or public health web site for your state. SAVE YOURSELF!!!!!!

 

[mediazeal]

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Ok, that is the most compellilng reason for you to reconsider guineas..........
I wish I could have them but I have to pray the chickens take it upon themselves to be tick patrol. My neighbors would kill me if I got guineas. Even my neighbor with chickens warned me that guineas were too noisy for our neighborhood.

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This is very good news. Thanks WalkingWolf.

 

[chickiebaby]

What did the OP mean about De being deactivated with water? I have not heard this.

 

[RaeC]

That's what I've been told--once it absorbs liquid, it's no longer effective. Seems to be true, though, IME.

I think for the week I'm going to let the chickens out to roam when we get home from work, and if there's no improvement, I'll see if I can find some guineas. Though I cringe at the thought.