Ticks =(

[marcandmaria]

HI!!!! first ever thread!! I have a chicken coop attached to a barn that was left from the previous homeowner, i went back to clean it up and really look into the coop. then OMG ticks everywhere!! i want to be completely organic and not use any chemicals, i did see on some threads that DE will kill ticks, i have since spread some DE out in the area. I am supposed to pick up my egg laying hens this saturday but i still have a ton of ticks and havent even completely cleaned the area out for overgrown trees and such. I tried to get the ticks under control and hoping my chickens would eat the rest but i dont know what to do now. not sure if the DE is doing anything nor do i know the total mass of the infestation. any help?

sorry i know there is a tick thread or two or 3, which i have read but my situation seems to be a little different, and like i said i dont want to use any chemicals thanx

marc
soon to be chicken owner <3 =)

 

[FenikT]

While I respect your effort to approach this in a totally non-chemical manner, I believe too many folks think DE is the magical answer to a host of ills. In reality, the amount of DE you would have to use to desiccate a coop full of ticks would be cost prohibitive, time consuming, and present more of a hazard to the chickens than the ticks themselves. To try to get an infestation under control without chemicals (organic or synthetic) is simply unrealistic without totally clearing the area back to bare wood and ground - which it sounds like you have yet to do ahead of the chicken's arrival. Sometimes good intent doesn't necessarily result in good results IMO.

Two treatments to consider with low toxicity to most mammals and birds is/are pyrethrin and permethrin. Pyrethrin is an organic substance (derived from chrysanthumums) which is biodegradable and breaks down fairly rapidly when exposed to sunlight. PyGanic Dust (EverGreen Pyrethrum Dust) might be a good idea inside the coop itself. Pest Mall online sells it, http://www.pestmall.com/pyganic-bedbugs-power-duster.html

As for a synthetic variation, I would recommend Permethrin concentrate, such as Permethrin SRF (36%), also available at Pest Mall.

Be sure to clear cut and/or burn any brush immediately surrounding the coop. Sticking a goat in the area will slowly take care of the brush too. Its unrealistic to think chickens will take care of the tick problem. Reality is you will wind up w/ a bunch of tick infested chickens which I doubt you will chase down daily to preen.

Being real my friend.