I missed so much... and Tick Tactics?

[J35]

Question. How many Guinea hens survive wild animal attacks? I don't doubt their ability to decimate bug populations, but it seems the attrition rate of the birds would be high. Any thoughts?

You have to remember guineas survive in Africa in the wild.

I have kept guineas for nine years, the only ones I have lost is a couple of hens that went to setting out in the brush, not sure what got them but I suspect a fox. Most that steel thier nest out come out just fine with a nice brood of chicks

When guineas get spooked they take to the wing and can fly a long ways, most times just into the nearest tree. I have watched on several occasions a grey fox try to get them in the day time, the guineas fly into the tree's the fox climbs the tree the guineas fly to a different tree. I watch until I get bored then I shoot the fox. Seems most people don't know how well a grey fox can climb.

You can catch the wildest chicken ever born at night, but you can't get with in three feet of a guinea on the darkest night, broody hens are the exception.

Some people say guineas are dumb, I will say they are different, they have a very good survivel instinct, and they sure liven up the place,good watch dogs during the day but geese are better at night.

good luck

 

[kthompson]

Some people say guineas are dumb, I will say they are different, they have a very good survivel instinct, and they sure liven up the place,good watch dogs during the day but geese are better at night.

Have heard them called the poor man's watch dog by many here.

Recently read to use liquid dish-washing detergent and cover the ticks to get them to loosen on person or animal. No idea if it works.

 

[Western]

I use Deep Woods OFF, strongest mixture of DEET. I spray from the knees down. I have lightly sprayed my labs and works for them too. I just make sure I'm not around their water or food bowls, and I don't soak them to the skin just a little "dusting".

 

[Sigarms]

Recently read to use liquid dish-washing detergent and cover the ticks to get them to loosen on person or animal. No idea if it works.

From personal experience, liquid joy works well for fleas, but never noticed ticks to know how it works on them.

 

[WantedWolf]

yeah iv heard of dishsoap, bounce sheets and WD40.
I know the bounce sheets dont work.

 

[dmccarty]

A few years ago two of my neighbors bought 75 Guineas to go after the ticks. They are very noisy birds. They also roosted in one neighbors garage which was a mess. He got them out of there so they went to the front porch.

There are no more Guineas. I would find piles of feathers on my place where some critter had some fowl for dinner. The flock would move back and forth between the two neighbors and over time the flock got smaller and smaller. For a while one lone Guinea managed to survive but eventually it disappeared. The foxes, coyote(s), owls and hawks ate good for a while.

I saw one of the hawks get a tree rat in the front yard Monday night. Wish I could have taken a photo but it was too dark.

Ticks. We got 'em. Anybody want some?

I use Off with DEET and spray from the knees down. I tuck my pants legs into my socks. Some people use large rubber bands but I think I would break them in the brush. I have used Permithren on my clothes in the past. It works very well and it will last through the season even after multiple washings. I have a bottle of it but I just have not soaked the work clothes for some reason.

A few years ago, well maybe more than a few, some one posted some links on TBN. The links where about using feed stations to apply tick killer to cattle and deer. One of the links to a supplier of the feed station was no longer working. I really wonder if something like this would help reduce the tick population.

This week we had a fawn show up in the yard. It was eating some vine plant while laying next to a rock in the grass. This was going to be a great photo! Grabbed the camera and took some photos. The fawn's face did not look right. Worked my closer and took some more photos. Twas not pretty. Kinda ugly. The poor fawn had ticks all over its head. One eye I could not see. I don't know if it was swollen shut from the ticks or if the eye was just gone. You could see sores where the fawn had been scratching. This would/should have been a pretty photo but it was real ugly.

Later,
Dan