Tick invasion

[DieselBound]

Here's more info (balanced):

Guinea Fowl for Tick Control
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Guineas/SPPAGuineaFowlForTickControl.html

5 Reasons NOT to Own Guinea Fowl
5 Reasons NOT to Own Guinea Fowl - The Free Range Life

If you ever get any and need pointers just contact me. It's kind of a love-hate relationship with these things. Our neighbors have actually warmed up to them (of course, They, the neighbors, don't really have to live with these nutty things like we do! [we make sure to get them into their Run at night so they are protected- if they roost in the trees the owls pick them off]).

 

[adventure bob]

Vietnamese game fowl are effective as well. Dad raises dogs and uses them. Incredibly efficient at wiping out fleas, ticks and other bugs. You do however trade bird crap for ticks and fleas.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Regarding climate change: Glacial and Inter Glacial periods- FACT; nature will be cycling the planet into the next Glacial period (the next Big Till- like turning an Etch-A-Sketch over and shaking it, it all starts over).

And speaking of nature... Nature is your worst enemy AND your best friend. If you have the room, and can tolerate them. get a bunch of Guinea Fowl. Guinea Fowl are heck on ticks and fleas. I think I've seen one flea on my dog in the past three years.

I agree. I have a flock of 14 guinea fowl and next door has a flock also. I have not seen a tick on my dog in his lifetime (5 years). We do use the Heart Guard pill for fleas and heart worms and maybe that controls ticks also.
In the 6 years of living here, I have had one tick on me after working in the woods. Just lucky I guess but I am sure the guinea fowl work also.

 

[oosik]

Hmmm... over here on the other side of the dirt pile it has been a great year for ticks. I think it was the especially dry summer that caused the ticks to die off early. I was able to quit the Frontline on the dog in July - there just weren't any more ticks. Its a blessing to not have little dead bodies all over the carpet.

In the spring, I will brush many off my work pants before coming in the house and check the "other" areas once in the house. At times the dog - shaggy little Cocker - will bring in as many as a dozen if we are out & about on the property. It just a normal spring time thing.

 

[crash325]

First year ever for ticks & some other little bug I call a blood bug. Can't find any information on it.
Also first time I have ever had rat, killed 3, along with a mouse problem. Shot the rats & some mice with a pellet gun. Very permanent control.
Not to mention 1st & only time had a skunk.


Work hard at taking them off the mutts. Think I am finally getting ahead. Sprayed the bed with home defense now all I have found are dead ticks & blood bugs. Though about spraying the mutts, but it may not be such a hot idea. Have not sprayed outside. pretty much a waste, too much area & it would take gallons.

DDT did work & I think its dangers were far over blown.

 

[cdaigle430]

How about chickens for tic control?

 

[toppop52]

I didn't see any ticks all summer but have seen some recently. May be because the summer was dry this year? We've had lots of rain the last month and now they are back. I guess it could be because of the dropping leaves too. Nasty little critters.

We never have them in the heat of summer, they're spring and fall here, you may see one in July but it's rare.

 

[dmccarty]

Thanks for all the replies that stayed on topic. Glad to know I'm not alone. We will just keep pulling them off. We will also look into Guinea fowl. The wife is much more in favor of Guinea fowl over ticks. I have heard great things before.

If there are predators, the Guinea Fowl might not last long. Neighbors bought 75ish Guinea Fowl and they were all dead in a year or two. Foxes, coyotes, owls, and hawks ate real well while the Guinea Fowl Feast lasted.

Later,
Dan

 

[toppop52]

Tell that to the dinosaurs... all wiped out by a single meteorite. Ever hear of the Toba super volcano? 70,000 years ago humans almost went extinct. Estimates are that only 1,000 survived. We are all descended from them. If Climate Change becomes uncontrollable and self sustaining (aka the tipping point) humans will become extinct. Deer ticks too.

Did you read my post, or just quote what suited? I noted meteorites and other exceptions, never, is never correct...

There have been single causation events, meteor strikes, etc... But most depopulations have been the result of many causes.

And Toba is a theory, not a fact. Little doubt there was an eruption, but it appears we were already at the beginning of a glaciation, it helped speed up and deepen the cooling, but likely didn't cause it as such, and the lowest number I can find is 3000-10000 humans surviving, but that's based on genetics, not any real count. And many believe that less than half the population died off.


Sorry for getting dragged off topic, I will stay on topic from here.

 

[rekees4300]

That's a strong opinion! I agree that nature has traditionally balanced conditions of all manner, populations and otherwise. But to point to one single mechanism is flying in the face of history. There have been single causation events, meteor strikes, etc... But most depopulations have been the result of many causes.

Did you read my post, or just quote what suited?

Duh, I misunderstood what you said. I thought your point was that a single event couldn't cause depopulations. Oh well let's get back to the tick topic.