Too Many Ticks!!

Sunfloweroot · #1 06/10/13, 09:54 AM

Our chickens were doing a really good job with the ticks, for a while. Yesterday I pulled two ticks off of my Saanen's left eye. This morning I pulled FOUR. The poor girl! The other two goats get about 1 or 2 a week.

Aside from getting more birds (which will happen later) what can I do to deter the ticks? I don't want to use any chemicals -if I wouldn't want it on my skin I don't want it on my goats, ya know? Does anyone else have tick problems?

Thank's in advanced,
-B'ney

GraceAlice · #2 06/10/13, 10:32 AM

My mom has been dabbing lavendar oil on her ankles, neck and head. You know, the worst tick places. Well, she hasn't gotten hardly any ever since she had been doing that, so maybe you should try that on the goats. Not sure if that would be harmful but I am thinking not.

Sunfloweroot · #3 06/10/13, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceAlice

My mom has been dabbing lavendar oil on her ankles, neck and head. You know, the worst tick places. Well, she hasn't gotten hardly any ever since she had been doing that, so maybe you should try that on the goats. Not sure if that would be harmful but I am thinking not.

I looked at FiascoFarm and it looks like Lavender is a really good option, for more than just ticks! I'll definitely try this, thank you! c:

Jenniferlynne13 · #4 06/10/13, 10:59 AM

I dust the bedding with Food Grade DE that that i have infused with Lavender Oil...

I just take a ziploc baggie and put about a pound of DE in there...and drop 15 or 20 drops of Lavender EO in and massage the bag 'till it's well incorporated....

Be careful of the DE though...you shouldn't breathe it in

and shouldn't let the animals around it while you're dusting with it....

It's good for desiccating all kinds of creepy crawlies

GraceAlice · #5 06/10/13, 11:08 AM

I hope it works, I would be interested to try it if it does.

GraceAlice · #6 06/10/13, 11:09 AM

I wouldn't put it around her eyes, nose, or mouth though. It is very strong.

Cyngbaeld · #7 06/10/13, 11:16 AM

Sounds like they need more copper.

earthkitty · #8 06/10/13, 11:20 AM

Keeping the grass mowed down is the best way to reduce the tick population, of course, but that is tough when you want to leave it for your goats. If you can mow everything around the perimeter of their pasture, that can help, as ticks need shade and moisture. Too much sun and/or heat dries out their bodies, which is why you see so many in spring and fewer as summer heats up and starts baking the little vampires.

Many essential oils will repel ticks, mosquitos and flies, and many plants in strategic locations can help too (citronella, catnip, lemon grass, lavender, and more, make sure to check which ones are safe around your pets and livestock).

I prefer lavender because it is nontoxic, it smells great, it can be used for a billion things, it tastes great, it's easy to grow, beautiful, etc. etc. I plant more lavender every year.

Sunfloweroot · #9 06/10/13, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceAlice

I wouldn't put it around her eyes, nose, or mouth though. It is very strong.

The DE, or the Lavender?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

Sounds like they need more copper.

Really? They have free choice minerals out there... Should I try and give them extra with their food then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthkitty

Keeping the grass mowed down is the best way to reduce the tick population, of course, but that is tough when you want to leave it for your goats. If you can mow everything around the perimeter of their pasture, that can help, as ticks need shade and moisture. Too much sun and/or heat dries out their bodies, which is why you see so many in spring and fewer as summer heats up and starts baking the little vampires.

I definitely need to mow... The perimeter is pretty much untouched by the mower so I'll focus on that. Thanks c:

KSALguy · #10 06/10/13, 11:41 AM

chickens do a decent job of keeping ticks under control close to the barn, but guineas will range farther out and do an even better job on both fleas AND ticks, when I was in Kansas on the farm we had a flock of about 20 guineas that ranged all around our pasture and the woods beyond, we had no fleas and no ticks, just before the move south we got rid of the guineas about a month early, we had fleas and ticks show up pretty quick after that,

yes guineas are loud and a lot of people cant handle it but I love them and they did such a good job that even if I didn't like the noise I would make exception for them to keep the bugs under control

Sunfloweroot · #11 06/10/13, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSALguy

chickens do a decent job of keeping ticks under control close to the barn, but guineas will range farther out and do an even better job on both fleas AND ticks, when I was in Kansas on the farm we had a flock of about 20 guineas that ranged all around our pasture and the woods beyond, we had no fleas and no ticks, just before the move south we got rid of the guineas about a month early, we had fleas and ticks show up pretty quick after that,

yes guineas are loud and a lot of people cant handle it but I love them and they did such a good job that even if I didn't like the noise I would make exception for them to keep the bugs under control

I've actually been on Craigslist looking for some keets since last week! Today two people posted listings for them, I called and left messages but haven't heard anything back yet... I only want 3 or 4, we have a 2.5 acre lot (almost 5, just waiting for the sale to go through on the lot behind ours, haha) and 20 seems like a lot.

Ford Zoo · #12 06/10/13, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

Sounds like they need more copper.

I know the copper helps with internal worms, but does it help with ticks also?

This is a really good fly spray that I used to use on the horses, not sure if it deters ticks, but may be worth a try: Add 1 quart apple cider vinegar and 1
quart Dawn dish soap, then add some Listerine and a little citronella
lamp oil if you have it. Fill the rest of the gallon with water.

I wonder if adding the lavender instead of the citronella would help?

KSALguy · #13 06/10/13, 12:14 PM

better to get more than you think you need, keets while young are very easy to accidentally die, and then once grown sense they do wonder so far out preditors can be an issue, I would start out with ten keets and go from there,

Sunfloweroot · #14 06/10/13, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSALguy

better to get more than you think you need, keets while young are very easy to accidentally die, and then once grown sense they do wonder so far out preditors can be an issue, I would start out with ten keets and go from there,

Oh goodness, I didn't know that. Thank you! If anyone gets back to me I'll definitely up the quantity I want, heh.
Thanks again c:

o&itw · #15 06/10/13, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSALguy

better to get more than you think you need, keets while young are very easy to accidentally die, and then once grown sense they do wonder so far out preditors can be an issue, I would start out with ten keets and go from there,

I agree.

Unless you can foster them on a hen that has just hatched chicks.

They are a little harder to get going than baby chicks, without a hen.

Then you will probably lose a few when they get older to predators. The tend to be wilder than chickens and if they take to roosting in trees they can be taken down by great horned owls in the night.

Unless they are raised by a hen, most of them tend to be rather independent.

For some reason, the larger the flock the less problems from predators there is. Two are three, that don't stick around the chicken house at night, will tend to be lost in a year.

tickranch · #16 06/10/13, 01:18 PM

I would get 6 guineas and you'll probably end up with 2 or 3.

How close are your neighbors? Will they mind the noise? I know it's your land and you can do whatever you want on it but it's not very neighborly to get really loud and really annoying animals that will bother yours neighbors peace and quiet.

Also unless they are penned up in a yard or run WITH A ROOF they will not stay on your place. Even with clipped wings they can jump pretty darn high. They will travel the 'hood and visit the neighbors. Some people don"t like guinea poop on their front walk and steps. People can be funny about that stuff.

I think this is just a bad tick year. We have chickens and ducks and guineas freeranging and we have had more ticks this spring than the last 3 years combined. I'm wondering if the extreme summer we had last year has anything to do with it.

motdaugrnds · #17 06/10/13, 01:38 PM

I agree with others about guineas. I would not be without them. We ordered 30 from McMurray Hatchery and placed them in our brooder a few years ago. I think we lost about 3-4 but the rest grew well. We kept them in that brooder house (with its own pen) even after they were grown, letting them out only short periods of time in the evening just before the sun went down. Then locked them up for the night making sure they knew they would get cracked corn "inside" the chicken house. They are now going on 3 yrs of age, roam all over the 6 acres during the day, have even been outside our parameter fencing trying to find their way back; yet not one has slept off our 6 acres this entire time. (Most people eventually lose their guineas; but by teaching them they are safe in the hen house at night and get corn early the next morning, they all stay home.) Guineas who free range can get rid of a lot of ticks. (Our chickens help too!)

I put collars on the dogs and am wondering if maybe I could put one on the buck as he is the only one who is getting ticks...wondering why as they all graze in the same pastures.

Sunfloweroot · #18 06/10/13, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o&itw

Unless you can foster them on a hen that has just hatched chicks.

I really, really like the idea of waiting until one of my hens goes broody and hatches some chicks. Do hens usually foster other birds very easily? I've only had 1 broody hen before and she was really... grumpy. She even kicked one of her own chicks out that hatched a few days later than the rest. I'm guessing not all mama hens are like that.

o&itw · #19 06/10/13, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunfloweroot

I really, really like the idea of waiting until one of my hens goes broody and hatches some chicks. Do hens usually foster other birds very easily? I've only had 1 broody hen before and she was really... grumpy. She even kicked one of her own chicks out that hatched a few days later than the rest. I'm guessing not all mama hens are like that.

You almost have to have a way to get keets the same day. You can stick keets under a hen the day her first eggs start hatching and she will accept them fine... they think they are chickens

and do much better.

BE prepared to get well pecked by the broody hen... I didn't mind the pecks but was always worried about her accidentally hurting one of the chicks I was sticking underneath her.

KSALguy · #20 06/10/13, 04:41 PM

if you could get fertile guinea eggs for her to set you would be much better off, also guinea keets speak a differint "language" than their foster mom so best to keep them all locked in a small safe pen so they learn to stay with the hen for warmth for the first few weeks, then you can let them out to explore with the hen if you want,