Ticks!!!

I like the bird idea, I know that Turkeys are great for keeping bugs down as well. But I have never herd any thing about them eating ticks

Does any one have a picture of the Guinea foul?

Google search is a great thing sometimes. Interesting looking bird.
 
Chances of getting Lyme disease from ticks is very slim but, still, not a possibility to ignore.
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That's not the case up here in the Northeast, recent studies in Maine have shown that over 50% of deer ticks tested were Lyme positive. I've owned five dogs in the past 15 years, all of them got Lyme- fortunately it's easier to treat dogs.

You can't get rid of them. I found a time consuming but effective way to keep them off of me while I'm on my property; I built a system of trails. Ticks need to be on a plant or branch before they can launch themselves onto you, so I built trails that let me walk my around with a couple of clear feet on either side of me.

It isn't perfect, but it helped.
 
You will not get rid of the ticks by burning.
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Quite the contrary, you most definately WILL get rid of ticks by burning. However, you cant burn everything and that solution only works temporarily.

DEET does not discourage ticks
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The US Military seems to think it does. 85-89% effective to be exact.

http://www.tickinfo.com/permethrin.htm

I read somewhere that permanone was found to cause cancer and also has adverse effects on brain function, and may cause mood swings and bitter, grumpy attitudes :D.
 
Now that explains everything,,,

I read somewhere that permanone was found to cause cancer and also has adverse effects on brain function, and may cause mood swings and bitter, grumpy attitudes .
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My ex must have bathed in that stuff. :eek:

Aarond
 
People say some funny thing, not true things , but funny....

The only tick you need to watch out for, is the Deer-Tick.
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This could not be more wrong. There are lots of ticks that carry lots of bacteria such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (American Dog Tick is a common carrier if Florida, but there are others) and others.

I don't think anyone "watches out" for ticks. They simply find them after being infested.

My personal record is 39 at once, occurred at Fort Hood, despite military DEET bug spray that melted some of our gear. Don't forget to check your navel and relative crevices.

It's not good to have any bug on you !!
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Actually, the human body is a host to a plethora of bugs and organisms that live with us that are commensal or do not damage at all. When was the last time you were treated for eyelash mites? Look up Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. They exist on many animals and some that exist on us do us no harm.
 
I spray 4 acres around my place. I use a good kennel tick dip. mix it up in my 25 gallon sprayer and spray all the trees shrubs and the kennels. I have another spray for the skeeters. Once a month is all it takes. Keeps them off me and my dogs. We have a huge population of ticks but it doesnt last long.
 
Birds. Lots & lots of birds. They love ticks! Contact your local branch of the Audubon Society to learn what kind and how to attract them. (feeders, bird houses, etc.)

another side benefit of Guinea Fowl is that they are a great alarm system.
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Eeeeesh! I don't want or need an alarm system that alerts me to every cricket chirp, 24/7 ;).

I'm not sure which is more obnoxious: Guinea Fowl, or Peacocks during breeding season. When spending the night with either around, I spend the night thinking of different ways to cook 'em. Let's see; southern fried, baked, broiled.... :D.
 
+1 to Capt Charlie and everyone else that mentioned birds (except guinea fowls, damn noisy things:eek:), I have 85 acres and I stopped counting at 300 the number of bird houses I have. Also blousing your jeans over your boots is a great idea.
 
My Daddy had Guineas on the farm when I was growing up. Thats how he kept bugs out of the garden. They look like zombie guail to me lol. Thanks for all the input fellas, however many ticks that may be on this chunk of land, I want it. Its all in the hands of the bank now and if anyone has tried to buy property in the last few years, you know what I mean. About as hard as killing a 140 class buck in Florida.
 
Ticks are a piece of cake, chiggers are our scourge!
You haven't lived until you get into two or three dozen chiggers, and they get you in all of your favorite places:D

I bought a pair of Rhino Skins a few years ago and they are GREAT! I can waltz around the woods, sit on the ground, hunt or whatever, and nothing can get to my stuff:p
 
Too bad the &*^% critters are too small to drive a wooden stake thru the blood sucking hearts (or a silver bullet!):D:mad:
 
For dogs and cats a good flea and tick preventative like Front line works best.

I had a dog come into my clinic that have over 400 ticks. We put 1 tube of Front line on his neck and within 20 minutes every single tick lay dead on the floor of the kennel.

As far as humans use a good bug spray and be careful.
 
Guineas are also exceptionally tasty birds. It really surprises me that they're not sold more often in good restaurants here.
 
How do you guys keep Guineas home?

Also I've found most regular bug sprays containing deet usually keeps most all critters(misquito's,chiggers,ticks) off me. The only problem I have is finding a truely non-scented spray to use during deer bow season.
 
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