Ticks

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on January 1, 2009 at 1:21pm

Chloe:

Apparently food grade Diatomatous Earth (DE) works. Check out http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/no_flea.html and others.

Jen

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Rennells on January 1, 2009 at 11:08pm

Diotamaceous earth!!!!!!!!!!! Spread that on your lawn and any areas they frequent. This stuff it breaks down the outer skin if you would of the said TICK and they letterally bleed to death. The powder Seven is also very effective. Keeping your lawn well trimmed and getting rid of any Lumber in your back yard or their areas is also best. Those critters love to breed on the lumber. That's a breeding heaven.

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Permalink Reply by Rachel on January 2, 2009 at 9:06am

Also, maybe you could borrow Jen's chickens for a few days and keep the dogs indoors while the chickens find the ticks and eat them.

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Permalink Reply by Ericka Cero Wood on February 5, 2009 at 5:22pm

So, did you borrow Jen's chickens? Problem solved?

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Permalink Reply by Laura on February 5, 2009 at 6:44pm

I have had the same problem too since last spring. I have 2 labs and we have done everything. I was told they love moisture. I agree with the DM but you are going to need alot. I guess I will have to break down and buy 10 bags of the stuff but it works really good.

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Permalink Reply by bonnie on February 7, 2009 at 1:25pm

I breed naturally raised German Shepherd Dogs. Raw fed, no vaccines, and raised in a chemical free environment. Julie, at Wolfcreek Ranch is a good friend and we carry the same products. We also believe that healthy animals don't usually have a problem with ticks/fleas, etc. 'Tick' treatments are poisons, simple as that. Of course, you will be told how harmless they are, just like the pesticides sprayed on the fruit at the grocery stores. It's poison!!

The food grade DE is available at most feed stores. Do NOT use pool grade found at most garden stores. Only thing is, at the feed stores, its usually in 50# bags. If you don't want that much, I carry smaller quantities. HTH

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Permalink Reply by Chloe Rhea Beauford on February 7, 2009 at 3:16pm

Thanks for all the advice, guys. When the cold weather set in - problem solved.

I had two thoughts about DE though. One, it will also take out beneficial bugs if spread on the lawn. Two, ticks often live off the ground, in bushes and shrubs. I imagine mine are in the shrubs that line my properly that the dogs like to lie under. If I put it on the lawn, and not in the shrubs it's not really going to help.

Next tick season I think I'll have the chickens come for a visit.
Chloe

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Permalink Reply by Laura on March 5, 2009 at 6:34am

Is it possible the ticks could be coming from the pigeons in the palm trees? I have been trying to figure out where they are coming from (so I can get rid of them) and the only deduction I can come up with is there is a palm tree right behind my back wall in my neighbor's yard with a very overgrown palm tree that is filled with piegons. I have an old dog and she doesn't go anywhere to get them. I have tried to get my neighbor to trim the tree to no avail and the tree overhangs into my yard. I also noticed the garden I have under where that tree hangs is infested with black aphids. The aphids are nowhere else in my garden but there. The tree has many piegons in it and there is always activity in that tree from them.

I am not sure if there is a connection there. I do remember a couple of years ago where they did have that tree trimmed and the piegons were gone I did not have a tick problem and that garden did not have pest problems. The neighbor's to my right and left do not have any animals.

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