ticks

[AngelBunny]

akwasi:

Sigh. We've resigned ourselves that this time of year, it's tick season here in NH. We go over the girls at least once/day, checking them for ticks. We don't believe in applying chemicals because they can cause harm in the long run, i.e., getting into the ground water, harming beneficial organisms, getting into our body fat via the food chain, etc.

[luvmyrotts]

THis time of year we are pretty much over run by ticks! Our method, too, is to spend a couple hours each day going over the entire coats of our two. Even then we sometimes miss them!

[Ladybeth1]

I don't use chemicals in my yard, I just don't feel it's safe for my animals or myself. Here in the hot and humid south, tick season has kicked in, and currently I use Frontline and also a Preventic collar. I also go over my Odin's coat every evening, just to be sure.

[calebmyboy]

I also would not use any chemicals on my dogs or around the yard. We do "tick checks" several times a day. Its a nice way to spend some hands on time with your dogs & also it gives me a chance to maybe feel for anything else that may be wrong, lumps, bites or things like that. I just can't bring myself to put anything on my boy to keep the ticks off that may bring about health problems, especially cancer.

[frau]

I love my Frontline. We live in tick, mosquito and gnat heaven. I use nothing on the grass, though. I'll take my chances with Frontline, but not with a yard full of insecticide. And do I miss the dandilion killer!! I'll just hve to get used to it.

Do any of you New England folks have the "tick hens" we hear about down this way?? My son has a college friend from the Lyme capital of the US and he talks about having tick hens in the yard.--Or is he pulling our Old Dominion legs?

Frau

[akwasi]

anyone got any permanent to ticks..someone suggested diazinon applied to the compound
we have a pretty large yard and the dogs are constantly playing in the sand..any ideas will be appreciated..the situation is getting worse since it started rainning more often...thanks in advance

[AngelBunny]

frau:

I don't believe your son's friend is pulling your leg because fowl and Guinea Hens are bug lovers. Tho, since the girls pick up ticks from the long grass, I'm not sure now much birds would help, since I can't imagine that the birds would relish scouring the fields thru which we walk looking for bugs--their instincts would tell them bad things that want them for lunch lurk in tall grass.