How To Control Ticks Naturally In Your Backyard
Gardening, Cooking & DIY Living
Is there really a way to control ticks without spraying all kinds of chemicals in the yard?
It is a question that comes in to our blog quite often this time of year. And one, as you will see below, we have actually found an excellent and effective solution for.
Ticks can cause serious health issues for adults, children, and pets as well. And they can be quite debilitating!
A single bite from a tick can lead to serious illnesses such as Lyme disease, Powassan Virus, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
And it seems like every year, there is yet another disease found to be related to the bite of a tick.
Case in point, the Alpha-gal syndrome.
This relatively new-found illness is caused by the bite of an infected Lone Star tick. And the result? A severe allergy whenever any beef or pork is consumed!
Needless to say, finding a way to control the tick population is certainly on the minds of many homeowners.
Way back in 2010, when we first began our little adventure on our 3 acre plot of land, the tick population was out of control.
In fact, when we first mowed off the high weeds and brush on the property, it was common place to find a tick or two crawling on our legs or arms. Every single time we came out to work!
So bad, that on one visit in the spring of 2011, our youngest refused to get off of our little trailer parked at the farm.
He absolutely hated ticks. And I can still remember him now telling us there was no way he was getting off of that trailer!
The two questions visitors always ask when at the farm is what do we do about mosquitoes, and how bad are the ticks.
The mosquito population is actually held in check quite well by planting and creating a landscape that both attracts predators, and repels mosquitoes. ( See : 3 Great Ways To Protect Your Yard From Mosquitoes)
But the tick population has been controlled with an entirely different approach.
As we said earlier, it was simply out of control back in 2010-2011.
But fast forward to today, and you would be hard pressed to find a single tick on the farm. And it has been that way ever since late 2011.
First and foremost, we have never once sprayed or dusted our yard for ticks. Nor will we ever.
We have always tried to be 100% organic here. And unfortunately, whenever you start spraying for any pests, the result is often a decimation of beneficial insects like bees and butterflies as well.
So how did we get rid of our ticks? And why do we never see them anymore?
Well, it was all because of the addition of a little flock of chickens in 2011.
Within a few months of our little hens ranging about, our tick population all but disappeared. And within a year, we simply never saw a tick again.
Yes, it is absolutely true. You will never find a better way to control ticks than with a few backyard chickens.
Chickens are voracious tick eaters. In fact, beyond just ticks, they are an incredible way to control many backyard and garden pests.
And they certainly are our #1 little secret to keeping ticks and all of the diseases they can bring away from the farm.
So if you are looking for a little tick control, and a few farm fresh eggs to boot – think about getting a few backyard chickens!
And if your are looking for a great read on the subject, check out the book Backyard Chickens, A Practical Guide To Raising Chickens.
Chickens really are an incredible way to control ticks in your backyard.
Happy Gardening! – Jim and Mary.
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How To Control Ticks Naturally In Your Backyard
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